JT Coldfire "Crazy Sun"

 

 

"One of the most colorful CDs that Roots Music Report has received from a blues label... everything a blues lover can want on an album. The songwriting talent plus guitar and vocal performances by J.T. Coldfire are truly genius. From slow blues ballads to rootsy folky blues, J.T. delivers on this one. 13 original tracks of pure cool." - SHANE CODY, ROOTS MUSIC REPORT

 

JT Coldfire is only in his early 30's, but he has already worked professionally for over 15 of those years, hence, it is not surprising that he has received numerous accolades, such as the one at the beginning of this review, for his brilliant Songwriting, Singing, and Guitar playing. Add Producer, as well, to that list and you have one hell of a modern day blues slinger, that is certainly the real deal.

 

JT Coldfire's unique vocals and extraordinary Guitar playing has thrilled countless audiences all up and down the east coast of America, as well as throughout Europe. His talent has caught the attention of many a renowned artist, which has lead to him opening for "Jimmie Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys, Lance Lopez, Lou Ann Barton, Marcia Ball, Kenny Wayne Shephard, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Chris Duarte", to name just a few. JT has also shared the stage with many greats as well, such as "Mike Stern of Blood, Sweat and Tears, Mark Epstein of the Johnny Winter Band, and Pintop Perkins", to name just a very few.

 

JT Coldfire has also been dubbed as one of the hardest working musicians, in his home base of Austin, Texas, where it has not been unusual for him to play as many as three shows in one evening, and as impressive as that it, it is even more impressive that he doesn't repeat the same song twice. This diversity in his shows also follows into his recorded music, where unlike many artists whoms music sounds the same throughout the album, JT Coldfire sounds wonderfully unique and fresh with each song. Examples of that are peppered throughout "Crazy Sun", most notable with Track 4, which is the title track "Crazy Sun", and Track 12 "Bad Day". "Crazy Sun" comes across as a slow paced Stevie Ray Vaughan style guitarfest. A wonderful track that, quite fittingly, is also the longest track on this album, clocking in at over 6 minutes of pure guitar heaven. "Bad Day", takes us to the other extreme, with a much faster paced song, which starts off with a great Acoustic Guitar intro, that sits the tone nicely for the rest of the Track and where as, "Crazy Sun" could of easily been sung by Stevie Ray Vaughan, as it fit his style perfectly, "Bad Day" could of easily been sung by Johnny Cash. Also of note on "Bad Day" was the great harp work of Banzai LARocca, whom has been dubbed as "The Italian Tornado" by fellow musicians in Austin, Texas ".

 

It is JT Coldfire's amazing ability to weave in and out of different blues styles, that is quickly making him a much sought after and simply brilliantly unique artist. This simplicity of style can also be gathered from the no nonsense cover image used to adorn this album, which is simply a picture of his face and a mic, all in black and white, with no name or writing at all. To me, this shows me an artist whom has a lack of conceit on the one hand, and a air of confidence, on the other. A wonderful and simply presented picture, that echoes JT Coldfire's Singing, Songwriting, and Musicianship, to perfection.

 

Those of you whom really love good honest heartfelt blues, with out all the gimmicks, will love "Crazy Sun". It is a superb album by a equally superb artist.

 

5*****... Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed...

 

Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

 

 

Additional Info

 

Tracklist

 

1. Pistol Lead
2. Johnny's Gone
3. White Collar Street Life
4. Crazy Sun
5. I Won't Never Go
6. Lower That Ladder
7. No Time for Sleepin
8. Hangin Tree
9. She's Crazy
10. Lee Malone
11. Mr. Jones
12. Bad Day
13. Sweet Little Isa

 

Listen To Samples Here...

 

Websites:

 

http://www.jtcoldfire.com/

http://www.myspace.com/jtcoldfireband

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