b. November 25th, 1943 in Evanston (Illinois)
POISON KISSES
Modern Blues
1991
HOME RUN HITTER
Indigo
1991 / 1995
Fils d'un commerçant de Maxwell Street à Chicago, Jerry est très tôt immergé dans le Blues. Vers 1969, il intègre le groupe de Johnny Young qu'il accompagne deux ans et demi. Puis il joue derrière John Littlejohn et Sam Lay. Jerry devient ensuite l'harmoniciste de Muddy Waters entre mai 1974 et juin 1980. Il participera ensuite au Legendary Blues Band entre 1980 et 1986. Après avoir passé environ un an derrière Ronnie Earl, Jerry monte son propre groupe The Streamliners en 1989. Son premier album est produit par lui-même et Kim Wilson. Jerry se concentre sur l'harmonica (il ne chante que sur deux titres). Un bon disque de Blues traditionnel avec des titres intéressants comme "Charge it", "She makes me", "Real gone guy", "Blues in a dream". L'album "Home run hitter" reprend exactement la tracklist de "Poison kisses" mais pourvu d'un nouveau mixage. Jerry a ajouté trois titres inédits enregistrés en 1995 : "Home run hitter", "One chance" et "Black tear drops".
The son of a merchant on Maxwell Street in Chicago, Jerry was immersed in the Blues very early on. Around 1969, he joined Johnny Young's group, which he accompanied for two and a half years. Then he plays behind John Littlejohn and Sam Lay. Jerry then became the harmonica player of Muddy Waters between may 1974 and june 1980. He then participated in the Legendary Blues Band between 1980 and 1986. After spending about a year behind Ronnie Earl, Jerry set up his own group The Streamliners in 1989. His first album was produced by himself and Kim Wilson. Jerry concentrates on harmonica (he only sings on two tracks). A good traditional Blues record with interesting titles like "Charge it", "She makes me", "Real gone guy", "Blues in a dream". The album "Home run hitter" takes exactly the tracklist of "Poison kisses" but provided with a new mix. Jerry added three unreleased tracks recorded in 1995 : "Home run hitter", "One chance" and "Black tear drops".
DOWN IN THE MOOD ROOM
Tiny Town
2001
C'est Duke Robillard qui produit cet album de Jerry Portnoy. Autour des deux hommes, un beau groupe composé de Marty Ballou, Gordon "Sax" Beadle, Doug James parmi d'autres. Pour cet album, le son s'oriente vers le Jazz et du Blues type West Coast avec cuivres proéminents. Jerry est toujours inspiré à l'harmonica et le programme possède plusieurs moments sympathiques : "So slow", "Lazy", "Once too often", "Mood room boogie", "Endless road".
It is Duke Robillard who produces this album of Jerry Portnoy. Around the two men, a beautiful backing band composed of Marty Ballou, Gordon "Sax" Beadle, Doug James among others. For this album, the sound is oriented towards Jazz and West Coast Blues with prominent horns. Jerry is always inspired on harmonica and the program has several nice moments : "So slow", "Lazy", "Once too often", "Mood room boogie", "Endless road".