Johnny Belle Moore
b. January 24th, 1950 in Clarksdale (Mississippi)
NEW GENERATION OF CHICAGO BLUES
Blue Eye (mp3)
November 1977
C'est son père Floyd Moore qui lui apprend la guitare dès l'âge de 7 ans. Johnny chante le Gospel dans sa ville de Clarksdale. En 1964, le jeune adolescent arrive à Chicago avec sa famille. La veuve du pianiste "Little" Johnny Jones - Letha Jones - lui fait découvrir le Blues. Plus tard, il recevra également les conseils de Jimmy Reed. Johnny démarre sérieusement sa carrière en rejoignant le groupe de Koko Taylor en 1975 pour cinq années (il participera notamment à son superbe "The earthshaker"). Dans le même temps, il fait partie des Chicago Blues All Stars de Willie Dixon dès 1977. Il jouera au sein de cette formation jusqu'au décès de Dixon en 1992. Johnny fait aussi partie de la tournée européenne New Generation of Chicago Blues supervisée par Willie Dixon avec d'autres jeunes bluesmen (Melvin "Harmonica" Hinds, Lurrie Bell, Billy Branch, William "Dead Eye" Norris). Sur ce recueil proposé par Gérard Herzhaft, Johnny est leader sur deux excellents morceaux : "I'm a king bee" et "Going back to Iuka".
It is his father Floyd Moore who teaches him the guitar from the age of 7 years. Johnny sings Gospel in his town of Clarksdale. In 1964, the young teenager arrived in Chicago with his family. The widow of pianist "Little" Johnny Jones - Letha Jones - introduces him to the Blues. Later, he will also receive the advices of Jimmy Reed. Johnny started his career seriously by joining Koko Taylor's band in 1975 for five years (participating notably on superb "The Earthshaker"). At the same time, he was a member of the Chicago Blues All Stars of Willie Dixon from 1977. He played with the band until the death of Dixon in 1992. Johnny is also part of the New Generation of Chicago Blues european tour supervised by Willie Dixon with other young bluesmen (Melvin "Harmonica" Hinds, Lurrie Bell, Billy Branch, William "Dead Eye" Norris). On this collection proposed by Gérard Herzhaft, Johnny is the leader on two excellent tracks : "I'm a king bee" and "Going back to Iuka".
CHICAGO BLUES SESSION vol.2
Wolf
August 1984
On trouve dans cette anthologie Wolf, ses deux premiers morceaux en studio gravés en aout 1984 : "Sacrifice" (repris aussi dans "Lonesome blues") et "Memphis bound" (repris aussi dans "From West Helena to Chicago").
In this Wolf anthology, we find his first two studio tracks as a leader cut in august 1984 : "Sacrifice" (also included in "Lonesome blues") and "Memphis bound" (also included in "From West Helena to Chicago").
FROM WEST HELENA TO CHICAGO
Wolf
August 1984 / February 1987
On retrouve dans cette anthologie "Memphis bound" (déjà édité dans "Chicago blues session vol.2") et l'acoustique "Straighthen up your woman" (repris dans "Lonesome blues").
We find in this anthology "Memphis bound" (already issued in "Chicago blues session vol.2") and the acoustic "Straighthen up your woman" (reissued in "Lonesome blues").
CHICAGO BLUES SESSION vol.5
Wolf
LONESOME BLUES
Wolf
August 1984 / February 1987
Recueil de ses premières séances au milieu des années 80 pour le label autrichien Wolf. Co-produit par Hannes Folterbauer et lui-même, Johnny montre qu'il est un bon chanteur et surtout un guitariste au jeu fin et fluide. "Who is knocking", "Lonesome blues", "I don't want no woman", "Mean mistreater" sont d'excellents morceaux qui méritent l'écoute. Derrière Johnny, on peut entendre Willie Davis (guitare), Willie Kent (basse), Tim Taylor (batterie) et Lester "Mad Dog" Davenport (harmonica).
Collection of his first sessions in the mid 80's for the Austrian label Wolf. Co-produced by Hannes Folterbauer and himself, Johnny shows that he is a good singer and especially a guitarist with fine and fluid playing. "Who is knocking", "Lonesome blues", "I don't want no woman", "Mean mistreater" are excellent tracks that deserve listening. Behind Johnny, there are Willie Davis (guitar), Willie Kent (bass), Tim Taylor (drums) and Lester "Mad Dog" Davenport (harmonica).
HARD TIMES
Blues R&B
Late 1986
Pour le petit label chicagoan Blues R&B, Johnny B. Moore délivre un album correct et varié. Les funky "Fast talkin' Fanny", "Groove thing" et les purs blues comme "In the closet", "Sacrifice" sortent réellement du lot.
For the small Chicago-based label Blues R&B, Johnny B. Moore delivers a decent and varied album. The funky "Fast talkin' Fanny", "Groove thing" and pure blues like "In the closet", "Sacrifice" really stand out.
