- Flashback Friday. Working with Luther Dickinson on this Summer of '22 track.Midnight in Mississippihttps://open.spotify.com/track/6WvWby2krCUDwqxiuUscEE?si=00248cf840dc4c96#bluesjam #bluesmusic #northmississippi #northmississippiallstars #LutherDickinson
- MIDNIGHT IN MISSISSIPPII wrote "Midnight in Mississippi" some years back while living in Hattiesburg. During those years, I played both solo and in a trio, and briefly in a show band with a horn section. So I guess "Midnight in Mississippi" was my declaration of love for music and the commitment required to persevere in that world.Bobby Keyes (pictured) and I, along with The Mystix, had recorded this tune in the past. One time, I believe we recorded it with me on acoustic guitar and Bobby also on an acoustic, with a piece of paper placed between the strings to create percussion—a trick borrowed from Johnny Cash.This latest recording of "Midnight in Mississippi" is one of which I am extremely proud! First off, we had an amazing band in session and a great producer, Marco Giovino (known for his work with Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, etc.), on drums and production. Bobby Keyes (Martha Reed, Betty LaVette), my friend and fellow conspirator in The Mystix for years now, was on guitar. Neal Pauli (from Southside Johnny’s band) played second guitar, and Marty Ballou (known for his work with Peter Wolfe, John Hammond) played standup bass. And of course, myself on acoustic guitar.I can still remember the feeling of having such a solid musical platform underneath me to this day! The song just flowed, and I changed the cadence of the lyrics and spacing in the moment because that’s how I felt it wanted to be.-Jo Lily#BluesMusic #northmississippi #northmississippiallstars #lutherdickinson #bluesrockguitar
- The Mystix are truly grateful for the positive response to our recent release, "The Mule." This song has been with me for some time now. Like much of my work, it began with a guitar riff, a simple strum, accompanied by a descending melody.The lyrics came to me shortly after, drawing inspiration from an old Taj Mahal tune: "She took the Katy, left me a mule to ride." I've long admired Taj Mahal's work, and this song was also influenced by a memorable encounter with a gambling lady during our travels. She was both stunning and skilled at her craft, leaving a lasting impression on us.Although I had written the song years ago, it was brought back to my attention by our engineer, Tim Phillips. He recalled me recording it at a Tupelo Hall gig and suggested we bring in Marco Giovino, formerly of Robert Plant's Band of Joy, as our drummer. Marco had previously produced some of our tracks, including "Midnight in Mississippi," and his drum track added depth to the song.I reached out to Larry Campbell, known for his work with Bob Dylan and as a Grammy-winning producer for Levon Helm, to lay down a bass track and add mandolin accents, including a solo. With Larry's contributions, the song began to take shape.We then enlisted the talents of Sax Gordon to add a vibrant horn section, emphasizing the song's groove. Kevin Barry, a seasoned musician who has worked with renowned artists like Peter Wolfe and Nancy Griffin, was brought in to provide a searing lap steel solo and additional background parts, adding the final touches to the track.With the collective expertise of musicians like Bobby Keyes, Marco Giovino, Larry Campbell, Sax Gordon, and Kevin Barry, it's no wonder the song turned out so well. While we've collaborated with many great artists in the past, this particular lineup proved to be the perfect combination for creating a lively track with exceptional groove and musicianship. Bobby and I are immensely proud to have had the opportunity to work with such talented individuals and to experience the magic of creativity firsthand. We hope you'll take a moment to listen to the track and perhaps find yourself smiling or moving along to the beat.#TheMule
- Wave My Hand featuring Jerry Portnoy is getting some action.Jerry is working that harp big time on this trackLink in our bio.Photo: https://www.jerryportnoy.com/#harmonicablues #harmonicalovers #bluesmusician #muddywaters #ericclapton
- You got to ride that train.Mighty Love - from our latest EP, On Stage. Available wherever you stream music.#BluesMusic #jerryportnoy #chicagoblueshttps://open.spotify.com/track/0Z5iEm9UlDBcogSifOgOcY?si=74120b6d76374749