JOHN LONG "LOST & FOUND" Source: Southland Blues Date: 02/2006 Writer: Jim Santella

Muddy Waters called him “the best young country blues artist playing today.” John Long is now 55. He hails from St. Louis. The blues has been his lifeblood since birth, but his discovery has been a long time coming. There’s not much of a demand for country blues on the gold or platinum market these days, but that’s never stopped the best of ‘em from persevering. Fortunately, Delta Groove has “discovered” country blues veteran John Long, who offers a program of originals done up with acoustic guitar and harmonica. He sings with a deep down baritone voice that fills the room with emotion. Pianist Fred Kaplan joins him on “Hell Cat,” “Stranglevine” and “Leavin’ St. Louis” for a rompin’, stompin’ celebration of the blues tradition.

Claude Long (John’s older brother is also a devoted bluesman) wrote “Greyhound Driver.” On it, John sings with acoustic guitar in the fashion of legends such as Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Robert Lockwood, Jr. “Healin’ Touch” featuring Long’s soulful blues harp in a balanced arrangement that finds him combining vocals, guitar and harmonica interludes with seamless authority. Like the music of the master, Long’s persuasive blues stores tell it like it is: convincingly and with soul.