ALBUM REVIEW: Edgar Winter Recruits Derek Trucks, Joe Walsh, and More for Tribute to ‘Brother Johnny’
Grant Britt
Posted On April 14, 2022
Johnny Winter cast a long shadow. The fiery blues-rocker and arguably best slide player of all time influenced a generation of guitarists, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, sending young rock fans back to the blues roots to discover the Black artists Winter dug up, worshiped, transmogrified, and amplified. After becoming a major rock figure in the early ’70s, Winter returned to his blues roots, producing and playing on a trio of Grammy-winning releases with Muddy Waters.
But brother Edgar was never content to stand in the shade, tearing it up just as hard as big bro, armed with a synthesizer and a sax.
“Johnny wanted to be famous,” Edgar Winter says in his latest bio. “He was Johnny ‘Cool Daddy’ Winter, with the guitar, the pompadour, the shades, and the girls. I was the quiet kid who played all the instruments.”
Edgar gives his departed brother a fitting sendoff on his latest release, Brother Johnny, a tribute album with a head-busting array of guest stars.
The brothers had plans for a Rock ‘N’ Blues Fest tour together when Johnny passed away in 2014. Edgar did the tour alone, but ended his sets with some of Johnny’s tunes, including “Johnny B. Goode,” “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The songs brought him comfort and closure, leading to the creation of Brother Johnny.
Joe Walsh steps in on a few cuts, including “Johnny B Goode,” but that’s not Walsh’s guitar lead. David Grissom tears off the Berry licks while Walsh roars over top of Winter’s rollicking piano here. Walsh gets a chance to show off his guitar-slingin’ skills on “Stranger,” aided by Ringo Starr on drums and Michael McDonald on vocals.
The late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins’ powerful vocal contribution on “Guess I’ll Go Away” is a poignant testament to the dangers of rock and roll.
Billy Gibbons and Derek Trucks have a greasy, head-spinning, string-bustin’ musical conversation on “I’m Yours and I’m Hers” that rivals Winter’s pyrotechnics on the 1969 original.
Keb’ Mo’ contributes vocals on “Lone Star Blues,” an original by Edgar detailing his brother’s difficulties coming to grips with his celebrity.
A great tribute to Johnny, this brotherly outpouring of love and respect retains his spirit without stealing his soul.
