Artist:     Wayne Nicholson & John Campbelljohn

Album:     Elmore’s Blues

Label:     Grindstone

Release Date:     5.15.2020

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If ever an album title deserved to appear on these pages, this one does. And, as you likely guessed, “Elmore” is indeed to the iconic bluesman, Elmore James. So, given that this is a tribute album, most of songs will be familiar even though the artists, vocalist Wayne Nicholson and guitarist John Campbelljohn may be less familiar to those in the US. Both hail from Canada’s East Coast (also called Atlantic and Maritimes) and both are well-decorated veterans of blues in Canada. The duo front a sexted with piano, organ, bass, and drums on these 14 tunes, a dozen of which are tunes from James, and two originals (“If I Was Blue” and “Dancin’ With the Blues,” written in a similar vein. Obviously, the album is showcase for the two front men, but Barry Cooke’s barroom, barrelhouse piano is strong throughout as well.

The music sounds raw, fresh, and comes close to the primitive edginess of Elmore James. Although, we know his signature style can’t be easily replicated, Nicholson and Campbelljohn do find James’ similar spirit. Nicholson has been singing for 50 years and his immense, potent, suitably gravelly voice has earned him a reputation as one of Atlantic Canada’s greatest blues-rock voices, oft compared to Paul Rodgers and David Clayton-Thomas. Nicholson has recorded and released eight albums and toured with artists such as Gregg Allman, James Cotton, and Jeff Healey, to name a few.

Likewise, John Campbelljohn has built a strong reputation for his terrific guitar work (of course, on slide too), as well as his songwriting and vocals, though he defers vocals to Nicholson here. Campbelljohn’s slide style is more refined and versatile than James—known as the “King of the Slide Guitar. Campbelljohn uses the low register notes far more often, and is equally as penetrating in his own way, a great player. Campbelljohn has released 14 albums and been a sideman on numerous others. He recalls the beginning of the project this way, “Wayne called me up and said, ‘John, I’ve got an idea. We need to talk. I want to do an album of Elmore James songs and you are the slide guy!’ I said, Wayne you’ve got one of the biggest blues rock voices to ever come out of the Maritimes. I’m in.”

Many of the most famous James tunes are here – “Standing at the Crossroads,” “Shake Your Money Maker,” and “It Hurts Me Too.” While those are great, other standouts are “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” for Campbelljohn’s exceptional slide work, the slower tempo “Sinful Woman” which is a showcase for Nicholson’s vocals and Campbelljohn’s picking rather than slide work, and the Elmore James-like slide work in “Happy Home.” Close your eyes and listen to “Sunnyland” and you might think that it’s Gregg Allman singing.

This is a strong tribute. Even the honoree is probably smiling down from Blues Heaven.

—Jim Hynes