JORMA KAUKONEN- “BARBEQUE KING REVIEW”
JORMA KAUKONEN ELECTRIFIES THE OLD WALDORF IN SAN FRANCISCO ON 6-8-79. PHOTO-ART BY BEN UPHAM.
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Old Waldorf 6-8-79
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Jorma Artwork by Ben Upham III
JORMA KAUKONEN-
“BARBEQUE KING REVIEW”
BY BILL MISSETT
LOGANSPORT PHAROS TRIBUNE
LOGANSPORT, INDIANA
MARCH 1, 1981
You’d suspect after hearing “Barbeque King” (RCA AFL1-3725) by Jorma Kaukonen that he holds some terrible secret over the heads of several RCA Records executives and in exchange for his silence, they let him make records like this.
With his band Vital Parts hanging in tough behind him, guitar master Kaukonen turns in one of the most distinctive albums of mainstream rock in many moons. The music is bristling with energy, at times so powerful it’s difficult to listen to.
And there is no denying the brilliance of the playing of Kaukonen and sidemen bassist Denny DeGorio, and drummer John Stench. But some of the material, and the strong way it is recorded is almost enough to knock the breath out of you.
It is provocative and decidedly different rock and roll. Kaukonen sings with a great deal of echo in his vocals, and the drums are heavily emphasized in the recording. As a result, with Kaukonen’s mad genius keeping things boiling, the album at times will dazzle you. It is forceful and demanding, a powerful album unique to Kaukonen. His guitar and vocal talents range from deep, forboding rock to screaming blues, and he’s hot at both extremes. The title song is the album’s most commercial tune, perhaps one to make radio.
JORMA KAUKONEN DISCOGRAPHY:
1974 Quah
1979 Jorma
1981 Barbeque King
1985 Magic
1985 Too Hot to Handle
1994 Embryionic Journey
1995 Magic II
1995 The Land of Heroes
1996 Christmas
1998 Too Many Years
2001 Jorma Trio Live
2002 Blue Country Heart
2007 Stars in my Crown
2009 River of Time
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SEE JORMA KAUKONEN PHOTOS:
Old Waldorf 6-8-79
and
Jorma Artwork by Ben Upham III