Joe Jonas
From The Garrett To The Barnyard
Whale Records
A real bluesman comes to the blues from heartache and despair – the blues choose him – he does not choose it. It’s in his soul and in
his blood and he can’t escape it even if he wants to. And most importantly, he instinctively knows how to channel those emotions and
turn them into songs that make you feel them, too.
Having defined a bluesman as such, I can wholeheartedly make this statement. Joe Jonas is a bluesman. His life story is one of hard
times and good times. The blues are who he is, and it was his destiny to share them with the world. But just when he thought his career
was on the upswing, he would hit a slippery patch and find himself starting over. And over. And over.
It hasn’t been for a lack of talent - you would never make such a foolish comment if even only once you stood in a room and were
engulfed by the full force of his voice. No, it’s the fact that life is what happened when Joe was busy making other plans. There was
family depending on him to put food on the table and heat the house. In between responsibilities, now and again he would manage to
record a tune or two - then the recordings would sit silent while he took care of life.
From The Garrett To The Barnyard, Jonas’s latest CD, is a collection of some of these recordings made between 1972 and 1976 as life
took him from Oakland to Beaumont to Freeport. The songs are heartfelt tales of love gone wrong, the weariness of living life day by day,
and words of advice and warning from a man that has lived through hard times and yet managed time and time again to come out a
survivor.
And, they are delivered by that voice. Joe Jonas possesses a voice that sends shivers down your spine, brings tears to your eyes,
demands your attention. I’ve seen huge, unruly crowds instantly silenced by the full force of his voice when he unleashes, always
masterfully, always fully in control.
So know this. Joe Jonas is a bluesman. No other explanation is necessary.
- Blue Lisa -
Southwest Blues CD Review - February 2007
Current Reviews - 2007 Reviews
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directly from the artists
