Johnny Iguana – At Delmark – Chicago Style Solo Piano
The music was played on a 1917 Steinway B piano by blues pianist Johnny Iguana, who played for & with Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Derek Trucks, Koko Taylor, the Claudettes & James Cotton among others.
This showcase features 12 songs, including a good selection of classic covers from Neil Young, Chuck Berry, Junior Wells, & others. The material was recorded live at the Delmark Riverside Studio in “one take,” with no overdubs or edits to analog tape on restored equipment in Chicago.
Producer Elbio Barilari on Johnny Iguana – At Delmark – Chicago Style Solo Piano (Drops April 11/Delmark Records/38:37) worked with 3 analog expert recording engineers on different dates: Greg Norman, Blaise Barton & Harry Brotman.
Delmark asked the NJ-born & Philadelphia-raised Johnny Iguana (aka Brian Berkowitz) to make this album. It was completed in 3 short sessions. Johnny has a touch on his fingers typical of juke joint/saloon pianists. Incorporating skills similar to Chuck Berry’s pianist, Johnnie Johnson. Many people play the piano, but they don’t possess a special sound. The secret to a great performer on 88 keys comes when you can hear a player’s personality & character come through the notes.
“Bass Key Boogie” reminds me of some obscure melodies. Two near-hits by pianist Jerry Smith, ABC Records’ (1969) “Truck Stop” followed by Decca Records’ “Drivin’ Home.” An invigorating performance similar to Johnny’s thrust. Iguana does it again on “For Dancers Only” with plenty of gusto mixed with moments of finesse. While Iguana may not be as intense & creative as Lenny Tristano, who depended more on improvisation & later developed polyrhythms & chromaticism in his playing, Johnny is far more accessible. He’s more entertaining.
The analog on these pieces is pristine. Quite close to the quality of old Mercury Records LPs of the David Carroll Orchestra issued in the late 50s, early 60s. The stereo-hi-fi was superb. Mercury must have had incredible equipment.
With “Riff Raff,” there’s the same appealing jazz-tinted enthusiasm in Johnny’s playing that possessed David Seville (aka Ross Bagdasarian). In 1958, Seville composed & played a piano-heavy instrumental flipside for his hit — “The Chipmunk Song.” You heard right. As “Almost Good,” Seville slipped in a little jazz education into the children’s ears. He added humor, as he kept saying “hey, that’s almost good” & continued to play like a jazz-piano demon using those same deep notes Johnny Iguana favors in his playing.
The CD is designed in a retro 1950s LP style & it suits the music. An 8pp stitched liner note insert is included.
Highlights – “Bass Key Boogie,” “For Dancers Only,” “Stormy Night at a Moroccan Blues Bar,” “Messin’ With the Kid,” “Tripping in a French Ambulance,” “You Never Can Tell,” “You Belong To Me,” & “Riff Raff.”
Color image courtesy of Timothy Hiatt. CD image at piano by Peter Hurley. CD @ Target & https://delmark.com/2025/01/johnny-iguana-at-delmark-release/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: The Claudettes “The Claudettes Go Out!”
