We're gonna miss you, Johnnie
Our town's late piano great Johnnie Johnson has already been eulogized many times in the local media. There's not a lot for me to add, except to say that on the handful of occasions I had the opportunity to work with or around Johnnie, he more than lived up to his reputation as a gentleman, a generous collaborator, and a superlative blues pianist.
Though he played blues and rock, Johnnie was inspired by a lot of jazz players. You can find out which ones were his favorites in this interview, done just after his induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and recently reposted on Jambands.com. And not coincidentally, this blog entry also provides a convenient pretext for me to suggest that you read my other article in this week's RFT, about the sessions for Johnnie's final album, which was released the week after his death. (If you'd like to purchase a copy, it's now available in local stores and through the Web site of songwriter/producer Jeff Alexander's label, Cousin Moe Music.)
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