"...is solo piano blues at it's best. JT nails this one - Instrumentally, lyrically and vocally. A must have for piano lovers."
- Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
"The sound quality is above average, and the melodic and rhythmic diversity of tunes makes each track a pleasant surprise."
- Michael Cala, Blues Revue Magazine
"...delightful...the real deal...timeless...I recommend it highly"
- Bill Wilson, Billtown Blues Notes
Yep, it's that time again! Christy and I will soon be departing the cold gray landscape of Central Pennsylvania for the kuch tropical seas of the Caribbean.
I'm hoping to hte "This Way That Way" finished by then, but the finiashing touches are taking way longer than I'd planned - but it will be worth it!
In the meantime, the regular gigs and piano lessons keep happening. Let's go 2012!
"This Way That Way"
OK - THAT's the title of my new album, after one of the songs - yeah, the one about trying things this way, then that way.
I did the original tracking at Frigo Studios in Boalsburg - Marc, a former Nashville pro, has a great space there. I did three sessions covering nine tunes with the smokin' rhythm section from my Thursday night Phyrst band, Maxwell Strait: Jack Wilkinson on drums and Rene Witzke on bass. Pete Jogo from the Triple A Blues Band also played on a track.
A week later, I had my other favorite rhythm section in for five songs: Steve Mitchell on drums and Bill Stetz on bass, both from Lewisburg, PA.
So I had recorded bass, drums, piano, and lead vocal, and it was time to start burning the midnight oil. I had to get the rhythm tracks mixed in time for the icing and the gravy: vocals with Pure Cane Sugar and four horns from the Zeropoint Big Band!
"Where There's Smoke..."
That's the working title of my new album. Christy likes it, so it'll probably stick, I am open to suggestions.
Rather than a completely solo afair like "Chase Away Your Blues," I'm tapping into the State College talent pool and using some really great musicians to help me out - Jack Wilkinson, Rene Witzke, Andy Tolins, Ted McCloskey, Bill Stetz, and Rick Hirsch to name a few.
Yep, it's gonna be fun. We start tracking at Frigo Recording soon, and I'll keep you posted on how it's going.
August
Ok, it's not quite August, and I do have some cool July events coming up this weekend: Friday at LePapillion for the Chamber of Business and Indusrty in Centre County (prior to my Triple A gig at Zeno's), then Sunday in Bellefonte at Talleyrand Park - Summer Sounds at the Gazebo sponsored by the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. I've been playing the Talleyrand Park gig since 2008 and it's always a good time.
But there's some good stuff going on in August, too. Natascha will be back and we have our first gig on Friday August 12, at the Blairmont Club in Hollidaysburg. Then Friday August 19th I'll be playing the Blues again in Bellefonte - for the Arts and Crafts Fair; I go on at 3:00 pm. And if you like to enjoy good wine in the shade of tall trees in the mountains, be sure and come up to Seven Mountains Wine Cellars on Saturday, August 27. I'm playing to benefit the Childrens' Miracle Network, but anyone can come and enjoy.
New CD
Yes, I'm working on tunes for a new CD; hope to have it out by the end of the summer.
This one won't be entirely solo like "Chase Away Your Blues," however. I intend to recruit a few of my fellow musicians to play and sing on it. No - they don't know who they are - but neither do I just yet. Haven't got quite that far along, but I'll keep you posted.
Isabella
Started a new regular - every Wednesday - gig in Selinsgrove last night, and it looks like it's gonna be lotsa fun.
Isabella is a classy but casual Italian restaurant located in a former bank building right downtown, with separate seating areas for dinner and the bar.
Domenico (yes, he's really from Italy), knows how to put out great food, and he's going to run a different drink special every Wednesday. Lst night was Martini Night, and I saw quite a few of those being, uh, consumed. I'm certain next week will be just as good. See you there, maybe?
