Today, superstar Joe Bonamassa has unveiled ‘Lazy Poker Blues‘, the latest single from his forthcoming album ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2‘. This rejuvenated classic, originally performed by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, showcases Bonamassa’s deep reverence for the titans of British blues. “Now, again, there are two Fleetwood Macs, there’s the one my Mom really loved that had Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham in it, and then there’s the one that my Dad really loved, which had Peter Green in it,” Bonamassa quips. “It’s kind of where I cut my teeth, how I learned how to play the blues, how I learned how to play guitar…Those were my gateways to the masters.”
“Part of my approach to these new recordings was that I wanted to see if I had matured musically over the years, and if I had gotten better as a player,” Bonamassa says. “I’m happy to say that I am a much better singer than I was 20 years ago – though I still don’t really consider myself to be a legit ‘singer,’ I can now carry a tune a little better than I could back then.”
The release of ‘Lazy Poker Blues‘ follows two standout singles from ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2.‘ ‘Twenty-Four Hour Blues‘, a fiery reinterpretation of Bobby “Blue” Bland‘s iconic track from the Dreamer album, boasts one of Bonamassa’s most potent vocal and guitar performances to date. The second single, ‘Well, I Done Got Over It‘, pays tribute to Guitar Slim‘s 1953 release. Introduced to Slim’s work by his father during childhood, Bonamassa was instantly captivated by his velvety voice and unique delivery. The new version fuses the styles of the Blues Breakers and Guitar Slim, creating a unique blend that Bonamassa masterfully delivers.
Featuring Reese Wynans (keys), Calvin Turner (bass), Lamar Carter (drums), Kirk Fletcher (guitar), and Josh Smith (guitar), additional highlights from ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2‘ include ‘I Want To Shout About It‘, originally performed by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, ‘It’s Hard But It’s Fair‘ by Bobby Parker, and ‘Is It Safe To Go Home‘, a new track written for Joe by Josh Smith. “I knew I wanted to push him really hard vocally,” Smith adds. “I’d heard him sing things just messing around or when we’d be producing for other artists that I’d never heard him do on record. So the songs were both chosen and written with that in mind. If you listen to the vocals on ‘Twenty-Four Hour Blues‘ and ‘Is It Safe To Go Home‘, you’ll hear Joe really going for it.”
Bonamassa’s 2023 summer run included his debut appearance at Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, August 9th. The exclusive, one-night-only concert experience alongside an orchestra was recorded for his next live concert film. The summer tour ends this weekend with ‘Keeping the Blues Alive presents: Joe Bonamassa & Friends‘, featuring special guests Styx and Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles. The special two-night performance run will stop at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Saturday, August 12th and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Sunday, August 13th. Then, the hardest working bluesman in show business will begin his U.S. Fall Tour on October 23rd at The Cannon Center in Memphis, TN, before crisscrossing the country and capping the year at the guitar-shaped Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL on December 2nd.
Bonamassa’s spring 2024 tour will include performances in historic venues like the Count Basie Center For The Arts in Red Bank, NJ on February 23rd and the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, FL on March 7th, before culminating with Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea IX, set for March 18-24, departing from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico. The festival line-up includes Grace Potter, The Marshall Tucker Band, John Oates, Jimmy Vivino, King King, and a special performance by Black Country Communion, Bonamassa’s supergroup with Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH), Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL). KTBA at Sea is one of the largest fundraisers for Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, aiding in its mission to promote music education by providing grants and resources to schools and musicians in need.
‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2‘ is Bonamassa’s heartfelt tribute to the roots of his musical journey, breathing fresh life into classic tracks and encapsulating the blues genre’s evolution. Out October 6th via J&R Adventures, the album features two new originals and eight new covers spanning some of the most important names in the blues – from Bobby “Blue” Bland to Albert King. Also available for pre-order is the Platinum Edition BoxSet (limited to 500 units worldwide), which includes the CD and Vinyl versions for both Vol. 2 and ‘Blues Deluxe Remastered‘ along with exclusive items.
Cited by Guitar World as “arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa is known for taking risks and venturing into uncharted territory throughout his wide-ranging career. His last recent full-length ‘Time Clocks‘ marked his most raw, rocking studio album yet, with American Songwriter sharing, “Bonamassa pushes into fresh territory while staying within a blues-based framework,” and “there is more than enough proof in this sprawling set that Bonamassa doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels or take his star status in the blues-rock genre for granted.”
