House Jumpers - Foolin' Around (2018)

This album offers songs in jump, Chicago blues, Bo Diddley, early rock & roll, ballad, roots, and New Orleans styles. The music expresses the band's passion for, and depth of understanding of, American blues and other genres.

The House Jumper’s music helps them express their passion for American blues and many other genres. On Foolin’ Around, the influences of great artists, such as Professor Longhair and Big Walter, inspired the House Jumpers to explore the musical styles that these grandparent-musicians originated. The record opens with Been Fooling Around, a New Orleans classic, which features Chris on chromatic harp and guest, Barry Washboard Barnes, on washboard. The band has performed the Liggins brothers’ material at live shows for years, but this is their first release of a Jimmy Liggins’ song, I’ll Always Love You. Chikken Fingers Montgomery and Josh Conner provide a terrific rhythm section on this jump classic. Protect the Root summons up Willie Dixon’s demand that we protect the root (“if you like the fruit”). This guide to “the fruit,” reminds us that Dixon, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Allman Brothers, Fats Domino, the Beatles, Billy Holiday, Little Richard, Led Zeppelin, and Little Walter are all bound together by either creating the root or deriving music from it. El Matador is a classic early R&R song about a quaint North Lawrence, Kansas restaurant owned by a family that is close to the band. Accordion takes you to the American Southwest, where a low-down accordion player leaves his spouses’ dog on the counter at a Texaco gas station. The spouse is clearly done with his cheating, lousy ways! Washboard contributes to the rhythm section on this number. A song that always involves the House Jumpers’ audiences, Drink a Little Wine, swings right into a join-along singfest. They drink a little wine but “don’t get drunk!” Ann’s outstanding vocals on The Moon Made Me Cry reveal a sensitive side to her voice, like the torch ballads that she offers effortlessly in live performance. Moon also illustrates the Hunt’s diverse writing skills. Nosey Neighbors, we’ve all had them. It’s a classic, Big Walter style, and Chris’ harp playin’ would have done Big proud. Marvin rips some slide guitar on Tick Tock, a shuffle boogie. Chris and Marvin join in melodies and stretch out on some rides in this number, like they often do at gigs. Woke Up This Morning is the classical mambo concept that B.B. King performed during his reign on the Chitlin Circuit and on his early records. Craig Treinen, of the Santiago Brothers, is featured on sax. Lookie Here takes a detour to Chicago and gives Marvin a chance to sting some riffs with his Stratocaster. Hallelujah is the most unique song on the record, offering a traditional, gospel-inspired arrangement. Ann lays down the law, declaring a new freedom from a stifling relationship. After all, his mother was a “lunatic!” The House Jumpers hope you enjoy these twelve recordings.

Track List:
01. Been Fooling Around 03:18
02. I'll Always Love You 03:03
03. Protect The Root 04:19
04. El Matador 03:58
05. Accordion 04:18
06. Drink A Little Wine 04:53
07. The Moon Made Me Cry 03:48
08. Nosey Neighbors 03:00
09. Tick Tock 04:35
10. Woke Up This Morning 05:03
11. Lookie Here 03:12
12. Hallelujah 04:06

Line-Up:
Ann Hunt - Vocals
Marvin Hunt - Guitars
Steve "Chikken Fingers" Montgomery - Bass
Chris Millspaugh - Harmonica
Josh Conner - Drums

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