Blues Roadhouse

Johnny Iguana — “At Delmark” — Delmark Records

Johnny Iguana’s latest album is quite a departure for the keyboard wizard whose music is most often found as part of a Chicago blues band — and he’s worked with some of the best, including Junior Wells and Otis Rush.

The album is a solo session, just Iguana and a vintage 1917 Steinway B that lives at the home of Delmark Records. The session was recorded as if it were a club show — in unedited single takes, and straight to analog tape. The sound it makes is simply splendid.

The result is a sparkling blend of magnificent greats and five new originals, all instrumentals. As Iguana (aka Brian Berkowitz) tells it:

“The cover songs here range from ones I’ve been doing on stage for years to ones I just started playing. The original compositions are all very new. In fact, some were arguably still in development when these sessions arrived…so, there is searching and discovery caught on tape. I thought all the covers made for entertaining solo piano pieces…all have blues on top or somewhere inside…at their root.“

Iguana launches the session with a rollicking rendition of a Little Brother Montgomery blues, “Bass Key Boogie,” followed by a dynamic, orchestral-sounding version of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.” The original “For Dancers Only” highlights Iguana’s unique creativity, mixing doo-wop, boogie-woogie and danceable rhythms into a land of many dances.

“Stormy Night at a Moroccan Blues Bar,” another original, adds international intrigue, and “Messin’ With the Kid” returns to the blues with the toughness of the Junior Wells chestnut. More originals follow: “Tripping in a French Ambulance” floats then struts along, all somewhat trippily, and “One More, for the Cleaning Crew,” sweeps in with an offhanded lightness of being.

A rocking version of Check Berry’s “You Never Can Tell” rolls along on New Orleans rhythms, then “You Belong To Me,” splendidly revives the Magic Sam opus with a thunderous left hand. The original “Welcome Distractions,” just feels magnificent. The hard-pounding “Riff Raff” is anything but, and the closer, “Roll ‘Em,” pays tribute to Jay McShann with a rocking boogie beat.

“At Delmark” is a masterful effort. It rocks, it swings, it draws from jazz and classical sources, it lionizes the blues piano — and it gives Johnny Iguana a chance to display his dazzling Chicago keyboard chops in what is essentially an effervescent live concert. Give this piano man a listen!

---

Here’s an interesting interview with Johnny Iguana by Michael Limnios at Blues GR.

---

Johnny Iguana with Billy Boy Arnold:

Tracklist:

➊ Bass Key Boogie 2:58
Little Brother Montgomery (Delmark Records Admin)
➋ Heart of Gold 2:30
Neil Young (Silver Fiddle Music, ASCAP)
➌ For Dancers Only 2:20
Brian Berkowitz (Om God Music, ASCAP)
➍ Stormy Night at a Moroccan Blues Bar 3:01
Brian Berkowitz (Om God Music, ASCAP)
➎ Messin’ with the Kid 4:16
Mel London (World International Publishing Co, BMI)
➏ Tripping in a French Ambulance 3:32
Brian Berkowitz (Om God Music, ASCAP)
➐ One More, for the Cleaning Crew 2:43
Brian Berkowitz (Om God Music, ASCAP)
➑ You Never Can Tell 3:21
Chuck Berry (Isalee Music Productions, BMI)
➒ You Belong to Me 4:08
Samuel Maghett (Conrad Music, Leric Music, BMI)
➓ Welcome Distractions 2:22
Brian Berkowitz (Om God Music, ASCAP)
⓫ Riff Raff 3:56
Young, Young, Scott (Australian Music Corp. PTY Ltd., APRA,Sony/ATV Tunes, ASCAP)
⓬ Roll ‘Em 3:06
Jay McShann (Delmark Records Admin)