JONATHAN KALB
Jonathan Kalb has played his blues for more than forty years touring throughout the US as well as throughout Europe. From gospel churches to major festivals and clubs,as well as television and radio he has played a lifetime of gigs. Along the way he also backed such world renown bluesmen as Lightning Hopkins, Otis Rush, Johnnny Copeland, Honeyboy Edwards, and rockers, Steve Miller, Bo Diddley, Gary US Bonds,The Fugs, and was on tour as leader of the band with Evelyn Champagne King, opening for the Ojays, Eisley Brothers etc. Played with the Fugs next door to Jimi Hendrix at Cafe Wha/ Hendrix saying two years later that he got idea for using fuzztone while watching Jonathan playing lead through one. In addition he has shared the same stage with Luther Allison, BB King, Dr John to name a few. For the last few years he is was appearing frequently in New York City at BB King's Club,along with many other places in the East Coast. Last October 2005 in Camden, and Feb 2006 in Charleston he appeared as a solo artist in South Carolina Blues Festivals. His music is blues based, but he has a personal style that has elements of country, funk soul, and jazz mixed together in a soulful potpouri of sound. Traditionally based in the blues, having worked with some of the country blues legends, he has a command of all the country and city based blues styles and mixes them with an authentic ease that makes his album so accessible. His live reviews from both sides of the Atlantic say it all: "It was clear from the off that the guy is the real deal. That indefinable sound, phrasing,confidence and all just all around X factor that makes the greats stand out from others. Few have it, Jon is one of those few. As he played a borrowed Fender, pickless, I could not help thinking of early Stevie Ray Vaugn. Bending, vibrating and manipulating the guitar to proce a sound of his own. Vocally Jon is very powerful, but subtle too, with perfect phrasing. The overall sound produces excitement and makes for an intoxicating coctail for the audience to enjoy "The X Factor". That is why you must hear these guys live. There is no way to reproduce the spontaneity of these rare beasts....Captain Pat "Blues in Britain" Issue October 2001 England or from "The New York Times" : "His guitar playing reveals an unassuming rythmic fluency that suports the intensity of his solo lines beautifully. Raw and graceful by turns, his solo lines do not so much fill the space as use it with economy and intelligence. At their best, the resultas are transcendent..." Proctor Lippincott Ny Times 1986 or from "Blues Access" in review of album Issue 41 "The fact that these sides were recorded variously in London, Paris and Denmark pays sad tstament to the fact that so many fines blues musicians must go to Europe to make a living. With just bass and drums accompanying his strong guitar and vocals Kalb avoids cliches and stays right in the pocket, moving comfortably from the acoustic title track to the funky "Blues Survivor" to the reggae-influence "Silver wind" and the self describing "Mr Shuffle" with overdubbed organ also played by Kalb.(Saloon Recording)." With this highly personal but rooted in the tradition of Freddy and BB King, Albert Collins and Muddy Waters with even a taste of Bob Marley, and Merle Haggard "Shadow of a Man" is the debut album from a bluesman who has been on the scene for a long time and is finally garnering some of the recognition he deserves.
In 2010 he will be making his 13 tour of Europe this time playing the UK and Norway. In the meantime he lives in the NYC area in the states and plays in many different venues in the tri state area. His website is jonathankalb.org in order to find out where his next gigs will be both in the US and overseas.
