John Lee Hooker Jr., Releases “Live In Istanbul” & New Animated Blues Video
Bluesman John Lee Hooker Jr. Drops “Live in Istanbul, Turkey” CD Releases New Animated Blues Video Extramarital Affair”
energetic about a ‘live’ album. And when bluesman John Lee
Hooker, Jr. shouts “Istanbul, are you ready for the blues?”
at the onset of his newly released CD, “Live in Istanbul,
Turkey” you can feel the electricity in the stadium. “Live in
Istanbul, Turkey” on Hooker, Jr.’s own Steppin’ Stone Records
and the European label Jazzhaus Records, proves to be
yet another notch in the Grammy nominated artist’s belt. Hooker explodes
with fiery intensity as he sets the audience on fire at the Efes
Pilsen Blues Festival, proving that the
blues are indeed an international language understood around the world.
“Live
in Istanbul, Turkey” showcases the son of the late iconic blues legend,
John Lee Hooker, not only
performing classics from his previously released albums,
but also introducing three new songs as well. In addition, as
the first blues artist to tap hip hop’s reach with animated music
videos, the CD boast yet another addition to this legacy.
The bonus video “Extramarital Affairs,”
co-conceived and co-produced by Frenchman Laurent Mercier at the Callicore
Animation Studios in Paris, captures, in vivid black and white, the
torrid escapades of a background musician’s illicit affair with a
mistress that Hooker Jr. calls “tales of the road.” “Extramarital
Affair” is the third in a series of blues animations from Hooker, Jr.
and Mercier.
“One
of the greatest and most exciting things that has ever happened in my
career, was the blessed chance to go to Istanbul and perform in front of
the wonderful Turkish people,” expresses Hooker, Jr. “To have done my
very first live CD is of course, monumental, but
to have performed and recorded in front of the greatest and most
exciting crowd ever was surreal. I was and am overjoyed by this
achievement!”
“Live In Istanbul, Turkey” is a
treasure chest of gems. Hooker, Jr. and his band
infuse their performances with the fuel generated from an audience of
thousands of live fans. Tracks like “Suspicious,” “Maudie” and “Doin’
the Boogie” bust at the musical seams as the blues soar to magical
funk-laden realms. The inclusion of new songs,
“It’s a Shame,” “You Make My Life Brand New” and “They
Hatin’ On Me” recorded at the Pajama Studio in Oakland, CA serve to
extend the life of the CD’s party.
John
Lee Hooker Jr. was born in Detroit “Motor” City with Delta blues-filled
blood running through his Motown veins. As the son of the great John Lee
Hooker, he was exposed to the life of the blues from a young age. Unfortunately, while living the “life of a bluesman”
he succumbed to the demons that surround it, derailing his musical
career for many, many years. Drugs, alcohol, divorce, incarceration, and
near death almost brought his once promising career to a screeching
halt. But it was living the blues and his faith in the Almighty that
resurrected him.
Now
from the gravely blues of the Detroit streets to a new era of sound;
from the shadow of his father’s accomplishments to standing apart from
his namesake; from criminal to animated blues video hero; from San
Quentin Prison to the Red Carpet, and the United States to Turkey, John
Lee Hooker Jr. keeps forging new ground with a deep-rooted sound. The blues are not only here to stay, but are being
embraced around the world. “Live in Istanbul,
Turkey” is his musical contribution to world peace as we all rock in
unison!
Get on the blues
train with John Lee Hooker, Jr. and also view “Extramarital Affair” at http://www.JohnLeeHookerJr.com .
JazzmynePR