John O'Leary & Pointblank Blues Band - As Blue As I Can Be (2002)

×

John O'Leary & Pointblank Blues Band - As Blue As I Can Be (2002)

Close

John O'Leary is one of the pioneers of the art of the blues harp in the UK. Originally from Ireland, John's family was part of the massive migration to England in the aftermath of World War 2. In London's thriving jazz clubs of the 1960's he first heard blues harp player Cyril Davies with Alexis Korner's Blues Inc. John bought his first instrument in 1962 and learned to play by listening and watching Davies. Inevitably, he discovered the great masters of the blues harmonica; Sonny Boy Williamson No.1, Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Noah Lewis, James Cotton, Shakey Horton and Junior Wells. John's career has seen his involvement with numerous bands and musicians over four decades. Beginning in 1965 with Savoy Brown's Blues Band through to the present day John O'Leary & Sugarkane, John has continued to maintain a prominent position on the British and European blues scene.

Reviews

Blues In Britain, Vol.1 Issue No. 7

Here we have John O’Leary, veteran harp player with Savoy Brown, The John Dummer Band and The Brunning/Hall Sunflower Band teaming up with a group of accomplished musicians from Belgrade. They consist of Dr. Project on guitar, Darko Grujic on keyboards, Zoran Milenkovic on bass and Jovan Pejcinovic on drums. If you don’t know, there is a healthy interest in blues and rock in Eastern Europe with a strong following in Poland and Hungary as well as in the former Yugoslavia.
So how does this ensemble sound? First class is the answer! One great bonus is that eight of the ten tracks on the CD are self-penned, six with John O’Leary in part and two with Dr. Project with only two traditional blues standards. The album kicks off with “Gimme a Reason” with fine harmonica playing from the start from John followed by the mellifluous “Ain’t Gonna Call” played with gusto. On “Nineteen Years Old”, we have a classic track which owes an obvious debt to Muddy Waters which is well sung with fine instrumental work. “Roadhouse Man” is a good ensemble number while “Downtown Walk” is a harmonica led instrumental with a fine keyboard solo and is fast and furious and very impressive. “Say What You Mean” features Ljiljana saljil on vocals, a veritable Maggie Bell with standout harp by John. “On Drinking Again” there is a great guitar intro from Dr. Project and an atmospheric vocal from John. “Bluestrain” kicks off with great piano from Darko Grujic followed by standout guitar and harp. On “Freedom Road” there is a great harp intro to a song about political struggle which fits in well as a blues. The final cut “Divin’ Duck”, this is a great rendition of this standard with staccato drumming and lyrical harp. All in all a fine effort and well worth tracking down.

~ Bill Smith, Rating 8/10

Blues Matters Magazine, April 2002 Issue

Original Savoy Brown harpist leads a double life – he plays here (UK) with various artists, including young Andy Cortes’s crew (and is starting a new UK band of his own) and also plays with this very confident group of Belgrade musicians. That is Dragoljub Crncevic (gtr), Darko Grujic (keyboards), Zoran Milenkovic (bass) and Jovan Pejcinovic (drums). This collection was cut in Yugoslavia in late 2001, but John’s playing and singing drops a large helping of his favoured Chicago style right into the middle of the proceedings. Starting out with just vocal before the band and blazing harp fall in. “Gimme A Reason”, sets the pleading tone of many of the songs here; human foibles and pleasures being a natural topic for any bluesman. O’Leary is no exception to the rule.The harmonica tone is Musselwhitish, the way it is recorded; however John’s phrasing is his own as anyone seeing him at a live show will testify. O’Leary is not one to sell himself, but it is probable high time he shared more of the belief others of us have long held in his talent.
It is here on “Nineteen Years Old” where O’Leary lets the piano man work through well phrased, atmospheric solo before starting his own Chess-era harp passage. This recording shows the confidence of the musicians as no one aboard overplays. A female singer contributes to “Why Don’t You Say What You Feel” with an almost Diana Krall character as Cray-style guitars stab across the stealthy tempo… Personally I’d like to hear John venture beyond the blues at times and from recent conversations perhaps this is on the cards for the future. The fact that he leaves plenty of room for other players on virtually all the numbers here underlines the fact that this guy likes ensemble music and the timeless spirit of the great Delmark artists lives on in these grooves….

~ Pete Sargent

×

John O'Leary & Pointblank Blues Band - As Blue As I Can Be (2002)

Close

×

John O'Leary & Pointblank Blues Band - As Blue As I Can Be (2002)

Close