We Be Jammin' >>>
Had a blast playing with Doug McMinn and Bill Stetz on a couple of gigs lately, that also included Steve Mitchell, Sean Farley, Joel Vincent, and the incomparable Ann Kerstetter.
Doug's celebrating his 30 years in the music business by doing a tour of the area, and I'm honored that he asked me to play with him, especially for the Billtown Blues Festival - that's really cool!
We also covered a date at the Elk Creek Cafe that was supposed to be Ann Rabson's show, but she became ill and had to cancel. So her band - The Annimators (Stetz and Mitchell) asked me and Doug and Ann Kerststter to fill in, and the show was great! Tim will certainly have us back there.
It's beginning to look a lot like - SPRINGTIME!
Finally... Green grass, blooming flowers, buzzing bees, sparrows in the birdhouses, skunks in the yard; yep - it's SPRING!
And that means a few extra gigs, too >> Easter Brunches, Mothers' Day Brunchs, Penn State Graduation Brunches, Senior Week (aka Bar Tour Week) gigs...and the beat goes on.
I'm also writing and recording demos for my next album, and writing a couple tunes for other friends of mine - I hope they'll like 'em. I'll post them on FB and you can let me know what you think, too.
OK, the mower's working...
that means it's officialy Spring - I pulled out the lawnmower and cranked it up. Had to replace the starter rope first, however - I think the red squirrel that sotred all his walnuts on top of it may have gnawed through the rope.
But Spring also means that things are starting to shape up for Summer - gigs, I mean, not necessarily my waistline. In June I'll be at the Billtown Blues Festival and Elk Creek Cafe (both with Doug McMinn), and Summer's Best Music Fest. July I'll do a show at the Lemont Village Green and Talleyrand Park (but no word yet about Arts Fest or JazzPA). You'll find me at the Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair and Seven Mountains Winery in August, and there will more to come I'm sure.
OK, time to put that mower to work...
Bring the Spring
It's March, we've had enough snow and cold already. OK, yeah, I know we always have some nasty weather in March, and even some in April. But how about a break this year?
At least I'll be back at the Governors' Pub every week, but this time it's on Thursdays. Due to a scheduling conflict, The Biscuit Jam Band couldn't play Tuesdays anymore, and asked if I'd switch. Well, due to my load of piano students, I can't play Tuesdays, so Dave offered Thursdays. No problem! So Thursdays are now a double-gig day > 6:30-9:00 @ The Pub, then I drive up to State College for my 10:30 extravanganza at the Phyrst with Maxwell Strait (always one of my most favorite gigs).
See you around, then ~~~
It's January, which means we're headed south to the warm sunny Carribbean - sailing our 5th Bluescruise. Yep, we're hooked. And I'm honored to be one of the Crow's Nest Jamarama hosts again - so it's a "working" cruise. But i promise I'll try not to work too hard...
The real work comes the first week in February, however, representing the Billtown Blues Association, in the 27th International Blues Challenge in Memphis. A week of great music and some intense but fun competition. Now matter how that turns out, I'll be seeing and hearing some fine Blues, and hanging out with some great friends we've made along the way.
Here Comes 2011 >>>>>>
Already??? But I haven't finished what I gotta do in 2010 yet!
But it's happening anyways, and for the 4th straight year, Maxwell Strait will be ringing in the New Year at The Phyrst. But, since it's also Friday, Triple A will be warming up Zeno's at their usual time, 7:00 pm. Then Saturday & Sunday, I rest. But Monday, Jan 3, the Blues Boogie goes to Williamsport for another round at the Bullfrog Brewery ~ and the Beat goes on!
Ho Ho Ho!
Ho Ho Ho, break out your boots, and shovel that snow! Well, we haven't had to shovel any yet, just brush it off the car. But the spirit is upon us, as I've already played one Christmas party, with several more to go, including a few Victorian Christmas appearances here in Bellefonte on Saturday, December 11 >> including a performance of "Laughing All The Way" with the Bellefonte Community Band.
