JOSH SMITH: Deep Roots

Josh Smith

Deep Roots

© 2006 JoshFrost Music (837101216876)

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notes

With the release of his 5th CD “Deep Roots” Josh Smith has established his reputation as one of the most formidable guitarist/vocalists on the blues scene today. At age 3 his parents bought Josh a student guitar and by age 7 he started taking guitar lessons. He had exposure to the blues at an early age, as his parent's musical influences, such as Muddy Waters, Albert King, T-bone Walker, and Freddie King records, were constantly being played on their home stereo. When these artists weren't on the stereo, Josh was going to Allman Brothers, the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen concerts. At the age of 12 Josh started playing local clubs in his home town of FT. Lauderdale, Florida. By the age of 18 Josh had gone on 4 National tours and played with countless great players. He also had his 3rd and 4th CDs produced by world renowned producer, Jim Gaines, whose credits include, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison, Steve Miller, and Jimmy Thackery, to name a few. Josh has lived in Los Angeles for the past 4 years touring Nationally and Internationally with various recording artists.

www.joshsmithandthefrost.com www.myspace.com/joshsmithguitar joshandniki@aol.com

reviews

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  • WONDERFUL CD
    author: LISA RODERICK

    First let me say I am a fan of Josh Smith.I discovered him while he was playing with my all time favorite Taylor Hicks.Josh is an amazing guitar player and has a very distinct soulful voice.Love his cd.Excellant job Josh.

  • Great Feel!
    author: Sam

    I especially love the soul grooves on this cd although most tunes are blues. A very funky "Dead Wrong", a hip reggie "Already Found", and soulful "only You" alone make the cd worth buying. Great guitar playing, tight band and hip hammond organ are found throughout Deep Roots.

  • My favorite song is 'Dead Wrong'! I love the words, musical stylings, guitar wo
    author: Karen Freeman

    I just heard of Josh Smith and after a friend played me part of his cd, I knew I had to buy it. It is bluesy and inviting. My favorite song is Dead Wrong. If you love the blues, you will love this CD. If you haven't checked out this artist, now is the time!

  • Not just a guitar-centric CD ... soulful vocals and great tunes too!
    author: Johnny Faser

    First, let me say that I'm a new fan of Josh Smith. I bought this CD based on a positive review in Blues Revue magazine. Being a blues lovin' guitar player myself, I learned a long time ago not to believe everything you read (trust your ears, I like to say). But believe this: that BR review was dead on! Josh is not only a great player, but a soulful singer as well. What's more, he's got a great bunch of guys backing him up on this disc, and it's easy to hear that his band of brothers believes in him too.

  • once again, excellant cd, would not have expected anything less
    author: anita

    I have all of Josh's CD's! I love each and every one of them! This one is no exception! Once again excellant and keeps you wanting more from him! Sure wish he would tour Palm Beach County, its been a long time!

  • Excellent songs. Great old school meets new school vibe
    author: T. Jauernig

    You can tell Josh did his homework over the years and listened to the good stuff. This CD is old school blues, with a raw tone, and low production vibe. But, there is enough new school there to be interesting to those less cultured listeners. Either way, it rocks, rolls, and rips great blues!

