Jontavious Willis - West Georgia Blues (2024) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

It makes sense that Jontavious Willis was a sociology and anthropology major in college. He explores American culture via country blues: Delta, Piedmont and Texas styles. Raised on gospel in Greenville, Georgia, Willis' life changed once he saw a video of Muddy Waters playing "Hoochie Coochie Man." A quick study, he mastered fingerpick, flatpick and slide guitar and earned the ultimate seal of approval when Keb' Mo' and Taj Mahal co-produced his last record, 2019's Spectacular Class. Willis' third album drills down on the rich musical history of his home state—the birthplace of Blind Willie McTell and Ma Rainey—and was recorded at the legendary Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon.

West Georgia Blues opens with an arresting bit of a-cappella harmonizing, accented only by hand slapping, from Willis and fellow west Georgia musicians Jayy Hopp and Lloyd Buchanan: "We singing these blues/ Just to carry tradition on." Willis may be a traditionalist, but he is no purist when it comes to following a strict musical path. As he describes it, the songs on this album are "all different shades of the blues." His voice turns low and mournful on "Ghost Woman," a key-of-D folk number inspired by Peach State legends Charley Lincoln and Ida Cox. Brought down deep by Rodrigo Mantovani's double bass, the song also hits an unexpected note of sunniness via Willis' guitar—even as he begs a gravedigger to give him back his lover. It couldn't be more different from "Keep Your Worries on the Dance Floor," a soulful hoot and holler in the vein of Otis Redding or Sam Cooke that transmits hope: "I hear you brother/ You done lost your job/ You'll find a better one/ Don't you take it so hard/ I want you to keep your worries on the dance floor."

"A Lift Is All I Need" is pure levity, in the form of jump blues with irresistible upright piano (Ethan Leinwand) and feel-it-in-your-gut washtub drum (Jayy Hopp). "Lula Mae" storms in with juke-joint sound and fury—walloping guitar and hard-thump rhythm—that never lets up. Giddy "Squirrlin' Mama" dabbles in bathtub-gin jazzy blues. "I like the blues so funky that you can smell the scent," Willis belts on stank-faced "Earthworm Basement Blues." Macon-style piano rolls lend bodaciousness to "Jontavious' West Georgia Grind," and "Lost Ball" swaggers and wails to expose the throughline between the blues and the earliest rock 'n' roll. Willis also highlights the origin point of the blues: to convey the feelings of life through song. Edgy "Rough Times Blues" is a nervy jangle that matches the lyrical story of being worn thin by the cost of living: "You can take the same Franklin, you can put everything in one sack—and you gotta pay for the sack!" And when Willis moans on "Broken Hearted Moan" it evokes as much feeling as any words.

TRACKLIST

1. Jontavious Willis - West Georgia Blues
2. Jontavious Willis - Charlie Brown Blues
3. Jontavious Willis - Broken Hearted Moan
4. Jontavious Willis - Keep Your Worries On the Dance Floor
5. Jontavious Willis - Rough Time Blues
6. Jontavious Willis - Lula Mae
7. Jontavious Willis - Ghost Woman
8. Jontavious Willis - Who's Gonna Hear It?
9. Jontavious Willis - A Lift Is All I Need
10. Jontavious Willis - Too Close to the Finishing Line
11. Jontavious Willis - Earthworm Basement Blues
12. Jontavious Willis - Squirrlin’ Mama
13. Jontavious Willis - Time Brings About a Change
14. Jontavious Willis - Lost Ball
15. Jontavious Willis - Jontavious’ West Georgia Grind



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