Johnny Winter - Roots

If you've seen Johnny Winter live over the past decade you probably had the same feeling I did...this is not someone in great health.  Thankfully he seems to have gotten stronger over the past couple of years in spite of a ridiculous touring schedule that sees him out on the road for much of the year.  If the recent release "Roots" is any indication things are going pretty well for him at the moment.

"Roots" will not be a revelation to anyone who has listened to any of his records over the past 40 years.  Johnny is paying tribute to his influences here and it comes off as exactly that.  This is what Johnny Winter has been doing his whole career...bringing blues to the masses.  His vocals and playing are stronger than at any time in recent memory.  In particular the duet with Susan Teseschi finds them both in excellent form.

Track listing and special guests joining Mr. Winter on Roots:

T-Bone Shuffle (featuring Sonny Landreth slide guitar)
Further On Up the Road (featuring Jimmy Vivino guitar)
Done Somebody Wrong (featuring Warren Haynes slide guitar)
Got My Mojo Workin'
Last Night (featuring John Popper on harp)
Maybellene (featuring Vince Gill on guitar)
Bright Lights, Big City (featuring Susan Tedeschi on lead guitar/vocals)
Honky Tonk (featuring Edgar Winter on sax)
Dust My Broom (featuring Derek Truckson slide guitar)
Short Fat Fannie (featuring Paul Nelson on guitar)
Come Back Baby (featuring John Medeski on organ)

Lots of guests to be sure and all fill their roles well. I'd prefer a little more Johnny Winter and a little less guests but that is just me. Lots of good playing on an enjoyable, if a bit predictable, blues album. Is it groundbreaking? Nope. But it still gets the OldRockr1 Seal of Approval. Oh Yeah, there is some stellar guitar playing on this one...but you probably already knew that.

Dust My Broom with Derek Trucks


Bright Lights Big City with Susan Tedeschi


Done Somebody Wrong with Warren Haynes