b. April 4th, 1929 in Hillsborough (North Carolina)
BULL CITY AFTER DARK
Silver Spring
October 1982 / November 1986 / March 1991 / September 1991
Dans sa famille, les parents, oncles, cousins jouent tous d'un instrument. A 14 ans, John commence donc à jouer de la guitare et anime quelques fêtes locales. Il s'installe à Durham en 1954 et exerce le métier d'ouvrier du batiment. Ce CD est en fait l'assemblage de plusieurs sessions studios et live dispersées entre 1982 et 1991 (certains proviennent d'un concert en Corée du Sud !) capturées par Pete Reiniger, Bruce Loughry parmi d'autres. John Dee Holeman s'y montre parfaitement convaincant, parfois en compagnie du pianiste Quentin "Fris" Holloway, dans ce programme de Piedmont Blues traditionnel.
In his family, parents, uncles, cousins all play an instrument. At 14, John therefore began to play guitar and hosted a few local parties. He moved to Durham in 1954 and worked as a construction worker. This CD is in fact the assembly of several studio and live sessions dispersed between 1982 and 1991 (some from a concert in South Korea !) captured by Pete Reiniger, Bruce Loughry among others. John Dee Holeman is perfectly convincing, sometimes with pianist Quentin "Fris" Holloway, in this traditional Piedmont Blues program.
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BLUES ROUTES
World Music Institute
January - June 1986
COUNTRY GIRL
Mapleshade
April 1988
Session live gravée au LBJ's Lounge de Washington par Pierre Sprey. Malheureusement, si on entend correctement John et sa guitare, le piano éléctrique de "Fris" Holloway est lui quasiment inaudible. Néanmoins, il s'agit d'un bon moment de blues traditionnel.
Live session recorded at LBJ's Lounge in Washington by Pierre Sprey. Unfortunately, if you hear John and his guitar correctly, the electric piano of "Fris" Holloway is almost inaudible. Nevertheless, this is a nice traditional blues moment.
PIEDMONT BLUES DE CAROLINE DU NORD
Inédit
Late 1980's / February - March 1992
A l'exception d'un titre, cet album fut enregistré à la Maison des Cultures du Monde à Paris (France). Un choix de titres plutôt classique et sans surprise. De plus, le programme semble un peu long, pouvant s'avérer répétitif ou ennuyeux.
With the exception of one title, this album was recorded at the Maison des Cultures du Monde in Paris (France). A rather classic choice of titles and no surprises. In addition, the program seems a bit long, which can be repetitive or boring.
BULL DURHAM BLUES
Cello
March 1998
Repéré par Tim Duffy, John Dee Holeman entre dans le giron de Music Maker et grave ce premier album pour la Fondation. Ici, le bluesman emprunte aussi bien au répertoire Piedmont Blues qu'au blues du Texas ou de Chicago (il reprend le "Hello central" de Lightnin' Hopkins et le "Sweet home Chicago" de Robert Johnson). Un excellent disque varié et inspiré produit par Tim Duffy et John Porter. On note aussi l'apparition remarquée de Taj Mahal sur certains titres.
Spotted by Tim Duffy, John Dee Holeman enters the fold of Music Maker and records this first album for the Foundation. Here, the bluesman borrows from the Piedmont Blues repertoire as well as from the Texas or Chicago blues (he covers "Hello central" by Lightnin' Hopkins and "Sweet home Chicago" by Robert Johnson). An excellent, varied and inspired record produced by Tim Duffy and John Porter. We also note the remarkable appearance of Taj Mahal on some titles.
NOW SEE HEAR
Music Maker
March 1998
JOHN DEE HOLEMAN & THE WAIFS BAND
Music Maker
November 2004
John Dee Holeman est associé ici au groupe de Folk-Rock australien The Waifs Band sous la supervision de la Music Maker Foundation. Leur collaboration apparait parfaitement convaincante et équilibrée. Ce disque permet d'entendre John dans un contexte orchestral électrique différent de ses albums précédents. Les musiciens sont attentifs et compétents, ils accompagnent remarquablement le bluesman. On retient notamment "Country gal", "Mojo hand", "Comin' home to you" qui méritent vraiment l'écoute.
John Dee Holeman is associated here with the australian Folk-Rock group The Waifs Band under the supervision of the Music Maker Foundation. Their collaboration appears perfectly convincing and balanced. This album lets you hear John in an electric orchestral context different from his previous albums. The musicians are attentive and competent, they accompany the bluesman remarkably. We note in particular "Country gal", "Mojo hand", "Comin' home to you" who really deserve listening.
YOU GOT TO LOSE YOU CAN'T WIN ALL THE TIME
Music Maker
2008
Toujours sous l'égide de la Fondation Music Maker, John Dee Holeman est à nouveau placé dans un contexte orchestral électrique. Holeman et ses musiciens livrent une tranche de Blues terrien vraiment irrésistible ("Mojo hand", "Early letter blues", "One black rat" ainsi qu'une belle reprise de "Hoochie coochie man"). Presque octogénaire, John montre qu'il est toujours en pleine forme et propose ici un superbe album. Derrière lui, on trouve Tim Duffy (guitare), "Cool" John Ferguson (guitare), Slewfoot (harmonica), Jay Brown (basse) et Zeke Hutchins (batterie et production).
Still under the aegis of the Music Maker Foundation, John Dee Holeman is once again placed in an electric orchestral context. Holeman and his musicians deliver a slice of truly irresistible down home Blues ("Mojo hand", "Early letter blues", "One black rat" as well as a nice cover of "Hoochie coochie man"). Almost octogenarian, John shows that he is still in great shape and offers here a superb album. Behind him are Tim Duffy (guitar), "Cool" John Ferguson (guitar), Slewfoot (harmonica), Jay Brown (bass) and Zeke Hutchins (drums and production).
LABOR OF LOVE
Analogue
2016
Deux bons morceaux chantés par John Dee Holeman dans cet album de Taj Mahal : "Mistreated blues" et "Hambone".
Two good songs sung by John Dee Holeman in this Taj Mahal album : "Mistreated blues" and "Hambone".
LAST PAIR OF SHOES
Music Maker
2019
A 90 ans, John Dee Holeman reste un excellent bluesman capable de proposer encore un disque de premier plan. Il est ici accompagné par Tad Walters, Harvey Dalton, Chuck Cotton, James "Bubba" Norwood, Chuck Robinson. Du blues électrique - saturé par moments - terrien et excitant qui vaut une écoute attentive. Des reprises pour l'essentiel mais adaptées avec goût : "She moves me", "Dig myself a hole", "Shotgun blues".
At 90, John Dee Holeman remains an excellent bluesman capable of still offering a leading album. He is here accompanied by Tad Walters, Harvey Dalton, Chuck Cotton, James "Bubba" Norwood, Chuck Robinson. Electric blues - saturated at times - down home and exciting that is worth listening carefully. Mostly but tastefully adapted covers : "She moves me", "Dig myself a hole", "Shotgun blues".