  • Fullness, Complexity, and Rising Wisdom, (10/25/06)
    author: Art Tipaldi

    Fullness, Complexity, and Rising Wisdom, (10/25/06) Back in the olden days of the Blues, the 1990s, there was no shortage of Blues wunderkinds. Seemed like every night some news broadcaster was open-mouthed gasping at the 16-year-old guitar kid playing the Blues. "How does a kid so young learn to play the Blues?" They'd ask. Tales of sitting with dad's old records and learning the music of Muddy, Jimi, and Stevie were retold and record deals were signed. Today, looking back, the Blues for most was merely their entrée into the world of tour buses, as most of those whiz kids have moved onto the Rock stage. The few who have remained dedicated to the Blues, play, sing, and write music with the honest grit and substance encouraged by their deep love of the Blues. Josh Smith is one of those who has survived the early crush of the press and has emerged today as a matured musician steeped in the Blues. I first wrote about Josh Smith when the then-16-year-old from the Ft. Lauderdale area released his first record. Touring bands like Jimmy Thackery, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, and others took note of the kid's enormous chops. Early on I heard his lightning fretwork and blaring volume mature into the spirited dynamics necessary to become more then just a hot roddin' teen. In 2002, I heard from his father that Josh was married, was living in the Los Angeles area, was touring with a Soul and R&B band, and on his off nights was playin' the Blues with people like Kirk Fletcher, Lynwood Slim, and others from the West Coast scene. Now, in 2006, I find an envelope with Josh's current disc and hear how his guitar and voice have elegantly aged. Smith's twelve original songs touch every area of the Blues. From the opening tune, the Chicago Blues shufflin' "Fine Young Thing," I was excited to hear everything Josh was singin' about. The classy combo of Smith's guitar, Lynwood Slim's harmonica, and Fred Kaplan's piano makes this a song that just might wear out the repeat button. But, if you only listen to this appetizer you're gonna miss the rest of Smith's gourmet meal of music. Want another course of the Blues? Give a listen to Smith's Magic Sam-inspired "Sober Up Baby." With its pounding drum line at the foundation, Josh bends strings with some of the most inspired traditional Blues west of the Windy City. On "Where's My Baby" Smith updates his devotion to SRV with an earthy Texas guitar and organ rumble. Played at cruising, not rocket speed, the song showcases how Smith's love of SRV has become a deep inspiration. And Smith and Kaplan combine on "Goin' Out Tonight," another thoroughly satisfying traditional Blues piece. But, there is so much more than just the Blues guitar. Remember I said that Smith had spent time in a Los Angeles in a Soul band? Those years are evident in his big time Soul approach to tunes like "Only You," "You And Me," and "Already Found." While Josh displays the perfect guitar for Soul music, the addition of James Gadson's seasoned drums and Lou Price's Soul tenor sax center these tunes in the Stax studios. Smith grew up in the trio setting on his 1990s records, so "I'm Gonna Be Ready" and "Ain't Enough" are songs that recall those early days of flyin' solo on the bandstand. His slow Blues "The Way You Do" grinds out five minutes big city, B.B. King heartbreak. On "Newtie" Josh calls in his best friend, Los Angeles' premier guitar slinger, Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Kirk Fletcher to comp rhythm chords. The final tune, "Dead Wrong," is a funky Albert Collins-styled tune featuring Smith, like Albert, firing off single-string salvo after salvo through the heart of the listener. I can't help but think of the maturity we hear in the adult Blues of people like Albert Cummings or Deborah Coleman who came to the Blues as seasoned adults. Now, almost ten years later, Josh Smith is in the place one can only reach through living life. He also demonstrates a fullness to the singing, a complexity to the emotional string work, and an adult wisdom in the songwriting. His Blues roots run too deep for Josh to ever ignore. This may be one of the best records you'll find this year. Art Tipaldi is a senior contributing editor at BluesWax

  • The Best So Far
    author: Geojerry

    I own every Josh CD since 1995 and this is the BEST of his career. Buy This CD. It is outstanding.

  • Great blues CD...
    author: SpM

    Amazingly good CD! Great songs, Great singing, Great playing and MAD tone. I love it!

  • author: Vern

    Best Josh Smith CD yet. Great guitar playing as usual. A lot of great new material for blues lovers.

  • Just a fantastic listen of some textbook tasy blues.
    author: Big Mike

    BUY THIS CD!!!! Josh is an amazing player, and I defy anyone to listen to this CD, and not just groove through the whole thing every listen. Great tone, taste, chops and writing, I could not recommend it more for anyone that loves the blues.

  • icey-hot blues
    author: Kathy

    This is one time the roots can show-Josh's root based blues that is.And show it does,plenty of blues driven guitar backed up with a hint of organ/piano,horns with a good bass/drum backline.It all comes together with enough rock,funky jazz and straight blues to make one icey hot cd.

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