JOANNA CONNOR - 4801 SOUTH INDIANA AVENUE

Short Bites

Joanna Connor_4801 South Indiana Avene_album artwork_low - AMP

2021-02-18

JOANNA CONNOR – 4801 SOUTH INDIANA AVENUE

In January, Amp reviewed virtuoso slide guitarist and singer/songwriter, Joanna Connor’s single “I Feel So Good” . We described the song as a ” sonic tornado that is both crazed and captivating”. The single is off her forthcoming album, 4801 South Indiana Avenue, which will be released on February 26th on Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive (KTBA) record label.

Connor is a major fixture in the burgeoning Chicago music scene. She is a highly forceful and ferocious blues guitar player whose palette includes both funk and jazz. Connor has played with the best including James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page and Junior Wells.

Connor recorded the new album at the Ocean Way Nashville Recording Studios with production by the esteemed Joe Bonamassa, The musicians used on the album are outstanding. They include Josh Smith, Reese Wynans and Calvin Turner, amongst others. Also, Bonamassa played on all the tracks including several solos. For Joanna, the recording of her 14th album was an entirely new experience. She states: “This album is homage to the blues school that I attended in Chicago. We attempted to capture that spirit of tradition and inject it with raw energy and passion“.

When asked why she chose the new record’s title, Joanna responded: “We chose the album title, 4801 South Indiana Avenue, because it was the actual address of the hallowed funky blues sanctuary club Theresa’s Lounge. We want the listener to open that door, walk in and feel to their core some of the magic that a place like that brought night after night. It was an honor to bring this to you, the listener“.

4801 South Indiana Avenue is comprised of 10 blistering blues tracks. Each song is brazenly alive with bold guitar licks and emotive intensity. Connor‘s guitar is imposing and her vocals dynamically masterful. Each song crackles with spicy blues flavoring.

Opening with The Assassins cover, “Destination”, Connor sets the mood. The song is a fast and furious romp full of funky nuances. Her vocals are propulsive and her guitar playing quite explosive. The band wails with frenzied jubilation. A perfect start to an impressive disc.

Throughout the record there are some delightful gems. “Come Back Home” is a beautiful honky-tonk jewel. Wynans’ rich piano coupled with Connor’s bluesy voice is a killer combo. It’s pure aural heaven. The aforementioned “I Feel So Good” is a standout as well as Luther Allison’s, “Bad News”. On “Bad News” Connor‘s guitar howls like a downtrodden scamp. You can feel the misery in every one of her notes. Her fiery vocals are coarse and anguished. A hell of a tune.

Another highlight is the classic blues song “Trouble Trouble” with its silky horns and stellar guitar licks. A true homage to the genre. Also check out “Cut You Loose”. Its rhythmic chord changes and fluctuating tempo keeps you guessing. The record ends with the hypnotic, “It’s My Time”. Spacey and ethereal the song is a fitting conclusion to a very clever and artful endeavor.

As an aside, KTBA Records is an offshoot of the Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation. Its main objective is to provide a platform for musical talent in blues and blues-rock based music and helping promote the careers of extraordinary musical talent. The label works synergistically with the non-profit’s mission of supporting musicians to continue the legacy of the blues. It represents another of Bonamassa’s continuing efforts over the last 25 years in support of the musical community.

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