Search - John Hammond :: Long As I Have You

Freshens up Some Blues Classics

loce_the_wizard | Lilburn, GA USA | 03/28/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"John Hammond delivers a well-rounded set of his interpretations of a who's who of classic blues masters on "Long As I Have You." He neither strays too far from the originals nor tries to exceed his own range----which is considerable----so the tunes here sound both fresh and natural.In something of a departure, Mr. Hammond handles only the vocals on the first dozen tracks, and Little Charlie and the Mudcats adeptly handle all the instruments with zest and taste, striking the right tone without sounding harsh and strident, which is a flaw in too many modern blues bands.For the final three tracks, which are all stripped-down bare bones blues, Mr. Hammond adds guitar and harmonica to his vocals with only a washboard to flesh out the sound.I'm glad that we have Mr. Hammond hard at work delivering his common-sense, well-honed take on the blues. Though this session does not invite frequent, repeated listenings, it's worth having."

The Best Bluesman Gets Even Better

John H. Taylor | Long Island, New York | 01/18/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Got this cd right after seeing JH live, and all the excitement of his performance comes through on disc. No one puts more into their performance. If you love the blues, this is a must-have cd. Enjoy!"