Joanna Connor, Best of Me, album cover

Review: Joanna Connor ‘Best of Me’

By Martine Ehrenclou

Acclaimed blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Joanna Connor makes her Gulf Coast Records label debut with her newest album ‘Best of Me’ set to release June 9th. A fiery blend of blues, funk, R&B, soul and even Country, the Chicago-based Connor created one of the best albums of her career.

Joanna Connor is one of the most powerful female musicians in blues/rock, known for her incendiary slide guitar chops and soulful voice. Her crack band, The Wrecking Crew, tees it up on Best of Me. Special guests include Joe Bonamassa (guitar), Josh Smith (guitar), Jason Ricci (harmonica) Eric Demmer (saxophone), Gary Hoey (guitar), Gulf Coast Records president Mike Zito (guitar), and The Grooveline Horns.

Connor is a force. She’s played with the who’s who of Blues and blues/rock, including Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page, Luther Allison, Junior Wells, BB King, Robert Cray, Robben Ford, Danny Gatton, ZZ Top, Otis Rush, Etta James, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Magic Slim, Koko Taylor and more.

Come up with another female guitar player who’s done that. And then gets chosen by Joe Bonamassa to produce her last hit album, 4801 South Indiana Avenue after taking off years from touring to raise her daughter. She’s had two 15-year residencies at The House of Blues and The Kingston Mines in Chicago and now also tours worldwide.

Not just a slide guitar player, Connor is a tasteful picker as well, and incorporates jazz, funk, and blues into these tunes, most co-written by her and Shaun Calloway.

Album opener, the funky “House Rules” featuring Josh Smith on guitar, is dance-floor ready with a full on horn section. You’ll be hard pressed to hold back from hip shaking on this one. And Connor knows it as she sings “Get you’re a** on the dance floor” just as the excellent sax player Eric Demmer slides in. Connor has a unique slide guitar tone and style that blends beautifully with the song. The horn section is a delight, along with the in the pocket drums and bass. A party tune of the best kind.

“Pain and Pleasure” is a mid-tempo groove with melodic slide guitar riffs, somewhat reminiscent of Jeff Beck. Connor’s vocals are at their best here, strong with natural phrasing. Backing singers fill out the sound before Josh Smith’s guitar riffs dazzle on this R&B/soul/jazz tune. With a spiritual vibe to the lyrics, Connor plays ripping slide.

With such a varied selection of tunes, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Joe Bonamassa shows up on the countrified “Highway Child.” A tune about being on the road, Connor’s slide guitar couldn’t fit this tune any better. Blistering, fast and furious. Bonamassa’s guitar solo rides the two-step rhythm with fine tuned pickin’. You can imagine Connor and Bonamassa performing this live just by the passion in their playing.

On a couple of songs on the album, Connor’s vocals have too much reverb added to them, an effect she doesn’t need, especially on the slow blues “I Lost You” where her voice is sultry and soulful. A lot of attention has been paid to Connor’s slide guitar playing, but one listen to this tune and you’ll hear deep rooted talent in her hands.

What stands out about Connor’s album Best of Me is her top quality songs. Most have strong melodies, rhythm, tasteful guitar riffs and expressive vocals. Best of Me seems more sophisticated musically than previous releases, or maybe it’s just more Joanna Connor.

A moving ballad about the world’s distressing events, including war, violence and hatred but hope for change, “Greatest of These” features mournful slide guitar by Connor. A beauty.

Closing out Best of Me is the rip-roaring “Shine On” that has one of the catchiest bass riffs. A blues rocker about empowerment, it features harmonica master Jason Ricci who absolutely kills it as does Connor on guitar.

Best of Me is certainly some of the best of Joanna Connor. Highly recommended.

Listen to “Pain and Pleasure”

 
Musicians:
Joanna Connor (guitar, vocals), Shaun Gotti Calloway (bass), Jason J Rock Edwards (drums, background vocals), Da Souvigny (rhythm guitar, keys), Curtis Moore Jr. (organ, Wurlitzer, synth), Grooveline Horns– Fernando Castillo – Trumpet & Flugelhorn; Carlos Sosa – Saxophones & Flute; Raul Vallejo – Trombone, Vallejo (trombone), Eric Demmer (saxophone)