911 BLUES
Wolf
February 1987 / October - December 1992 / June 1993 / January 1995
Recueil de plusieurs séances dispersées sur plusieurs années pour le label Wolf. Il possède quelques longueurs mais on peut retenir cependant une version brûlante du "Lookin' good" de Magic Sam, le brut "Race track blues", "Kiss you in the morning" et "Kokomo me baby" - provenant d'une séance acoustique - seulement accompagné de l'harmoniciste Billy Branch.
Collection of several sessions dispersed over several years for the label Wolf. It has a few lengths but we can retain a burning version of Magic Sam's "Lookin' good", "Race track blues", "Kiss you in the morning" and "Kokomo me baby" - coming from an acoustic session - only accompanied by harmonica player Billy Branch.
LIVE AT BLUE CHICAGO
Delmark
July 1995
Concert donné au Blue Chicago, un club dirigé par Gino Battaglia. Derrière Johnny, un bon blues band composé de Ken Saydak, Bob Levis, Johnny B. Gayden et Cleo "Baldhead Pete" Williams. On note aussi les apparitions de Willie Kent, Karen Carroll et Melvina Allen. Du Chicago Blues certes bien joué mais manquant parfois d'originalité. Il faut écouter la très jolie version de "Mean mistreater".
Concert given at Blue Chicago, a club led by Gino Battaglia. Behind Johnny, a good blues band composed of Ken Saydak, Bob Levis, Johnny B. Gayden and Cleo "Baldhead Pete" Williams. We also note the appearances of Willie Kent, Karen Carroll and Melvina Allen. It is Chicago Blues certainly well-played but sometimes lacking originality. You must listen to the very nice version of "Mean mistreater".
TROUBLED WORLD
Delmark
1996 - 1997
Premier album en studio pour Delmark sous la supervision de Steve Wagner. Son jeu de guitare - comme d'habitude - est particulièrement fluide et soigné. Plus inspiré et abouti que les autres - avec un son Soul-Blues chaleureux - ce superbe "Troubled world" est peut-être son meilleur disque jusqu'à présent. Plusieurs bons moments comme "Sittin' here thinkin'", "Troubled world", "I'm going upside your head", "Stoop down baby", "Walkin' through the park", "Think twice".
First studio album for Delmark under the supervision of Steve Wagner. His guitar playing - as usual - is particularly fluid and neat. More inspired and achieved than the others - with a warm Soul-Blues sound - this superb "Troubled world" is perhaps his best record so far. Several good moments like "Sittin' here thinkin'", "Troubled world", "I'm going upside your head", "Stoop down baby", "Walkin' through the park", "Think twice".
CLARK STREET RAMBLERS
Blue Chicago
June - July 1997
Il y a ici une remarquable version de "Kokomo me baby" (et aussi "Don't lie to me") avec Tony Henderson (piano), Mike Riley (basse) et Cordell Teague (batterie).
There is a remarkable version of "Kokomo me baby" (and also "Don't lie to me") with Tony Henderson (piano), Mike Riley (bass) and Cordell Teague (drums).
BORN IN CLARKSDALE MISSISSIPPI
Wolf
March 1998
Sorte de retour aux racines du Blues, cet album rend hommage à Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf et autres grands bluesmen. Il n'y a presque que des reprises mais plutôt bien rendues ("Crosscut saw", "Leanin' tree"). Impérial à la guitare, Johnny propose aussi des versions vigoureuses de "Dangerous" de Bobby Rush et de "170 pounds of joy" d'après Willie Dixon. Une séance acoustique - avec l'harmoniciste Sugar Blue en grande forme - donne de belles lectures de "Saddle my pony" et "Goin' away baby".
Returning to the roots of the Blues, this album pays tribute to Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf and other great bluesmen. There are almost only covers but rather well rendered ("Crosscut saw", "Leanin' tree"). Imperial on guitar, Johnny also offers vigorous versions of "Dangerous" (composed by Bobby Rush) and "170 pounds of joy" (from Willie Dixon). An acoustic session - with the harmonicist Sugar Blue in great form - gives beautiful readings of "Saddle my pony" and "Goin' away baby".
ACOUSTIC BLUE CHICAGO
Blue Chicago
November 1998
ROCKIN' IN THE SAME OLD BOAT
Delmark
February 2003
Ce nouvel opus chez Delmark fait la part belle aux reprises et possède un son plus électrique et puissant que d'habitude. Même producteur (Steve Wagner) et groupe réduit (Hirotaka Konishi, Robert Peterson, Cordell Teague). "She hit me from the blind side", "Cut you a loose", "Lookin' good", "Matchbox blues", "Walkin' the streets" se rangent parmi les meilleurs moments du programme.
This new opus for Delmark gives pride of place to covers and has a more electric and powerful sound than usual. Same producer (Steve Wagner) and reduced backing band (Hirotaka Konishi, Robert Peterson, Cordell Teague). "She hit me from the blind side", "Cut you a loose", "Lookin' good", "Matchbox blues", "Walkin' the streets" are among the highlights of the program.