And, I've written a Christmas song called "The Season's Reason," which you can listen to here, and even download your own copy from my ReverbNation page on Facebook. And thanks for buying my CDs!
November Blues
Had a couple great gigs already this month - "The Blues Go Pink" at Cefalo's in Carnegie PA, sponsored by the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania, and "Fall Into The Blues" at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport, sponsored by the Billtown Blues Association.
And thanks for buying my CDs!
Halloween & Early November
JT's kicking off Halloween by appearing on the "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" Radio Show @ WQSU in Selinsgrove from Noon to 3:00, talking 'bout the Blues and playing cuts from the new CD. Then Monday, November 1, he's making his first appearance at the Bullfrog Brewery, Willamsport's coolest music spot. The iconic Steve Mitchell will be joining him on drums, and the magnificent Bill Stetz will hold down the bass; expect a few other local stars to show up and play, too (I'm talking 'bout you, Ann).
"Chase Away Your Blues" CD Release Party!
Thank you to everyone who came out, partied, and bought a CD! Special thanks to Natascha, Andy Tolins, and Spydah who kept house rocking. If you missed it, you can get "Chase Away Your Blues" and other stuff at www.chaseawayyourblues.com.
CD Release - "Chase Away Your Blues"
Mixing's done, artwork is done, everything's been shipped to the factory, they're beginning to process it. The target release date is Friday, October 22 - we'll party at the Bar in Boalsburg.
September Rolls
Last year, I had a nice busy summer, but things ground almost to a halt once fall kicked in. Not so this year - just look at the schedule. Three regular gigs every week, weekend parties, The Bar, a Friday at the new Kildare's Irish Pub, trips to play with songstress Ann Kerstetter and NYC Blues guitarist Dave Fields. And Natascha's back, so Blau² is partying at Rotelli, The Bar, and your neighbor's house. And, and, and -- I'm finishing up my first CD. Stay tuned....
Music is a moral law;
It gives wings to the mind, a soul to the universe, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, a life to everything.
Plato, 400 B.C
"Many thanks for the beautiful music...You helped make the day very special" - BG
"...residents are still talking about the wonderful concert you presented...You are a wonderful entertainer and pianist!" - SD
"SPECIAL THANKS TO JT - THE PIANO MAN! WHAT A HIT!!!" - SK
"Thanks - the band was a big hit!" - JL
Playing the Blues is no guarantee of a successful music career, but John "JT" Thompson somehow makes it happen. Now, it's not always pure Blues, but the passion of the Blues influences his approach to everything he plays.
Originally from central Pennsylvania, JT headed south in the late 1970s, doing his internship in the swamp music dens of Louisiana, the cowboy bars of Texas, the juke joints of Mississippi, the Blues clubs in Georgia, and rock venues up and down the East coast. Over that time, this talented musician has shown incredible diversity. He's backed up notable performers including soul icon Percy Sledge, legendary Blues great Lotsa Poppa, Cajun swamp pop singer Charles Mann, R & B artist Little Alfred, and internationally-renown casino entertainer Cody Marshall. He has opened shows for B. B. King, the Pointer Sisters, Bob Seger, Iron Butterfly, Lee Greenwood, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Lattimore, Bobby Rush, Lenny Williams, Coco Montoya, and Ruthie Foster. JT has traveled the hotel show circuit, played corporate parties for clients such as Coca-Cola and Wolf Camera, the PSU Alumni Association, performed at weddings large and small, and fronted his own hard-rock band, The Chase.
He is currently a fixture in the State College PA music scene, fronting his own group JT and the Spy Boys, and performing regularly with local favorites Maxwell Strait, The Triple A Blues Band, and chanteuse Natascha Hoffmeyer.
JT has distilled all this experience into a spirited solo act. Beginning with his original Blues and Boogie-Woogie tunes, and throwing in cover that span the decades - from the 30's and 40's right up to today's hits - you'll find JT thrilling an audience with his intuitive style and eclectic taste.
Blues & Boogie, other Popular Songs
