Album Notes

Billy Gibson gained national prominence as the blues harmonica virtuoso in the popular Beale Street blues-rock band junkyardmen. While Gibson has astounded blues fans in the past with his dazzling harmonica acrobatics, on this new recording he embraces some of the most beautiful classic jazz melodies of all time with passionate singing and commanding, yet subtle instrumental expression.
The Nearness Of You is an exquisite jazz recording. From the nuances in his delivery on the opening track, "When I Fall In Love," through the buoyant resonance on his own "Darling, Please Come Home," to the wistful final track "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," Gibson displays a maturity beyond his years.
"A certified genius" observes Bill Ellis of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. In 1999, Gibson received an endorsement from Hohner, his harmonica-maker of choice. He also is a featured performer and co-producer on two other 2001 releases - Goin' Down South Blues Sampler and McCarty-Hite's Weekend in Memphis.