JOHN LONG "LOST & FOUND" Source: Bad Dog Blues Date: 01/2006 Writer: Jeff Harris

So who is John Long and how could such an amazing talent stay hidden for so long? As mentioned, this is Long's debut having previously cut a lone cut on an obscure compilation, a few appearances on other people's sessions and a handful of demos. Long began performing in the early 60's with his brother Claude playing mainly rock & roll and R&B. Like many he began to dig deeper investigating the greats from the 1920's and 30's and receiving first hand pointers from Big Joe Williams and Homesick James. Opportunities were few, as they still are, for a solo acoustic bluesman so Long toiled at a day job and played gigs when he could. Long's years of woodshedding have paid off as he emerges on "Lost & Found" fully formed, a master country blues player who's music sounds natural and effortless.

The problem with many modern day country blues performers is that the music often comes across as too stilted or too academic as if they've learned all the right notes from the old records but none of the feeling. Don't get me wrong there's a number of fine players on the scene including the ageless John Hammond, Paul Geremia, Corey Harris and Alvin Youngblood Hart who's perhaps the best I've heard in recent years. Add John Long to that rarified list, who's debut compares favorably to Alvin Youngblood Hart's classic debut, "Big Momma's Door" (1995) which set the benchmark for modern day country blues records. Like Hart, John Long is the total package, an exceptional, percussive guitarist and an outstanding vocalist. In fact if it wasn't for the lack of clicks and pops you could almost mistake these sides for a cache of newly discovered pristine 78's. In addition Long is a first rate songwriter, having penned all twelve tracks filled with plenty of sly humor and heartache. Long also plays some fine harmonica and is joined on a few tracks by pianist Fred Kaplan, former frontman with The Hollywood Fats Band and currently leader of The Hollywood Blue Flames. Working with a backlog of some 40 years worth of songs, it's not surprising that there's not a bum track in the bunch. The disc opens with driving, percussive "Hokum Town" as Long pointedly sings: "With you and your father I just can't win/You hate people 'cuz the color of their skin/I'm packin' up/Leaving on this bus outside." Among the many highlights include the infectious, humorous "Pressure Cooker ('Bout To Blow)", sings about that "screaming" "Hell Cat" featuring rolling barrelhouse piano from Kaplan, blows some sweet harmonica on "Stranglevine" backed again by Kaplan's tasteful playing and gives us two fine versions of the poignant "Leavin' St. Louis" with a solo and piano version to wrap up a tour-de-force performance. Long has fully integrated his influences into a unique voice but under the surface one can hear the echoes of greats like Big Joe Williams, Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson who so clearly inspired him.

"Lost & Found" is hands down one of the best acoustic debuts in some time and should finally get the word out about John Long who's be waiting in the wings far too long.