Various Artists – Jock’s Juke Joint: Contemporary Blues From Scotland Vol. 2 12.07.12
Chip Eagle | Dec 06, 2012 | Comments 18
Various Artists
Jock’s Juke Joint: Contemporary Blues From Scotland Vol. 2
Lewis Hamilton Music
BluesWax Rating: 9 out of 10
Scotland Trailblazes the Best in British Blues and Beyond
This is the second release of the top Scottish blues talent following the highly acclaimed first volume, universally rated as one of the best compilations made in 2012, taking the listener on a roller coaster ride of blues styles and emotions. However, Volume 2 can now claim this accolade because it is even better, not least because of the sensational collaboration between Scots harp legend Fraser Speirs and young gun Lewis Hamilton. The instrumental “There You Are Now” is reminiscent of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee at their peak, albeit in mellow mood, with harmonica and guitar in perfect synergy.
Another key factor contributing to the brilliance of the second volume is the continuing theme of superb harmonica playing on most of the 18 tracks. One of the leading exponents of this instrument is Richard Young, an Englishman now residing in Scotland, whose “Confidence Man” is a tour de force performance. Other harp giants include the Blues ‘n’ Trouble frontman Tim Elliott (“Try Anything Twice”), Danny Williams of The Kennel Wages (“Fighting Over You”), Ali Davies from The Binsness Bluesboys (“Crawdad Hole”), and Cameron Grey, who accompanies the excellent Jed Potts and the Hillman Hunters on”Don’t Tell Me.” Potts is a versatile guitarist who sounds like he was born in the Mississippi Delta but is also an accomplished folk musician with the renowned Jake Cogan Band.
Further high spots include Alan Sutherland’s piano playing on Wang Dang Delta’s “Shutting Out The World,” the earthy vocals of Cynthia Gentle’s “You Just Can’t Win” accompanied by the subtle rhythms of The Truetones, and John Alexander’s acoustic slide guitar and fingerpicking on “Nowhere To Go.” Folk-blues is represented by the eight-piece band The Black Diamond Express, swing from Baby Isaac, and old-school R&B courtesy of The Blueswater. Then there are the cool licks and hot riffs of The Lynsey Dolan Band, the soulful acoustics of Hot Tin Roof, and the unique progressive blues of Earl Grey and the Loose Leaves. The 4 Als, including guitarists Nimmo and Brown, and multi-talented Dougie Burns represent the long-serving stalwarts whilst Leah Gourley is the promising newcomer.
And within this variety lies the beauty and power of this entirely original offering, a surprise package and cornucopia of contemporary blues artists discovered by respected journalist Duncan Beattie on his travels. The CD has been lovingly produced by Lewis Hamilton whose father Nick takes the credit for the professional and creative photography and lay out. All in all, Jock’s Juke Joint is an important concept which shows how the genre is thriving in Scotland as the indomitable spirit of luminaries such as the late Tam White, Frankie Miller, Maggie Bell, Ian Anderson, and Jack Bruce lives on within the country’s contemporary blues scene. Indeed, it is far more than that as each of the current generation of bluesmen and women represented here adds a fresh, distinctive and innovative approach and sound which is widening the appeal of the blues in the 21st century by taking it in a new direction.
Dave Scott is a contributing writer at BluesWax.
Filed Under: BluesWax Weekly • This Week's BluesWax • Weekly CD Reviews
About the Author:
As a bass player with Baby Isaac one of the bands featured I would like to echo what Dave Scott has said about the wonderful mixture of blues talent on the album. The launch party in Edinburgh was a get together of like the minded and an opportunity to see other acts. Jock’s Juke Joint has opened the door in terms of promoting all the artist involved. We have sent our latest album Blues Epidemic to many radio stations and promoters. So well done to Lewis and Nick Hamilton and Duncs Blues for producing such a fine compilation.
Cheers Graeme Smith
What a great review, sounds fantastic. I found this link with sound clips to the songs. Excellent!
My name is Andy and I play in a Scottish based blues guitar duo called Hot Tin Roof, we feature on track 14 of Jock’s Juke Joint cd vol 2.
The global recognition and appreciation of Blues as a genre can arguably be traced back to the 1950/60s British blues scene.
During this time creative long lasting music flourished and was actually popular primarily due to the ‘sound’. The primary contributors of this popular sound was produced by musicians who honed their craft through practice, patience and experience.
In contrast popular music today is dictated less by this approach and more through image, youth and sex appeal; popular music has been of poor musical quality for quite some time.
Yet in the two years I’ve been playing blues music throughout Edinburgh I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the growing number of people (like me) who are tired of poorly made music. People who yearn for a more organic sound that can only be created through collective practice, patience and experience – irrespective of the genre.
I believe that the importance and beauty of concepts such as JJJ is that all the artists on the album adhere to producing a sound that can only be created through the above qualities.
The musicianship on JJJ is excellent & inspiring and there is a wealth of talented underground musicians here in Scotland with a true appreciation and love of blues/roots music.
