New CD Available—

Local Blues Man Takes Inspiration From Johnny Winter

By Kendra Bobowick

Newtown resident and blues musician Jay Willie recently released his Jay Willie Blues Band CD, The Reel Deal, featuring artists who have performed with blues icons including Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Jay Willie Blues Band includes featured artist and bass guitarist Tommy Shannon, “a Johnny Winter sidekick from the early years, and perhaps better known for his work with the late Stevie Ray Vaughan,” as stated in a brief bio included with the CD; drummer and vocalist Bobby Torello of East Haven, who had also played with Johnny Winter; and New Milford resident Bob Callahan, a guitarist and another vocalist.

The Reel Deal was released in Europe in November 2010, and this past February in the United States.

Mr Willie recorded tracks with Mr Torello and Mr Callahan at Horizon Music Group in West Haven, after which Mr Shannon added his bass tracks from his studio in Austin, Texas. The album was released on the Blues Boulevard Records label, a division of Music Avenue, a European group of labels. Mr Willie and his wife Lynn have three children, J.C., 28, Jaime, 25, and Jina, 21.

Blues caught Jay Willie’s ear at age 12, soon after he started classical guitar lessons with his uncle, Tony Comito. The classical approach soon “went out the window,” again according to the bio on the inside of his CD jacket, and his love for the blues that has formed Mr Willie’s playing links back to old records he had borrowed from his uncle, including those of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Johnny Winter. Mr Winter’s influence has remained with Mr Willie throughout his musical career.

“The style really caught my attention,” said Mr Willie during a recent interview. He talked about Mr Winter’s rock, blues and finger style delta blues, and a slide technique “that gives you a nice sound.” He mentioned the “bluesy tone” that he admires, explaining, “it’s just a different sound. You’re not picking. It gives off a continuous tone, sliding through the notes and not so staccato.”

He found Johnny Winter’s rock and blues “so dynamic, [with] a lot of style and feeling to it. I enjoyed it and tried to emulate.” Learning to create a sound and style that he admired was “exciting, a good feeling,” he said. Once he learned the style by ear, his playing was “rewarding,” Mr Willie remembers.

Regarding the guitar methods, Mr Willie said, “Classical guitar requires a lot of technique, patience and is usually done solo. Playing blues rock is electrified and the members feed off of each other with their own individuality.”

A teenager in 1974 and an emerging blues musician, he quickly strengthened his connection to Mr Winter. Mr Willie confessed that at age 16, he started going to every Johnny Winter show that he could. By 1978 Mr Willie had met Johnny Winter’s drummer Bobby T Torello after a New Haven concert. According to the CD bio, “[Mr Torello] invited [Mr Willie] to stay for an after party to get a photo autographed by Johnny.” A stronger connection came more than 20 years later when the men met again.

Mr Willie was not formally introduced to Mr Torello until 2001 when Mr Torello was performing with his own band, Bobby T’s Electric Circus.

 At times Mr Willie sat in with Mr Torello’s band Bobby T’s Electric Circus. “He said I played like Johnny, which was no surprise!” Mr Willie said it had been Mr Torello who first suggested recording a CD together.

The two soon formed a friendship that played a big part in Mr Willie’s The Reel Deal. Mr Torello and former Johnny Winter “sidekick” Tommy Shannon “had a lot to do with getting this signed with a major label, and for [Tommy Shannon] to play on it, he had to like it,” Mr Willie said.

“Success with The Reel Deal is not something I ever really dreamed of,” Mr Willie admitted. A record label backing and promoting the CD and distributing it “is an experience. It’s surreal.” The title track is composed of lyrics associated with titles of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter songs and Tommy’s bass playing sets the groove, Mr Willie explained.

Describing himself as humble he said he “almost feels” as though he doesn’t deserve such recognition considering the other band members, but then said, “I put a lot of work and effort into producing this.” Happy so far with CD sales, the record company has told him it’s doing as well as they had expected.

 Based on most of the US and European reviews a second CD is likely, he said.

Best Moment?

“I was 18 years old. I started going to bars and open mics and sitting in with others,” he said. Compliments on his playing “felt good” he said. He also remembers a trip to Manhattan around the same time. He entered a vintage guitar store where he found a 1963 reverse Gibson Firebird.

Explaining the instrument, he said the tuning headstock is upside down. The guitar was also what the influential Johnny Winter was playing at that time, Mr Willie said. “I had to have it!”

A Freedom

Music is “great self expression,” said Mr Willie. “If it sounds good it feels good.”

He cannot imagine life without his music, which also provides a connection to his son who has a disability. Music is “particularly a gift,” considering the bond it forms between Mr Willie and his son, who enjoys guitar and singing.

On Thursdays Mr Willie often attends open jams in town.

“That’s a cool thing. Talk about self expression — when you see all these people get up and play together and the sound is good,” he said.

Music is a hobby, he said. “Some people are into sports, but it’s a good outlet and you can always improve. There are no boundaries. There is always opportunity to learn more.”

 A Unique Sound

As mentioned earlier, all of the tracks for The Reel Deal were recorded in West Haven and then sent to Tommy Shannon’s studio in Austin, where he put all the bass tracks in. One evening Mr Willie received a call from the world-renowned player. “He asked what I wanted for a groove,” said Mr Willie, who told the bassist to play what he wanted. Bob Callahan’s vocals add a unique sound filled with “inflection and soul.”

In songs such as “The Reel Deal,” which Mr Willie wrote, Mr Shannon’s bass line “really alters the dynamic.”

“We are very happy with the CD and international reviews including [a] feature in the CT Blues Society Spring issue by Mary Lou Sullivan, who also wrote the Johnny Winter biography, Raisin’ Cain,” said Mr Willie. Visit www.CTblues.org and click on the link for CTBS Newsletter Spring 2011 to see the review.

The album is available through Amazon.com, priced at $15.47. The CD’s release will give his band an opportunity to play larger venues including festivals and clubs as a blues band.

Where To Hear Willie

Jay Willie often attends the open mic nights on Thursdays at The One-Eyed Pig, at 71 South Main Street in Newtown, after 8:30 pm. His Jay Willie Band — separate from The Jay Willie Blues Band — includes Mr Willie, Bob Callahan on vocals, Dave Polley on bass, and Ron Stahl on drums, and performs regularly at 59 Bank Street in New Milford, The One-Eyed Pig, and the Old Toll Gate in Woodbury. He likes, he said, “keeping it local.”

The band is booked for a private party on Memorial Day, but has its next public show on Friday, June 24, at 59 Bank Street in New Milford. Summer dates at The One-Eyed Pig will be announced shortly.

The band can be followed on Facebook by searching for The Jay Willie Blues Band.