Johnny Burris
b. February 15th, 1928 in Kings Mountain (North Carolina)
d. May 15th, 1988 in San Francisco (California)
ON THE ROAD
Folkways
Xtra
1958
En réalité, ce disque est souvent attribué, à juste titre, à Sonny Terry. Mais, dans cette séance pour Folkways, ses deux acolytes Sticks Mac Ghee (à la guitare) et J.C. Burris (harmonica et osselets) prennent quelques morceaux en leader. J.C. Burris chante sur deux morceaux ("Easy rider" et "Drink of wine"). On sent que les trois compagnons ont l'habitude de jouer ensemble tant leur entente est parfaite.
In fact, this record is often attributed, rightly, to Sonny Terry. But in this session for Folkways, his two acolytes Sticks Mac Ghee (guitar) and J.C. Burris (harmonica and bones) take a few pieces as leaders. J.C. Burris sings on two tracks ("Easy rider" and "Drink of wine"). We assume that the three companions are used to playing together as their feeling is perfect.
ONE OF THESE MORNINGS
Arhoolie
July - September 1975
BLUES PROFESSOR
Arhoolie
July 1975 - 1976
Neveu de Sonny Terry, J.C. Burris accompagne son illustre oncle dans plusieurs séances new-yorkaises (il joue derrière Terry sur les albums "Sonny Terry's new sound" et "Sonny's story"). Puis il s'installe à San Francisco en Californie. En 1966, une attaque le prive d'une partie de sa mobilité. Cependant, il réussit à la retrouver à force d'efforts. Grâce à Chris Strachwitz à qui il a envoyé ses bandes, J.C. Burris grave ce premier album. Dans celui-ci, il est complètement seul, chantant avec ferveur, jouant de l'harmonica et des osselets avec puissance et inspiration. La plupart de ces morceaux semblent avoir été capté en public entre 1975 et 1976. Malgré le fait qu'il joue seul, J.C. Burris fait preuve d'un remarquable dynamisme en particulier sur "Hold me tight", "River of life", "One of these mornings", "Inflation blues", "Blues professor", "Moving on", "Raining in your life".
Sonny Terry's nephew, J.C. Burris accompanies his illustrious uncle in several New York sessions (he plays behind Terry on "Sonny Terry's new sound" and "Sonny's story" albums). Then he moved to San Francisco (California). In 1966, a stroke deprived him of part of his mobility. However, he managed to recover it by force of effort. Thanks to Chris Strachwitz to whom he sent his tapes, J.C. Burris made this first album. In this one, he is completely alone, singing fervently, playing harmonica and bones with power and inspiration. Most of these tracks seem to have been captured in public between 1975 and 1976. Despite the fact that he plays alone, J.C. Burris shows a remarkable dynamism especially on "Hold me tight", "River of life", "One of these mornings", "Inflation blues", "Blues professor", "Moving on", "Raining in your life".
LONG WAY BY MYSELF
Oosik
1979
SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL - EUROPEAN SESSIONS
Paris Album
EPM
May 1980
On trouve ici 3 morceaux de J.C. Burris gravés lors d'une tournée européenne. Seul à l'harmonica - comme à son habitude - il délivre une belle prestation en particulier sur l'excellent "Black president".
Here are 3 tracks of J.C. Burris engraved during a european tour. Alone on harmonica - as usual - he delivers a great performance especially on the excellent "Black president".
CLASSIC APPALACHIAN BLUES
Smithsonian - Folkways
June 1982
Un très beau titre de J.C. Burris ("Blues around my bed") capté sur la scène du Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife à Washington.
A beautiful title of J.C. Burris ("Blues around my bed") captured on the stage of the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife in Washington.