Ain’t In No Hurry – Jorma Kaukonen

I have seen The Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna (electric and acoustic) live. I probably have all the Airplane and Hot Tuna albums and love them all. This album goes on my list of grab these things if the house is on fire. Maybe it is my age or maybe just feeling mellow today but Ain’t in No Hurry just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. 

Jorma opens with a laid back “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” that sets the mood for the album that features old time Americana classics, some Jorma originals, and even a song using lost Woody Guthrie lyrics. 

“The Other Side of the Mountain” has Jorma rock out with another great display of his finger picking guitar style. Did I say rock out?  

The band here is Jorma’s longtime mate Jack Casady, mandolin great Barry Mitterhoff, Producer and co writer on the Woddy Gutherie tune “Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me” Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Myron Hart, and Justin Guip. Every one adds something to a nice easy mix but Campbell’s pedal steel stands out.

The classic “Brother Can You Spare a Dime” has Jorma and Mitterhoff lean and tight.

Myron Hart’s bass and Teresa Williams vocals gives us a bit of an up tempo feel on “Where There’s Two There’s Trouble”.

“The Terrible Operation”, now there’s the Hot Tuna I know so well. 

Jorma has always been a great story teller and he closes Ain’t in No Hurry with just his guitar telling the story of his life and travels.

Jorma is one of our great guitarist but if you are looking for guitar fireworks this album isn’t for you. If instead you aren’t in a hurry well, hurry out and get this album.

Previously published on Elmore Magazine

Jorma Kaukonen – Ain’t in No Hurry (Red House Records)

Mark J. Smith