Junior Watson Nothing To It But To Do It

Junior Watson
Nothing To It But To Do It
Little Village Foundation

Junior Watson is among the most respected blues guitarists on the West Coast who has played with and recording with such acts as Big Mama Thornton, George Harmonica Smith, Jimmy Rogers, Shakey Jake, Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, William Clarke and more. He was the original guitarist in The Mighty Flyers with whom he stayed ten years. He has not recorded often as a leader which is rectified on this new CD from the Little Village Foundation. This recording was co-produced by Kid Andersen with Watson and recorded at Andersen's Greaseland Studios. Andersen himself says, "There is no guitarist on earth I value higher than Junior Watson." Making this record with him is one of the greatest honors in my life."

There is a mix of instrumentals and vocals. Watson sings on several tunes, and there are vocals by guests Alabama Mike and Lisa Leuschner Andersen. Others in the studio band are Sax Gordon on saxophone; Jim Pugh on keyboards, Kedar Roy on bass, and Andrew Guterman on drums with Gary Smith on harmonica on one song.

The mood is set with the opening instrumental, "Up and Out," displaying Watson's crisp, twisting attack that evokes to this listener the shattering Memphis attack of Willie Johnson mixed with a touch of Albert Collins and Jimmy Nolen. Gordon is outstanding while Pugh's skating rink organ adds to the atmosphere. Other instrumentals include "Ska-Ra-Van" a ska version of Juan Tizol-Duke Ellington's Caravan." Gordon takes an imaginative tenor sax solo while Pugh' organ adds to the flavor of the performance. There is a Mexican flavored instrumental "Summer of Love" with scintillating guitar, and a raucous shuffle "Space Flight, with Pugh's organ, followed by some blistering guitar." "Pee Wee Classic," a tribute to Pee Wee Crayton, is an exciting spinoff of "Texas Hop."

The five vocals by Lisa Andersen, Kid's wife, are a revelation as she sings with a forcefulness and nuance that suggests such sixties female singers as Carol Fran, Carla Thomas, and Barbara Lewis. Certainly the hard-rocking "Don't Freeze Me Out" is a gripping performance, while "One Way Street" is a further showcase of how good a singer she is while Gordon is excellent on the baritone sax. Another vocal is the James Brown penned "I Found You," a variant of "I Got You." Alabama Mike co-wrote with Watson, an intense slow blues "A Shot in the Dark," on a performance in the vein of Buddy Guy's Chess recordings. Watson himself is an understated, appealing vocal on a shuffle "Louella," as well as a revival of Chicago blues harpist Dusty Brown's "Well, You Know," with Gary Smith adding his harmonica.

Junior Watson, a brilliant guitarist and with the terrific backing band, is showcased on a marvelous recording that displays his considerable talents.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a clip of Junior Watson performing in 2017.