Jay Gordon (blues musician)

Last updated

Jay Gordon, performing with the Penetrators, February 2016. Courtesy of Brian Tierney and Backstage360.com Jay-Gordon-blues-guitar.jpg
Jay Gordon, performing with the Penetrators, February 2016. Courtesy of Brian Tierney and Backstage360.com

Jay Gordon is an American blues rock guitarist who recorded with Phillip Walker for his album Jaywalkin. [2] Gordon has also played at the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival, sharing the stage with Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana. [3]

Contents

Many journalists have praised Gordon for his instrument prowess, [2] [3] but there are also many critics who claim that despite his ability to play fast, he is too loud, his solos are too long and are performed in poor taste, one even saying "Gordon’s constant wailing solos that become long, self-indulgent and some of the most uneconomical guitar playing around and some poor lyrics that lack a sense of the blues." [4]

Although though there many mixed views regarding Gordon's playing style and music, he is still a visible musician who has made many recordings, shares the stage with notable musicians and plays in many well known venues and events like, B.B. King's, [2] Crossroads, [3] and Las Vegas Bike Fest. [5]

Early life

Gordon was born in Charlotte, North Carolina [6] and later raised in Chicago, Illinois, "where at an early age he was exposed to jazz and blues by his grandmother, who played the piano and organ." The young Gordon played various instruments but discovered the guitar at age 14 and played in Top 40 cover bands as a teenager. He met Albert Collins at a young age and cites him as an influence. [2]

Critical reception

Negative reactions

Electricblues.com has expressed that the album Electric Redemption, "...is heavy-duty, highly animated, guitar-driven blues and heavy rock that will send most traditional blues fans running for cover. Only those interested in seeing just how far the blues can be stretched need dwell here". [7]

Positive reviews

There are several positive reviews from critics, one saying, "This L.A. blues guitar player is a guy who has everyone else just trying to keep up as he pulls off endless incendiary guitar solos. This is Gordon's fourth album, with a fifth threatened for an early '99 release. Here's a guy who attracts guitar players who show up to watch and take notes. GRADE: A−" [8] Regarding Gordon's album, Extremely Dangerous Blues, another reviewer expressed, "Although these performances are mostly fairly brief, there is no shortage of inventive ideas within the context of rockish Chicago blues, or any loss of passion." [9] Other reviewers, view Gordon's larger-than-life playing to be ambitious, stating, "Gordon doesn't believe in understatement or simplicity. While his songs tell about overcoming heartache, being an outcast, partying all night long, and starting up a relationship, each one comes loaded with fire. The lyrics may be difficult to understand, but Gordon's powerhouse guitar leaves no doubt that he means business." [10]

Recordings, personnel and sales rankings

From Left to Right: Jay Gordon, Sharon Butcher, and Abe Perez (former drummer of Yankee Rose) during the recording of White Rabbit at West Beach Studios. Photo courtesy of Michalis Limnios, Blues. Gr 2010 Jay-Gordon-blues-guitarist-sharon-butcher-bass-abe-perez-drum.png
From Left to Right: Jay Gordon, Sharon Butcher, and Abe Perez (former drummer of Yankee Rose) during the recording of White Rabbit at West Beach Studios. Photo courtesy of Michalis Limnios, Blues. Gr 2010

*For non-Billboard charting acts, such as Jay Gordon, the Amazon sales rank may indicate relative online popularity and is subject to change at any time.

