There is
more than one way to interpret So,
It�s Like That, the title of guitar
virtuoso/singer/songwriter Joe Bonamassa�s latest solo album. On one hand,
it�s the title song, a rock and roll rebuff from a man who has been �put
under the bridge by a woman.� On the other, it�s a kind of �eureka� � the
declaration of a prodigious talent who has come to a few realizations about
his craft.
A guitar player since the age of four, Joe Bonamassa�s virtuosic chops have
won him fans in both the rock and blues genres. The Utica, New York native
made his national recording debut in 1995 as the lead guitarist in the band
Bloodline, and released his first solo record,
A New Day Yesterday,
in 2000.
With the recording of So, It�s Like
That, (August 13, 2002/Medalist
Entertainment) Bonamassa drew on his experience and the advice of legendary
producer and Bonamassa fan Tom Dowd (Eric Clapton, Allman Brothers, Rod
Stewart, among others) to channel the raw blues power of his earlier work
into an intense, liberating collection of muscular rock songs with
electrifying riffs and sweeping, anthemic choruses. Maturing as a songwriter
and performer, Bonamassa framed his fiery, acrobatic guitar solos with
finely honed rock and roll songcraft. |
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"I
love playing great solos,� says Bonamassa, �but a great song lasts forever.�
This kind of growth is unusual in such a young musician, but at 25, Bonamassa is
already a 13- year veteran of the music industry. Having toured the U.S.
steadily since an extremely young age, the hard-working Bonamassa has maintained
a passion for learning from veteran musicians and absorbing a variety of musical
styles. His commitment to constant progression in his work has resulted in a
unique sound on record and an unforgettable presence on stage.
�Joe Bonamassa has survived 25 years without acquiring an �attitude� about any
of his professional experiences,� says Tom Dowd. �He is still studying other
playing, writing, and singing techniques�even though he�s miles ahead of the
nearest competition.�
After touring with several supporting musicians throughout the 90s, Joe
solidified his power trio with drummer Kenny Kramme and bassist Eric Czar on the
road in 2001, and tapped them once again to play on
�So, It�s Like That.�
Kramme and Czar�s driving rock groove allows Bonamassa to reach dizzying new
heights on stage. A live album and concert DVD, A New Day Yesterday LIVE, was
recorded in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, on the last date of his 2001 tour, documenting
the arrival of a force to be reckoned with on the concert scene. The audience
was floored by the band�s torrid performance and Joe�s elaborate, yet inherently
tuneful guitar style.
Joe�s astounding ability to play the guitar was evident when he first picked up
the instrument at the age of four. By the time he was 12 years old, Joe was
gigging around upstate New York with a band of adult sidemen and had opened for
B.B. King at a show in Rochester, NY.
King was so impressed that he invited young Bonamassa onstage with him. �Joe�s
potential is so great that he hasn�t begun to scratch the surface,� King later
told an interviewer. �He�s young, with great ideas. He�s one of a kind, a legend
before his time.�
Bonamassa made his national recording debut as the lead guitarist for Bloodline,
a band made up � aside from Joe � of the offspring of famous musicians. Waylon
Krieger was the son of Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger; drummer Erin Davis was
the son of jazz giant Miles Davis; and bassist Berry Oakley Jr.�s father, Berry
Sr., had been a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. Joe co-wrote much
of the original material on Bloodline�s self-titled album, released in 1995.
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Developing vocal skills to
match his blistering guitar work, Bonamassa released his solo debut,
A New Day Yesterday
in 2000. The record, produced by Dowd, featured guest appearances by
Mountain�s Leslie West, guitarist Rick Derringer and guitarist/vocalist Greg
Allman. Guitar World awarded the record four out of four stars, and
Billboard raved �[The record] smokes like a cannon... Bonamassa is a bold
talent.�
On the road almost continuously since his debut release, Bonamassa was
exposed to a wider variety of musical styles. �I�ve been listening to
everything these days: blues, bluegrass, rock, and acoustic
singer/songwriter records,� he says.
With expanding tastes and a maturing sound, Bonamassa wrote much of the
material on So,
It�s Like That, while on
tour. Building on the passion of
A New Day Yesterday,
Joe made stunning strides in songwriting. In fact, he�s now signed as a
songwriter to powerhouse publishers DreamWorks Music Publishing. |