Hailed as “a near spiritual experience” by Classic Rock Magazine and featuring songs from his latest #1 studio album, ‘Time Clocks‘, Bonamassa’s latest live concert release ‘Tales Of Time‘, captures a stratospheric performance by the blues-rock titan at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which found his virtuoso guitar style and unique technique and flair elevating the evening to an almost heavenly high. The project was produced by long-time collaborator and producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Journey).
“This live show represents our most progressive and largest production to date, focusing on my most ambitious studio album to date,” commented Bonamassa. “My band was a force of nature on this show, and it truly was a special night.” For more information on ‘Tales Of Time‘, click here
Tracklist:
1) Twenty-Four Hour Blues (originally performed by Bobby “Blue” Bland)
2) It’s Hard But It’s Fair (originally performed by Bobby Parker)
3) Well, I Done Got Over It (originally performed by Guitar Slim)
4) I Want to Shout About It (originally performed by Ronnie Earle & The Broadcasters)
5) Win-O (originally performed by Pee Wee Crayton)
6) Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again) *original song written by Joe Bonamassa & Tom Hambridge
7) Lazy Poker Blues (originally performed by Fleetwood Mac)
8) You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain (originally performed by Albert King)
9) The Truth Hurts Feat Kirk Fletcher and Josh Smith (originally performed by Kenny Neal)
10) Is It Safe To Go Home *original song written by Josh Smith
Summer U.S. Tour
August 12 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY**
August 13 – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel, NY**
September 23 – Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival – Los Angeles, CA
**Keeping the Blues Alive presents: Joe Bonamassa & Friends: Styx and Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
^Joe Bonamassa with Orchestra
Fall U.S. Tour
October 23 – Memphis, TN – The Cannon Center
October 25 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
October 27 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre
October 28 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre At Sugar Land
October 29 – Austin, TX – ACL Live
November 1 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center
November 3 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall
November 4 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre
November 5 – Oklahoma City, OK – Civic Center Music Hall
November 8 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater
November 10 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
November 11 – St. Louis, MO – The Fabulous Fox
November 12 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Paramount Theatre
November 14 – Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center
November 15 – Rockford, IL – Coronado Performing Arts Center
November 17 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre
November 18 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
November 19 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
November 21 – Reading, PA – The Santander Performing Arts Center
November 22 – Providence, RI – Providence Performance Arts Center
November 24 – Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall
November 25 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric
November 28 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre
November 30 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
December 1 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
December 2 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
About Joe Bonamassa:
One of today’s most celebrated performing musicians, Joe Bonamassa is a certified blues-rock titan, a 3x GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist whose acclaimed new album, ‘Time Clocks‘ (J&R Adventures), recently made history as his 25th #1 album on Billboard’s Blues Album chart.
Though still only in his early 40s, Bonamassa is already a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalogue spanning over 40 albums to date, including studio and live recordings, collaborative albums with fellow blues sensation Beth Hart, and the adventurous side projects, Black Country Communion and Rock Candy Funk Party.
The New York State native first captured the imagination of blues aficionados everywhere by opening for the great B.B. King at just 12 years old. Since then, Bonamassa has played alongside a who’s-who of blues and rock icons, including Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, John Lee Hooker, Warren Haynes, Steve Winwood, Peter Frampton, to name but a few. The winner of multiple Blues Music Awards – including the prestigious “B.B. King Entertainer of the Year” award – he has starred on the covers of such publications as Guitar World, Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, and Classic Rock, with high profile features in Rolling Stone, Esquire, the Wall Street Journal, Parade, American Songwriter, and many more.
Hailed by Guitar World as “arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa is known for his limitless work ethic and endless hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons. Bonamassa and his manager, Roy Weisman, furthered their 30-year partnership in 2000 by founding J&R Adventures, a 360-degree independent record label, management, marketing, and concert promotion company that has survived and thrived during one of the music industry’s most uncertain eras. In 2020, Bonamassa and Weisman created Keeping the Blues Alive Records (KTBA), releasing acclaimed new albums by such artists as Dion, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Larry McCray, and others.
As noted, Bonamassa founded the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation in 2011 with a mission to promote and sustain music education and blues music by funding scholarships and providing music education resources to schools in need. KTBA awarded over $1M since its foundation, positively impacting more than 70,000 students across America.
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