Harpman JT Ross originally hails from Chicago...
author: Blues on stage
Harpman JT Ross originally hails from Chicago, but is now based in LA. Perhaps unsurprisingly, his influences include a range of harp masters from Chicago (Little Walter, Junior Wells and James Cotton) and the West Coast (William Clarke). The Clarke connection is reinforced with the release of "Loaded," his debut CD, where he is joined by members of Clarke's band.
The album opens with "I've Got To Know," the first of several tracks written by producer Jimmy Morello (which appeared on his 1998 CD "The Road I Travel" on JSP Records). It chugs along nicely and offers newcomers a first taste of Ross' big fat harp sound. It is swiftly backed up by another three Morello tunes, where Ross puts the band through their paces and they come up to the mark collectively and individually, and lays down some tasty licks on chromatic and diatonic harps.
Following an uptempo interpretation of Jimmy Reed's "Ain't That Lovin' Ya Baby?" Ross really comes into his own on the instrumental, "Doggin' It." If the sign of a master harp man is how well he handles a chromatic, this one shows that Ross is right up there with the best of them. It is a cracking tune that bounds along very energetically, before Ross digs into the Morello songbook once more.
After romping through Clarke's "Pawnshop Bound," which features some Jerry McCain-like "Scratch My Back" interludes, Willie Dixon's "Young Fashioned Ways," where Ross sings through the harp mic, and one more Morelli number"Can't Get No Rest," Ross polishes the chromatic for one last shot. "Top Hat" is an easy going, finger snapping jazzy number, where Ross' playing once more calls to mind William Clarke.
"Loaded" is one of the best debut albums of the year. JT Ross is a mighty fine harp player, with a good voice. Pairing him with William Clarke's band was an inspired move for his first album. "Loaded" shows that Ross is a major harp talent that is well worth checking out.
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Ross makes it easy to relate...
author: Southland Blues Magazine
"Singing a soulful program of Blues and Boogie, JT ROSS brings a contemporary message to the roadhouse, dance hall, nightclub, and auditorium stage. His vibrant, chromatic harmonica weaves in and out of each number with adventurous thrills to spare. His band backs the vurtuosic artist with alacrity through syncopated jump blues, piano based boogie shuffles, and mainstream blues.Ross is from Chicago--He now lives in the southland--Chicago's loss is our gain. His expressive voice and searing Blues harp color the album with eliments familiar to a wide audience...Ross makes it easy to relate, while providing an enjoyable musical experience."
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Feb./Mar. 2004 issue... Jeff Calvin--Blues Revue magazine
author: Blues Revue Magazine
“When I see you baby, my heart skips a beat/let me tell you, mama, I’m in heat.” JT Ross doesn’t beat around the bush. The singer/harmonica man takes his cues from the golden age of Chicago blues. He’s now centered in Los Angeles. He cooks on a cover of Jimmy Reed’s “Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby?” John Marx mixes it up nicely on guitar, mainly in a supporting role; he steps out in style on the sharp shuffle “If I Get Lucky.” Loaded (South Side Records #007) is convincing stuff.
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Mark E Gallo -- Big City Blues magazine
author: Big City Blues Magazine
"His Chromatic work is especially impressive on his [original instrumentals] 'Doggin' It' and 'Top Hat'. Ross is also impressive on'Too Much Crime In The City,' a mid tempo jazzy piece and burns up William Clarke's 'Pawn Shop Bound'. On the solid version of the Willie Dixon classic 'Young Fashioned Ways,' he utilizes an authentic microphone technique, again pointing to the fact that Mr. Ross is about tradition, without getting lost in reproduction. The band is absolutely superb throughout, which makes this an enjoyable listen on multiple fronts."
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