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Country blues with songwriter/ vocalist Jason Overton. Featuring renowned lap steel guitarist Freddie Roulette.
Genre:
Country: Country Blues
Release Date:
2006
Jason Overton
Jason Overton
© Copyright-Jason Overton
(837101133272)
Record Label: Jason Overton
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Jason Overton is a singer/ songwriter, based in San Francisco, CA with a passion for country blues. His band includes a veteran group of musicians featuring renowned lap steel guitarist, Freddie Roulette.
At 67 years of age, Freddie Roulette is a statesman of the blues! Over his long illustrious career, he has toured extensively with Charlie Musselwhite and has shared the stage with such notables as John Lee Hooker, Frank Zappa, Earl Hooker, Henry Kaiser and Steve Kimock.
My bandmates and I are all fortunate to play alongside Freddie and currently perform at clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area. My full band includes Rob Vaterlaus on keyboard, Pete Roberts on bass and Chris McGrew on drums.
ALBUM REVIEW:
HICKS WITH STICKS NEWS #180, May 21, 2006
URL: http://www.hickswithsticks.com/hws/index.htm#2
JASON OVERTON TWANGS DEM BLUES
Jason Overton makes his intentions clear on "Turnaround," the first song from his debut CD, where he announces, "I like two kinds of lovers... I'm in love with the country but I got a heartache for the blues." This self-titled CD recalls '70s blues twangers like J.J. Cale and the Amazing Rhythm Aces, and it works because it bypasses any preconceived notions the listener might have about country or the blues. It's as if one listens to this CD with the left ear and hears a country CD while the right ear hears the blues.
One of the secret weapons the band wields is local bluesman Freddie Roulette on lap steel. Roulette is experienced enough to avoid the slide clichés of both blues and country and his playing contributes to parking these songs at brain cell ground zero. His playing and Overton's vision infuse this CD with twangin' mojo aplenty.
How a performer handles slow songs is an acid test for anything bluesy because it's on slow songs where the blues tend to drag, yet "Living in a Dreamland," "Let the Party Come to Me" and "Holy Rolling," to cite three examples, were put this test and passed with colors ablaze.
The CD generally provides a mid-tempo listen which is another strength. Pushing the tempo on this kind of music would have moved it into Allman Brothers territory or someplace else it doesn't need to be. It's best surprise though is "San Francisco Hillbilly" a boppin' little shuffle that, true to its title, can serve as an anthem for a lot of us.
http://www.jasonoverton.com
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Prima album!
author: François Braeken
With this self-titled album offered on CD baby for the price of $11.99, Overton and company confessed attain on this side of the ocean (Belgium). This album will certainly succeed, due in many ways to Freddie Roulette, who works magic of on the lap steel guitar. It is no wonder, since Freddie Roulette has stood on the stage with such greats as Charlie Musselwhite, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and Frank Zappa, who are widely considered as the best in their genre. With Overton (guitar and vocals), Pete Roberts (bass), Rob Vaterlaus (keyboard) and Chris McGrew (drums), the band forms a strong foundation for the twelve songs from the frontman.
The opening song “Turnaround” immediately sets the tone with the line “I’m in love with the country, but I’ve got a heartache for the blues.” Country blues is in the air, which Freddie Roulette on lap steel guitar celestially lets whine to shining heights! With a mix of songs such as “San Francisco Hillbilly”, Memphis blues like “Holler At Me” and Overton’s own manner of storytelling on “Let It Go”, the songs all come together nicely. With a gospel weighted tune called “Holy Rolling” a reggae version of “Giving It Up For Your Love” (Jerry Williams) and a blues rag titled “Big City Love”, Overton and his band are always prepared.
Prima album! François Braeken at ROOTSTIME (www.rootstime.be)
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