>>PREVIEW
JOHNNY WINTER
Saturday, February 17
Bowness Community Hall
Johnny Winter’s concert has been sold out for almost a month, and it’s not because we’ve been blitzed with promotional material. Why all the excitement? He’s not playing the Jack Singer or the Dome – this music giant is playing a small gig in Bowness. How often do you get to sit up close and personal with a guy who’s played with Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, rocked the stage at the original 1969 Woodstock, and produced for Muddy Waters.
Texas-born Winter definitely qualifies as a rock and blues legend. Though named to The Blues Foundation Hall of Fame (1986) and Hollywood’s Rockwalk (1998), Winter is humble and realistic about his status. When asked how it feels to be a legend, he laughs.
"It feels excellent. It’s great (to be mentioned alongside people like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf)."
Winter is quick to add that while it’s an honour, he also feels he’s carrying the torch for the old masters. However, don’t relegate Winter to past-legend status. It’s true that he produced for Muddy Waters, that he’s been heavily influenced by Howlin’ Wolf, Bobby Bland and John Lee Hooker, but it’s also true that from the beginning Winter has been definite about his own style. Unlike others who made the pilgrimage to Chicago blues clubs in the early ’60s – Charlie Musselwhite, Paul Butterfield, and Mike Bloomfield, Winter is candid about the city’s influence on his music.
"It was pretty nice, really," Winter acknowledges. "I enjoyed playing in Chicago." But it didn’t change Winter’s style or direction. "I just pretty much already knew what I wanted to do."
It’s still true that Winter knows what he wants and what he wants still hits the mark. His newest CD has been nominated for a Grammy, but according to Johnny it could be better.
"I don’t think it’s as good as my Alligator stuff. I don’t know, I was taking anti-depressants when I was doing that record, and it seems to affect my singing some. I didn’t sing as good as I wanted to be able to, so I’ve quit taking those and I’m back to full power now."
Back to full power, pushing harder, Winter, who segued into rock stardom in the early ’70s, has returned to the blues with a vengeance. It was, and will always be, the answer for Johnny Winter.
"It felt good – so much emotion and feeling," says Winter of his first hearing of the Blues. "It was something I really loved. It just seemed to move me the most."
It’s also the answer for a lot of up-and-coming musicians. Johnny’s advice if you think you want to play the Blues?
"Play as much as you can, listen to as much music as you can," Winter says.
And, of course, study the masters. |
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