Blues Underground Network

Chris Yakopcic "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique" (USA)
 

 Solo Blues artists nowadays are more of a rarity, but none the less they are still as talented as always. Such is the case with Chris Yakopcic whom released his Debut album "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique" in the later part of 2011.
 
Chris Yakopcic currently resides in Dayton, Ohio and is not only an accomplished Guitarist, but also an accomplished vocalist, harmonica player, and songwriter. His main style of music is acoustic fingerpicking following the path of great Piedmont and Delta blues players, such as Blind Blake and Mississippi Fred McDowell.
 
Chris's interest in Acoustic Blues came at an early age, shortly after seeing Fruteland Jackson perform in Chicago. His persistence as a Blues artist is already starting to garner lots of attention, with Chris winning "the solo/duo competition earlier this year at the International Blues Challenge for the Blues Society of Western Pa. " Winning that competition means he is off to Memphis in January for the playoffs.
 
One thing that always interests me, is where Artists get the idea for the Cover Art they use, for there albums. I found the cover art for "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique" to be very intriguing, so I asked Chris about it and he kindly replied, "I wanted to have an album cover that was different from many blues albums that I see where it is focused around a portrait of the musician(s). I also wanted something that would stand out when it was on a table at a blues festival and that would hopefully show that this is an acoustic album.

I guess one of the more interesting points about the artwork would be that the color scheme was inspired by an old Ray Charles album on Atlantic, a cover I always thought had a really cool looking simple design. http://www.ebay.com/itm/60s-Vocal-RAY-CHARLES-Ray-Charles-8006-MONO-UJ3-/380453973260 "
 
Marking his Debut release, "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique" consists of 10 Tracks, 8 originals and 2 Covers, Arthur "Blind" Blake's "Chump Man Blues" and Johnny Cash's "Big River".
 
Good first impressions of the skill level of Chris Yakopcic, will start to sink in only few moments into the first song, with his amazing Guitar picking, great sounding Vocals, and as one reviewer put it, "Clever Lyrics". The opener 99 Juke Joints will immediately transport you back to a simpler time of the Blues, when fancy stuff beyond the Singer and Guitar were just not needed. Each note and each word, crystal clear.
 
Staying super true to Blues Pickin' masters past, Chris has even adopted the use of knocking on his Guitar as well, an old and authentic technique. This style is introduced on Track 2, "Hard Souled Shoe".
 
Great storytelling via great lyrics, is a fine set of talents to have as a Blues artist, attributes that Chris shows off in abundance throughout "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique", of which one of the first notable Tracks was Track 3 "Smash And Grab", a humorous take on robbing a bank.
 
Johnny Cash is one of my favorites and I always love to hear nicely done covers of his music, of which Track 5, "Big River", is certainly one of them.
 
According to Wikipedia, "Big River" is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash. Released as a single by Sun Records in 1958, it went as high as #4 on the Billboard country music charts and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks. A verse omitted from the original recording was later performed during Johnny Cash's live performances" .
 
Chris did a mighty fine job on this cover; Johnny would have been proud to have heard this.
 
Arthur "Blind" Blake's "Chump Man Blues" is the other exceptionally well done cover on this album. It is performed with slightly less tempo then the original, but besides that, it is still brilliantly, spot on.
 
The cover Track "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique", is Track 9, "Done Found My Freedom". It is the Track that really shows off the fact that when it comes to Finger Picking, Chris has certainly found his technique. Superbly done...
 
There are quite a few young Blues artists whom are taking up the responsibility of Keeping The Blues Alive, and Chris Yakopcic is certainly one of the better ones.
 
For great Piedmont and Delta Blues, "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique" is one of just a few really fine releases in it styles for this year.
 
I give "Done Found My Freedom 'fore My Technique" my highest rating of 5*****. Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed.
 
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
https://bluesundergroundnetwork.com/
 

Listen To Samples Here...

Additional Artist Info... http://chrisyakopcicmusic.com/