YearAlbum TitleCredits and PersonnelAmazon Sales Rank as of March 12, 2016*
2015Woodchoppers Ball (as Jay and Blues Venom Gordon)#98,419 [12]
2010White Rabbit (as Jay Gordon and the Penetrators)Sharon Butcher Arranger, Guitar (Bass), Vocals

Donnell Cameron Engineer, Mixing, Pro-Tools

Jay Gordon Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Mixing, Producer, Vocals

Jay Gordon & the Penetrators Primary Artist

Michael Hawkins Photography

Seth Hum Assistant Engineer, Pro-Tools

Dave Longeuay Engineer, Mixing, Pro-Tools

Abe Perez Drums, Percussion

Joe Rock Artwork

Grace Slick Composer

[13]

#1,513,506 [14]
2010Immortal (as Jay Gordon and the Penetrators)Sharon Butcher Arranger, Composer, Guitar (Bass), Lyricist, Mixing, Vocals

Mark Farrace Composer, Lyricist

Jay Gordon Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Lyricist, Mixing, Producer, Vocals

Jay Gordon & the Penetrators Primary Artist

Michael Hawkins Photography

Dave Longeuay Engineer, Mixing, Pro-Tools

Abe Perez Drums, Percussion

Joe Rock Artwork

[15]

#729,110 [16]
2009Gold Rings Silver BulletsRic Daly Drums, Member of Attributed Artist

Lee Davis Drums, Member of Attributed Artist

Jay Gordon Composer, Guitar, Member of Attributed Artist, Mixing, Primary Artist, Vocals

Jay Gordon & the Penetrators Primary Artist

David Longeway Audio Engineer, Mixing

Joe Rock Graphic Design

John Schayer Guitar (Bass), Member of Attributed Artist

Johnny Walker Drums, Member of Attributed Artist

[17]

#615,809 [18]
2007Rings Around the Sun#484,617 [19]
2005Live On The Sunset Strip No Quarter Given#422,252 [20]
20046 Strings OutlawButch Black Drums, Main Personnel

Bruno Boussard Graphic Design

Lee Davis Drums, Main Personnel

Patricia de Gorostarzu Photography

DJ Johnny Walker Drums, Main Personnel

Jay Gordon Audio Production, Composer, Guitar, Harmonica, Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Slide Guitar, Vocals

Richard Greene & The Grass Is Greener Bass

Russ Greene Bass Instrument, Main Personnel

Elmore James Composer

M. Levy Composer

Clarence Lewis Composer

David J. Longeuay Engineer, Mixing

John Schayer Guitar (Bass), Main Personnel

[21]

#923,451 [22]
2004Broadcasting The BluesButch Azevedo Drums

Luther Dixon Composer

Willie Dixon Composer

Wil Donovan Drums

Jay Gordon Composer, Drums, Guitar (Electric), Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Producer, Slide Guitar, Vocals

Buddy Guy Composer

Elmore James Composer

Clarence Lewis Composer

Dean Phelps Pre-Mastering

Al Smith Composer

Muddy Waters Composer

Scott Yanow Liner Notes

[23]

#313,138 [24]
2004White Haven Powdered BlackJay Gordon Composer, Primary Artist

David J. Longeuay Engineer, Mastering

[25]

#611,292 [26]
2001Extremely Dangerous BluesJay Gordon Primary Artist

[27]

No Rank [28]
2000Jaywalkin with Phillip Walker Butch Azevedo Drums

Donald Cameron Engineer

Joey Covington Drums

Jay Gordon Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Primary Artist, Producer, Slide Guitar, Vocals

Phillip Walker Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals

[29]

#835,564 [30]
1998Electric RedemptionButch Azevedo Drums

Jay Gordon Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Harmonica, Performer, Primary Artist, Producer, Slide Guitar, Vocals

Russ Green Guitar (Bass)

David J. Longeuay Engineer, Mastering

[31]

#628,008 [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slide guitar</span> Guitar technique

Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that reflect characteristics of the human singing voice. It typically involves playing the guitar in the traditional position with the use of a slide fitted on one of the guitarist's fingers. The slide may be a metal or glass tube, such as the neck of a bottle. The term bottleneck was historically used to describe this type of playing. The strings are typically plucked while the slide is moved over the strings to change the pitch. The guitar may also be placed on the player's lap and played with a hand-held bar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muddy Waters</span> American blues musician (1913–1983)

McKinley Morganfield, known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-World War II blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues". His style of playing has been described as "raining down Delta beatitude".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-Bone Walker</span> American blues musician and singer-songwriter (1910–1975)

Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was an American blues musician, composer, songwriter and bandleader, who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues, West Coast blues, and electric blues sounds. In 2018 Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 67 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

Electric blues is blues music distinguished by the use of electric amplification for musical instruments. The guitar was the first instrument to be popularly amplified and used by early pioneers T-Bone Walker in the late 1930s and John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters in the 1940s. Their styles developed into West Coast blues, Detroit blues, and post-World War II Chicago blues, which differed from earlier, predominantly acoustic-style blues. By the early 1950s, Little Walter was a featured soloist on blues harmonica using a small hand-held microphone fed into a guitar amplifier. Although it took a little longer, the electric bass guitar gradually replaced the stand-up bass by the early 1960s. Electric organs and especially keyboards later became widely used in electric blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guitar solo</span> Passage or section of music designated for a guitar

A guitar solo is a melodic passage, instrumental section, or entire piece of music, pre-written to be played on a classical, electric, or acoustic guitar. In 20th and 21st century traditional music and popular music such as blues, swing, jazz, jazz fusion, rock and heavy metal, guitar solos often contain virtuoso techniques and varying degrees of improvisation. Guitar solos on classical guitar, which are typically written in musical notation, are also used in classical music forms such as chamber music and concertos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guitar Slim</span> American musician (1926–1959)

Eddie Jones, better known as Guitar Slim, was an American guitarist in the 1940s and 1950s, best known for the million-selling song "The Things That I Used to Do", for Specialty Records. It is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Slim had a major impact on rock and roll and experimented with distorted tones on the electric guitar a full decade before Jimi Hendrix.

Eddie Taylor was an American electric blues guitarist and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke Robillard</span> American guitarist and singer (born 1948)

Michael John "Duke" Robillard is an American guitarist and singer. He founded the band Roomful of Blues and was a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Although Robillard is known as a rock and blues guitarist, he also plays jazz and swing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Baker</span> American jazz and rock guitarist

MacHouston "Mickey" Baker was an American guitarist, best known for his work as a studio musician and as part of the recording duo Mickey & Sylvia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Miller</span> English progressive rock/jazz guitarist

Philip Paul Miller was an English progressive rock/jazz guitarist and a central part of the Canterbury scene.

<i>Folk Singer</i> (album) 1964 studio album by Muddy Waters

Folk Singer is the fourth studio album by Muddy Waters, released in January 1964 by Chess Records. The album features Waters on acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar. It is Waters's only all-acoustic album. Numerous reissues of Folk Singer include bonus tracks from two subsequent sessions, in April 1964 and October 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenn Smith</span> Musical artist

Kenn Smith, birth name Kenneth LaMont Smith, is an American guitarist, bassist, composer, educator and journalist, born in Chicago, Illinois. Well versed in many styles of music, Ambient, Jazz, Classical, Rock, Progressive Rock.

<i>Electric Dreams</i> (John McLaughlin album) 1979 studio album by John McLaughlin

Electric Dreams is the fifth solo album by English jazz guitarist John McLaughlin and his "One Truth Band" released in 1979. Between his third and fourth solo albums he spent several years leading the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Shakti.

<i>Live at the Royal Festival Hall</i> (John McLaughlin Trio album) 1990 live album by John McLaughlin Trio

Live at the Royal Festival Hall is an album by the John McLaughlin Trio, featuring percussionist Trilok Gurtu and bass guitarist Kai Eckhardt. It was recorded at the Royal Festival Hall in London on 27 November 1989 and was released on the JMT label in 1990. The album reached number 3 in the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Jim Hall & Pat Metheny</i> 1999 studio album by Jim Hall and Pat Metheny

Jim Hall & Pat Metheny is an album by jazz guitarists Jim Hall and Pat Metheny that was released by Telarc on April 27, 1999. The album contains eleven studio recording tracks and six live tracks.

<i>Initiate</i> (Nels Cline Singers album) 2010 album by The Nels Cline Singers

Initiate is the fourth album by The Nels Cline Singers led by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in April 2010 on the Cryptogramophone label.

