In recent times, independent music has had confirmation that many American states have quality music to offer.
And certainly among the states with the most talent is Alabama.
I really believe that there is something magical in the air and in the water and I’m not saying this because I’m a “romantic” or a “dreamer”: friends, when in the same state, artists like Red Clay Strays, Taylor Hunnicutt, Adam Hood, Muscadine Bloodline, Them Dirty Roses, Ella Langley, Drayton Farley, Early James are born… and I’ll stop so as not to be redundant… there is something magical.
Without taking into account those of the past… who said Elvis?
The best music in the United States has always come from the South: blues, soul music, southern rock, folk.
That sound full of intensity, soul, sacredness and real life.
Voices that enter the heart and sounds that entertain and excite: well, when I followed the advice to discover this boy from Mobile, Alabama, I came across all of this.
Justin Jeansonne is a former Marine and I discovered him thanks to the interview I did with the “Queen of Alabama” (Taylor Hunnicutt, which you can find in the Independent Interviews section).
This young man has a talent that will not keep him hidden for much longer and after 3 EPs released between 2019 and 2020, he debuts today with this Little Jake that will definitely put him on the map.
The independent world discovered him when he opened concerts for legends such as Steel Woods and his fellow countrymen, Red Clay Strays.
Now he will go from being a “local” artist to making inroads into thousands of new hearts, since he will be the opener for Red Clay Strays, but this time in the most legendary location of all: Red Rocks.
Let’s go, friends, we’re just in time to get on Justin‘s train, listening to these 8 beautiful songs in one breath.
We start with the soul and groove of Porch Song: the sound is imbued with Southern music and Jeansonne‘s voice seems born for these sounds, smoothed and softened by the magical water that flows in Alabama.
Holding My Baby is a blues and soul ballad, slow and warm like the waters of the Mississippi in summer, but the voice is something fabulous: deep and intense as in the best tradition of the South.
Soul music and rock: here is the irresistible southern rhythm of Snake in The Grass.
My favorite of the album and that, in addition to making you move as if you were in a juke joint, gives us the demonstration of how this guy is a great singer-songwriter who will give great things in the future: great arrangement and talented band.
The title track has a western flavor, a slow and emotional epic ballad, under the sun, guided by the warm sound of the steel guitar and Jeansonne‘s voice: the South of the United States always gives the world great music.
Country is an integral part of the influences of this ex-Marine and he proves it by taking us into his Honky Tonk Heaven: a sound that comes from the past and that the voices immerse in a swamp that seems to come from Muscle Shoals.
The arrangement made of piano and steel guitar is a joy for the ears.
The album closes with a declaration of intent: Alabama Groove.
A sort of summary of the album: the sound you will find is the result of the mix of magic and talent that you can breathe in Alabama.
The soul voices that overlap, the sound, the piano, harmonica and guitar solo, the sticky and persuasive rhythm: friends, this is southern music at its best.
A debut with a bang this one from Justin Jeansonne: the umpteenth demonstration of how in Alabama the magic of music never ceases to give beauty and emotions.
Get on this boy’s train, he’s already going fast, but soon you’ll see him speeding through the mountains of Colorado where the most incredible concert location on the planet awaits him.
Lovers of quality music, pay homage to Alabama and thank it for sharing with us its inexhaustible reservoir of beauty in music and add the name of Justin Jeansonne to the list of artists to follow, you won’t regret it.
Enjoy listening,
Trex.
