[chadh]

Okay, none of you has heard of Alex Johnson.  He may not the the best blues guitarist in the world, but he's pretty good, and he's also a pretty awesome teacher.  He's currently teaching my five-year-old son to play the ukulele, with a view to having him play the guitar when he's big enough to bend a string. 

Alex was runner up in the 2007 "King of the Blues" national competition run by Guitar Center, and the youtube clip shows two of his performances from the grand final.  In a very funny conversation, he told me how disappointed he was not to win the competition - not because he cared about being the best, but because the winner got to play at the Crossroads festival this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Bf7uliQcM

Chad

[jackman]

Jack....

I actually got to play a few gigs with JW....back in the early 70's...in Louisiana.
He was pretty messed up then....out only on weekends...drug rehab....but he still smoked....
He's a good player....but the drug thing really messed up his chance to "take it" to the next level.

Two others I would mention....Albert Collins....and a big fav of mine...Luther Allison. Luther was a real master and a nice guy !!!!

Wow!  I knew you crossed paths with some famous people but didn't know you played gigs with JW!  Very cool stuff.  I read an article in a guitar magazine last year the detailed how Winter's long-time manager and "friend" was keeping him on drugs so he could rob him blind.  Johnny would still play lots of gigs but he spent a long time in a fog, while his manager was gambling away his earnings.  The story had a happy ending, when a guitarist and huge fan of Winter helped him audit his records and take his manager to court.  Prior to trial, the manager committed suicide.

Although Winter is in his 60's and not in the best of health (after years of abuse), he has been clean for the last few years, and playing very well.  I love that clip from 1970, the first one I posted.  That's the JW who could have been a big star.  His playing was genius, but his story will always be clouded with long periods of self destruction and abuse. 

You won't hear me say anything but the highest regard for Albert Collins and Luther Allison.  They are two of my all time favorites.  I have heard tons very good players, but there is something that separates the great ones from the rest.  They are able to convey true emotion in their playing and connect with the audience.  I have seen BB King a couple times and although his playing is very simple, I have never seen another guitarist convey that kind of emotion in so few notes.  The first time I saw him (at the Rosemont Theater) I sat in the front row and finally understood what made him special.  His better years are behind him, but he was a true gentleman and he put on a great show.  Anyone who wants to hear BB in his prime should pick up Live from Cook County Jail on CD. 

Cheers,

Jack

PS - I really like all of the responses on this thread.  It's just about personal opinions and I enjoy hearing everyone's.  OK, I couldn't resist, here is a clip of Johnny Winter playing slide twelve string guitar on a German TV show in the 70's.  The sound is hypnotic, he was in rare zone during this session:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv6fO92pzLg&feature=related

[griller]

Cool thread. Ive enjoyed just about everyone mentioned. It never ceases to amaze me how many incredibly talented musicians are out there. I've heard guys and gals in local clubs that have just put me on the floor.  To be BIG it takes talent and a damn good agent and handlers.

[craig223]

Have you ever heard "Johnny Winter And Live"  The and was Rick Derringer.  On the original vinyl release, Derringer's Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo was included.  On the CD reissue, the song was left off due to a dispute between the two guitarists.

If you ever liked the old Chuck Berry style of rock n roll, this album is the best example of that style of music that I have heard.  The covers of Johnnie B Goode and Jumpin Jack Flash are worth the album price.  Some great blues on it also.  Gotta crank it up for effect!

[EDS_]

Jack....

I actually got to play a few gigs with JW....back in the early 70's...in Louisiana.
He was pretty messed up then....out only on weekends...drug rehab....but he still smoked....
He's a good player....but the drug thing really messed up his chance to "take it" to the next level.

Two others I would mention....Albert Collins....and a big fav of mine...Luther Allison. Luther was a real master and a nice guy !!!!

"I ain't drunk,  I'm just drinkin'"

[soundbitten1]

Johnny Winter is cool but I dig the raw sound Hound Dog Taylor got out of his cheap guitars and amps .

