Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden – Blues & Ballads
This 10-track album was waxed at the Rudy Van Gelder studios in April 1960 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ – the “hotbed” of jazz & blues (sounds funny, but lots of jazz & blues have been recorded in this NJ town).
The back of the LP has the original liner notes from the original Prestige/Bluesville set & it was recorded in glorious hi-fi. To ensure the reissue is attuned to modern ears the songs were captured from the original master tapes with lacquers cut from them & pressed on 180-gram vinyl QRP. Most blues aficionados would say “So what?” but their ears will savor it & leave the spirit blissfully ignorant of the technology.
This re-issue is part of a major thrust by Craft Recordings who have been dedicated to preserving this music & keep it not only alive but enlivened. Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden – Blues & Ballads (Drops Feb 28/Craft/Concord Recordings) was originally produced by Chris Albertson & contains some fluid performances. Early in his career, Lonnie cut many sides beginning with the old Okeh Records in 1925. He cut duets with guitarist Eddie Lang, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five & Duke Ellington.
That said, Toronto, Canada’s Lonnie Johnson (Feb. 1889-June 1970 – vocals/electric guitar) displays his extreme versatility in his playing. He had one of the most durable acoustic blues careers & it began with jazz in the ’20s, a blues hit in 1948 & subsequently to a late-career revival during the ’60s folk insurgence. Lonnie had a prolific brilliance that influenced legendary players like Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt & B.B. King & we know how many guitarists they influenced.
Lonnie’s career slowed in the ’50s until he met banjo/acoustic guitarist Elmer Snowden (Oct. 1900-May 1973). They cut this & in many circles, it was considered a “beautiful” album. Elmer also had a rich background as a band leader & agent. Those unfamiliar with the late ’50s & early ’60s will be surprised to learn that technology at that time for high fidelity & some stereo recordings were extremely good. Certain labels like Mercury excelled in reproductive quality. “Blues & Ballads,” was pristinely recorded for Prestige. The musicians were relaxed & perfectly suited for this set.
The spareness allows the songs to surface with authenticity. They aren’t bogged down by instrumental flash & bravado. It’s a good mix of Johnson originals & some by leading blues & jazz artists (Eubie Blake, W.C. Handy, Bessie Smith, Kid Ory). A few sentimental (“Memories of You”) tunes that are more middle-of-the-road than bluesy. Songs Frank Sinatra, or Billie Holiday could do. The vocals retain personality & character.
Highlights – “Haunted House,” “Memories of You,” “Blues For Chris,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Savoy Blues,” “Elmer’s Blues” & “Jelly Roll Baker.”
Musicians – Wendell Marshall (bass)
B&W image of Lonnie courtesy of Mr. Johnson’s estate. CD at Amazon & Discogs https://www.amazon.com/Blues-Ballads-Limited-180-Gram-Tracks/dp/B0CL7L53DR