<i>Arclight</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Julian Lage

Arclight is the fourth solo album by American jazz guitarist Julian Lage. Two tracks were given a prerelease, "Nocturne" and "Harlem Blues".

<i>Quartet Live</i> 2009 live album by Gary Burton

Quartet Live is a 2009 live album by American jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton. The record features a revival of Burton’s quartet format of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the return of Burton veterans Pat Metheny on guitar and Steve Swallow on bass guitar along with young virtuoso Antonio Sanchez on drums. The album was recorded on June 10–11, 2007 at Yoshi's jazz club and released in 2009 via the Concord Jazz label.

<i>Just So Happens</i> 1994 studio album by Gary Peacock and Bill Frisell

Just So Happens is a studio album by American jazz bassist Gary Peacock and guitarist Bill Frisell released on the Postcard Records label in 1994.

References

  1. "Jay Gordon and Blues Venom - BackStage360.com". www.backstage360.com. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Fowler, James (May 15, 1997). "MUSIC; The Speed of Sound; Guitarist Jay Gordon lets his fingers fly.: [Valley Edition]". Los Angeles Times. Newsbank Database. p. 43. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Deitsch, Doug (July 19, 2007). "Acclaimed Chicago-Style Blues Rock Guitarist-Vocalist Jay Gordon and The Penetrators". allaccessmagazine.com.
  4. "Blues Rock Review - Jay Gordon Blues Venom - No Cure". Bluesrockreview.com.
  5. "Las Vegas Bike Fest - Jay Gordon and the Penetrators". Rockoveramerica.com.
  6. Santella, Jim (June 13, 2007). "Jay Gordon And The Penetrators: Gold Rings, Silver Bullets". allaboutjazz.com.
  7. "Jay Gordon - Electric Redemption - Blue Ace - 1998". Electricblues.com.
  8. Locey, Bill (October 1, 1998). "MUSIC; LOCAL ANGLE; Making Music; Whether blues, swing or jazz, most local bands' releases are grade A.: [Valley Edition]". Los Angeles Times. Newsbank Database. p. 58. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  9. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon - Extremely Dangerous Blues - Review". allmusic.com.
  10. Jazz, All About. "Jay Gordon and the Penetrators: Gold Rings, Silver Bullets". www.allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  11. "Q&A with powerful guitarist/singer Jay Gordon -- has delivered a sparkling Blues Rocker's solid granite gem". Blues.gr. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  12. "Amazon.com - Woodchoppers Ball". Amazon.com.
  13. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon and the Penetrators - White Rabbit". allmusic.com.
  14. "Amazon.com - White Rabbit". Amazon.com.
  15. "Allmusic - Jay Gordon and the Penetrators - Immortal". allmusic.com.
  16. "Amazon.com - Immortal". Amazon.com.
  17. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon - Gold Rings Silver Bullets". allmusic.com.
  18. "Amazon.com - Gold Rings Silver Bullets". Amazon.com.
  19. "Amazon.com - Rings Around the Sun". Amazon.com.
  20. "Amazon.com - Live On The Sunset Strip No Quarter Given". Amazon.com.
  21. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon - 6 Strings Outlaw". allmusic.com.
  22. "Amazon.com - 6 Strings Outlaw". Amazon.com.
  23. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon - Broadcasting the Blues". allmusic.com.
  24. "Amazon.com - Broadcasting the Blues". Amazon.com.
  25. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon - White Haven Powdered Black". allmusic.com.
  26. "Amazon.com - White Haven Powdered Black". Amazon.com.
  27. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon - Extremely Dangerous Blues".
  28. "Amazon.com - Extremely Dangerous Blues". Amazon.com.
  29. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon Phillip Walker - Jaywalkin". allmusic.com.
  30. "Amazon.com - Jay Walking". Amazon.com.
  31. "Allmusic.com - Jay Gordon - Electric Redemption". allmusic.com.
  32. "Amazon.com - Electric Redemption". Amazon.com.