b. January 17th, 1953 in Chicago (Illinois)
MY NAME IS CARLOS JOHNSON
Blues Special
November 2000
Fils de Warren et Barbara Johnson, Carlos nait à Chicago. Gaucher influencé par Otis Rush et Albert King, il joue comme eux sur une guitare de droitier. Carlos apprend les rudiments de la guitare blues avec Sammy Lawhorn puis Buster Benton. Dans les années 70, il se lie d'amitié et joue fréquemment avec "Lefty" Dizz. En tant que sideman, il est le second guitariste de Son Seals (sur l'album "Bad axe") et est un membre régulier des Sons of the Blues ("Where is my money"). Il fait sa première tournée au Japon (un pays où il reviendra régulièrement) en 1989 avec la chanteuse Valerie Wellington. Son premier disque fut enregistré lors d'une tournée en Argentine avec des musiciens locaux. Chanteur moyen mais guitariste précis, il donne quelques compositions personnelles convaincantes comme "My name is Carlos Johnson", "Sometimes I wonder" mais aussi des passages maladroits ("Carlos Johnson boogie").
Son of Warren and Barbara Johnson, Carlos is born in Chicago. Left-handed influenced by Otis Rush and Albert King, he plays like them on a right-handed guitar. Carlos learns the basics of the blues guitar with Sammy Lawhorn and then Buster Benton. In the 70's, he became friends and played frequently with "Lefty" Dizz. As a sideman, he is the second guitarist of Son Seals (on the album "Bad axe") and is a regular member of the Sons of the Blues ("Where is my money"). He made his first tour in Japan (a country where he will return regularly) in 1989 with the singer Valerie Wellington. His first record was recorded during a tour in Argentina with local musicians. Ordinary singer but accurate guitarist, he gives some compelling personal compositions like "My name is Carlos Johnson", "Sometimes I wonder" but also some awkward passages ("Carlos Johnson boogie").
THE HEALER
Wolf
November 2000
Disque partagé entre Carlos Johnson et son ami "Lefty" Dizz. Concernant les titres de Carlos, ils sont issus des séances argentines de "My name is Carlos Johnson". Hormis une étonnante reprise de "The healer" (composé par John Lee Hooker & Carlos Santana), il n'y a pas grand chose d'intéressant dans ce recueil.
Album shared between Carlos Johnson and his friend "Lefty" Dizz. Concerning the titles of Carlos, they are from the Argentina sessions of "My name is Carlos Johnson". Apart from an amazing cover of "The healer" (composed by John Lee Hooker & Carlos Santana), there is not much interesting in this collection.
DON'T MESS WITH THE BLUESMEN
P-Vine
June 2003 - January 2004
L'album réunit l'harmoniciste Billy Branch et le guitariste Carlos Johnson autrefois associés au sein des Sons of the Blues. Gravé à Chicago, l'album est produit par Sumito "Ariyo" Ariyoshi. Des reprises plutôt bien ficelées ("Don't throw your love on me so strong", "Going to New York", "Shade tree mechanic", "Real mother for ya"), des instrumentaux inspirés ("Blues after the rain", "Escape") mais aussi certains moments un peu trop conventionnels (la ballade "Hello there"). Un excellent disque néanmoins.
The album brings together the harmonicist Billy Branch and the guitarist Carlos Johnson formerly associated with the Sons of the Blues. Recorded in Chicago, the album is produced by Sumito "Ariyo" Ariyoshi. Really well-arranged covers ("Don't throw your love on me so strong", "Going to New York", "Shade tree mechanic", "Real mother for ya"), inspired instrumentals ("Blues after the rain", "Escape") but also some moments a little too conventional (the ballad "Hello there"). An excellent record nevertheless.
IN AND OUT
Mister Kelly's
2004
Co-produit par Carlos Johnson, Akira Sakurai, Hideaki Tanaka pour le label japonais Mister Kelly's avec les mêmes musiciens que sur "Don't mess with the bluesmen". Le chant de Carlos est mieux maitrisé. Son blues contemporain un peu funky, un peu jazzy mérite une écoute attentive : "Blues man", "Leaving on the next train", "In and out".
Co-produced by Carlos Johnson, Akira Sakurai, Hideaki Tanaka for the Japanese label Mister Kelly's with the same musicians as on "Don't mess with the bluesmen". Carlos's singing is better mastered. His contemporary blues is a little bit funky, a little bit jazzy and deserves a careful listening : "Blues man", "Leaving on the next train", "In and out".
LIVE AT BLUES ON HALSTED
P-Vine
June 2006
Sur la scène du club B.L.U.E.S de Chicago avec son groupe régulier (Sam Green, Dave Rice, James Knowles), l'ambiance est chaude. Une belle tranche de blues puissant ("High heel sneakers"). Les morceaux sont parfois un peu trop longs et le son du synthétiseur pas très joli.
On the Chicago B.L.U.E.S club scene with his regular band (Sam Green, Dave Rice, James Knowles), the atmosphere is warm. A beautiful slice of powerful blues ("High heel sneakers"). The tracks are sometimes a little too long and the sound of the synthesizer not very pretty.
CHICAGO BLUES : A LIVING HISTORY
Raisin' Music
2009
Pour ce superbe projet initié par Larry Skoller, Carlos Johnson est invité et livre une belle version de "The healer" (une reprise de John Lee Hooker), accompagné par Billy Branch, Billy Flynn, Johnny Iguana, Felton Crews, Kenny Smith et Mick Avery.
For this great project initiated by Larry Skoller, Carlos Johnson is a guest and delivers a beautiful version of "The healer" (a John Lee Hooker's cover), accompanied by Billy Branch, Billy Flynn, Johnny Iguana, Felton Crews, Kenny Smith and Mick Avery.
CHICAGO BLUES : A LIVING HISTORY - LIVE AT AULNAY ALL BLUES
Raisin' Music
November 2010
CHICAGO BLUES : THE (R)EVOLUTION CONTINUES
Raisin' Music
2011
Il s'agit de la suite de "Chicago blues : a living history". Pour celle-ci, Carlos Johnson propose deux reprises : "Somebody loan me a dime" (de Fenton Robinson) et surtout "Ain't comin' in" de son mentor Otis Rush.
This is the sequel to "Chicago blues: a living history". For this one, Carlos Johnson proposes two covers : "Somebody loan me a dime" (from Fenton Robinson) and especially "Ain't comin' in" from his mentor Otis Rush.
CHICAGO PLAYS THE STONES
Raisin' Music
2018
Hommage des bluesmen de Chicago aux chansons des Rolling Stones produit par Larry Skoller dans laquelle Carlos Johnson propose une sympathique version de "Out of control".
Tribute from the Chicago bluesmen to the songs of the Rolling Stones produced by Larry Skoller in which Carlos Johnson delivers a nice version of "Out of control".