One of the primary contributors of the JJJ concept mentioned (via JJJ FB page) that the author of Blues Revue might get JJJ printed in the magazine if he/she recognised the interest.
I believe that JJJ can bring attention to the massive interest of blues here in Scotland and potentially contribute to sparking a blues revival here in the UK.
This is why JJJ should be of interest to the BR author and indeed the rest of the blues community, and I hope this comment helps contribute to getting JJJ printed in BR magazine – Best wishes, Andy.
Ass the bass player with Ruff Cut who appear on Volume 1 I applaud the guys responsible for getting this project up and running. This is another great album showcasing Scottish blues talent. Roll on Volume 3.
Great review, many thanks from the Truetones, and Richard Young (who also appears on the Truetone’s track)
Thank you for those very kind words about what has become a true labour of love for all of us involved. The live music scene in the UK has been struggling a bit of late across all genres, and we really hope these compilation CDs will make a difference to the public’s awareness to the amazing talent on their own doorsteps. Many collaborations between the artists involved have and will continue to emerge, hopefully regeneration the live music scene, and what has really been heart-warming is that many venues can now have instant access to demoes that some bands may stuggle to afford to produce, and are already making bookings. Win Win then …
Scotland has produced some great genres of music over the years from bagpipe laments to inspiring Cajun fiddle music and that other essential of the blues- whisky !
More recently blues musicians such as Bonnie Raitt have claimed Scotland as their spiritual home and listening to these two collections of Scottish blues music it is easy to understand why.
So pick up Vols 1+2, get some whisky and get happy !
Mr. Fraser, we have decided to take your advice. With such a positive response from our Scottish blues brothers, Mr. Scott has written up a review of Vol. 1, which we are bumping up the calendar to run this week. So tell your friends to check it out on Friday. Clearly Scotland has the blues! BluesWax Editor Chip Eagle
great to see Scotland being so well represented in the Blues scene looking forward to vol 3 .
An excellent album. Some great tracks and not a single bad one. It stayed in my car CD player for two weeks after I got a copy.
Favourite tracks: ALL
Especially:
You Just Can’t Win – Truetones
Shutting out the world – Wang Dang Delta
From Vol 1:
South of the City – Albany Down
You Can’t Hang – The Bel-Airs
Let me hear you say YEAH!
Great sound love hearing authentic Scottish Blues played so well ill definitely be buying this one
This is an amazing venture by Nick/Duncan & everyone who is involved. Why did no one think of this before? There is so much talent in Scotland, as is shown by the quality of the bands on both c.d.’s! After receiving Vol.1 of JJJ & playing it non stop at home & on Alive Radio, we could’nt wait for Vol.2. We jumped at the chance of attending the launch of Vol.2 of JJJ in Edinburgh & were not disapointed. Mike has continued to play & promote JJJ on air, not because he has to, but because he wants everyone to hear what they are missing by not having both these c.d.’s & to realise that Blues music is funky,rocky,soulful etc, need I say more!
Keep up the good work guys! June & Mike Rogerson.
As the writer and singer on the Wang Dang Delta track Shutting Out the World, I can assure you the band were also impressed by Alan Sutherland’s piano solo on the track. When we suggested to him that it sounded like he had been inspired by the playing of Chick Corea, Alan casually mentioned that during a performance at Telluride Festival a couple of years earlier, he had actually used Chick Corea’s piano during his band’s set. Must have rubbed off, eh?
The breadth of contributions from all the featured artists is exactly what persuaded us to participate in this project. In their own ways, all of the acts are pushing the boundaries and are to commended for it.
Roll on Volume 3.
Very happy to be included on this compilation of Scottish Blues. Honoured to be included alongside artists I have long admired and artists I have not heard before. I am sure I will bump into almost all of them as I tour around the 2013 Scottish Blues Festivals and now, hopefully further afield if some gigs come my way.
I am recording now and due to self release my first solo album in the spring (unless some deal appears out of the blue)so I look forward to getting on the road with it and getting more of my music out kicking and screaming into the light!!!
I see talented and undiscovered Scottish Blues artists all the time and this quality series of well put together compilations is a real eye opener for the world out there who have not had the opportunity to hear Scottish Blues.
Roll up Vol 3 !
Very happy to be included on this compilation of Scottish Blues. Honoured to be included alongside artists I have long admired and artists I have not heard before. I am sure I will bump into almost all of them as I tour around the 2013 Scottish Blues Festivals and now, hopefully further afield if some gigs come my way.
I am recording now and due to self release my first solo album in the spring (unless some deal appears out of the blue)so I look forward to getting on the road with it and getting more of my music out kicking and screaming into the light!!!
I see talented and undiscovered Scottish Blues artists all the time and this quality series of well put together compilations is a real eye opener for the world out there who have not had the opportunity to hear Scottish Blues.
Roll up Vol 3 !
was lucky enough to play guitar on vol 1 and vol 2 is sounding great had few listens now vol 1 n 2 a mixed bag covering every style of blues loads great tracks great job nick lewis n dunc