[Mike Dzurko]

Have you ever heard "Johnny Winter And Live"  The and was Rick Derringer.  On the original vinyl release, Derringer's Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo was included.  On the CD reissue, the song was left off due to a dispute between the two guitarists.

If you ever liked the old Chuck Berry style of rock n roll, this album is the best example of that style of music that I have heard.  The covers of Johnnie B Goode and Jumpin Jack Flash are worth the album price.  Some great blues on it also.  Gotta crank it up for effect!

I have that album and I totally agree. Bought the CD so I could listen in the car, it isn't quite the same.

[mcullinan]

BB King...
 aa aa aa

[ecramer]

Jimmie Vaughan -  read a interview with Stevie Ray once and they asked him who his favorite guitarist was and his answer was Jimmie Vaughan I always liked JW but never thought of him as a great player always thought Rick Deringer had the chops in that group I got to see Johnny quite by accident one time. Went to see George Thorogood at the Allentown fair grounds and Johnny winter was traveling through the area on his bus when he heard that George was playing and he came over  to say hello and stayed to open the show for an hour and a half. It was quit the sight when Johnny walked out on stage and said he was passing through and did we mind if he stayed and played a few songs Hell no we didn't!

Ed

[Pondfish]

He's certainly one of the greats..a fond memory is seeing him Live in a little theater in Pittsburgh with Rick Derringer...the show was captured on the Live And CD....seeing him next month in Fall River, Mass.
Larry

[Phil A]

I remember seeing him many moons ago with Rick Derringer as well.  I'm a long time fan.  I never re-bought many of the things on CD I had on LP a long time back but I jumped when I saw his greatest hits on SACD.  I have "Second Winter" on a MoFi gold CD, "The Progressive Blues Experiment" and "Live."  As soon as I catch up on the backlog of music I have, after seeing this thread I definitely wanted to revisit his stuff since I've upgraded the CD playback chain since last I listened.

[Joey B]

Joe Bonamassa- Blue Deluxe
Albert Cummings (not Collins)-Working mans Blues
Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earle- Duke meets the Earle
SRV

[Joey B]

Ooops
Forgot Buddy Guy

Joey B

[doak]

I saw the Clapton/Crossroads broadcast and I saw Johnny "live" about 3 months ago.  He looked like he was having a pretty good night at Crossroads.

I must say  -- and I've been a BIG JW fan since the late 60's -- that at his live show we were shocked when Johnny was lead out onto the stage and guided to his chair.  He is now blind and pretty frail.   It really was rather sad.. his playing was OK, but not nearly up to his heyday - he was on "automatic pilot" was my impression.  I have most all of his LPs and listen to them regularly.  Suppose I expected to hear the 1970's Johnny,,, but that isn't the case any more.

I don't say this to denigrate his accomplisments, not in the least.  I STILL think he was the BEST electric blues guitarist ever.  Yes, SRV and others were/are really good, but I will always put Johhny at the top.

On the Crossroads show: I LOVE Buddy Guy and got WAY excited when he came out onstage to play - THEN they ended the show when he was just starting up!!!! DAMN.  They could have left one of those other guys out, but CUT OFF BUDDY GUY?!?!?!

Doak

[GregC]

I read through this thread and did not see a single mention of Muddy Waters, and if you are looking for an excellent example of his electric guitar blues, give Electric Mudd a well deserved listen.

[doak]

I read through this thread and did not see a single mention of Muddy Waters, and if you are looking for an excellent example of his electric guitar blues, give Electric Mudd a well deserved listen.

"Well deserved" is right IMO.  His Electric Mudd album was/ and still is maligned much as Dylan was when he "went electric." 
I DIG it.

Doak

[chadh]

One guy I'd REALLY love to hear live is Jeff Healy.  I have a few of his early albums, filled with a lot of crappy songs that seemed like they might get some MTV airplay, back in the day when MTV actually played music.  But mixed in there, especially when he played covers, was some awesome soloing.  Roadhouse Blues, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...just great stuff.

Chad