JB Lenoir: A Natural Man with an Unnatural Beat

There's nothing in the blues like JB Lenoir's Natural Man. You can go through all the Chess, Excello, VeeJay, Sun, sides that you want, and I really doubt you'll ever hear a beat like this. Where did it come from? Lenoir turns the beat inside out and upside down. Breaking all conventions, the drummer smacks the snare on the 1 and the 3 while the rest of the band plays on the usual 2/4. It is chaotic and wonderful.

JB himself is playing a boogie bottom with a horn section riffing along. As for the bass, I'm not sure what is going on there. But somehow it works and hangs together, how, I don't know. Everyone is pretty much playing in a different time signature.

But this was no screw-up. There's many more of these "inside out" 1/3 blues by Lenoir. He must have wanted it this way, and you know, he was right. No one and nothing else sounds like him.
Natural Man

Distant Music, Part 2

Back in the 80's and 90's I played guitar in a bunch of blues and rockabilly groups. I guess the best band I played in was The Excellos with Steve Guyger on harmonica. We did plenty of gigs in the NY/Philadelphia area. At one point we went into the studio. Here are a few tracks I've recently unearthed. These were recorded live in the studio for the most part, with a couple of guitar overdubs. Personnel was Steve Guyger, harmonica/vocals, Joe Buzzanga, Guitar, Rich Yescalis, Bass, John Kennedy, Drums.
Real Gone Lover
Joe Smokes.mp3
West Helena Blues.mp3

Distant Music (JB Archive Series)

Here's one from the archives. An extremely low-fi recording of my little band from some years ago. When I say "low-fi" I'm not kidding. This was recorded using a little $30 cassette player with built-in microphone. It was just sitting on the floor running during this rehearsal.

Anyway, there's 3 pieces going here: myself on guitar and vocals, a bass player and a drummer. The tune--Young Fashioned Ways-- is one I learned from the rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef.

Tip on In

One of my favorite album covers, totally classic. You've got the classic black face Fender amp (looks like a Twin Reverb) and nice ES335 on Slim's lap. Then there's Slim himself, resplendent in blue shiny silk suit, tie and matching harp rack. The music's not bad either!

Slim is such a genial sinner:
"Aw... lay it on me baby
Don't stop now
Let your hair down baby
We ain't goin to heaven no how
I'm ready to burn baby
Right here and now"

Click on the link to play "Tip On In"
Tip On In.mp3