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Artikel ur Länstidningen(LT), Östersund!
Olle Wännström, Länstidningen(LT) 2009-03-30 * From Rootstime.be..!! Thanks!! BOTTLENECK JOHN’S DELTA
TRIO And in English: "The
Swedish guitarplayer Bottleneck John, or Johan Eliasson, shows a
preference for his love of old time blues, although he started his
career as many others did, in an electric bluesrock band. However
his love for the acoustic delta countryblues slideguitar otherwise
known as resonator converted him. Ever since then he performs as
Bottleneck John, performing solo, or accompanied by fellow
musicians such as Stefan Swén and Lars Åstrand. He has toured
throughout Scandinavia, Europe and America, and performed at the
Arkansas Blues and Heritage festival in Helena. Performing in the
Mississippi Delta was like a homecoming to him. Somehow you can
imagine it when listening to his unpolished blues and spirituals.
With conviction and a raw smoker’s voice he performed the songs, all of them “first takes”, with his evident love for
blues pioniers like Robert Johnson, Son House en Muddy
Waters. Marcie, www.
rootstime. be Belgium-The Netherlands 2008-10-13 * From France! Bottleneck John's Delta Trio
* |
En artikel från tidningen Allehanda!!Historisk bluesresa
Resan till USA och
bluesens Missisippi hösten 2006 var en omtumlande upplevelse för en
redan hängiven bluesfantast. Greger Jacobsson, Öviks Allehanda, Sweden 2008-03-18 * An article from the French blues magazine Blues & Co! Bottleneck John est un chanteur/guitariste acoustique Suedois,spécialiste de la slide jouant du blues traditionnel ainsi que du Gospel,voyageur infatigable,tous les week ends il écume les grands festivals d'Europe & meme des USA, il était venu jouer pour la premiere fois en France au mois d'Aout dernier,au festival "blues au chateau" dans le joli village de La Cheze(22) en plein centre Bretagne, comme découverte la surprise fut de taille, il avait séduit le public par sa gentillesse son immense talent, sa voix puissante, sa maitrise de l'instrument & un feeling incomparable.Sur les 13 morceaux que comportent le dvd plusieurs sont tirés de ce fameux concert, les autres sont enregistrés en plein air dans un cadre magnifique, à la maison ou en groupe (duo/trio)en au festival d'Ostersund sa ville natale en groupe cette fois çi accompagné par une formation originale & efficace(M Nordquist,piano, L Astrand mandolin&violon, S Swen harmonica & Bo Linberg guitare & accordeon). Filmé pratiquement tout en camera fixe se qui donne un résultat certes intimiste mais rend un tres bel hommage à un artiste hors norme. Philippe Le Guennec, Blues & Co. magazine, France 2008-02-23 * From the Café Grande gig in Austria, the Nön newspaper!
Here's me and Christian with the Mayor/Bürgermeister of Mödling. THANKS! Nön newspaper, Mödling, Austria 2007-10-02 * Presentation från Helsingborgs Jazz & Bluesförenings hemsida. Tack så mycket!
Bottleneck John´s
Delta Trio Kanske något av
en världsstjärna i det tysta reser John och hans musikantvänner runt, och spelar blues,
sjunger the blues med sin djupa stämma. Vi är stolta över att
presentera Bottleneck John, gitarr/sång, Mattias Nordkvist, piano och
Stefan Swén, munspel. * Here's an article from a French morning paper with nearly one million readers every day..!!!
Photo from the wonderful house of Cyril and Anne Angoujard where the interview was held too.. Yann Léon, Ouest France 2007-09-09
* Some info written on the Jazzland website!! I thank the guys at Jazzland very much! This is a fine presentation indeed.. "..Ein junger Blues-Sänger und Gitarrist aus Wien präsentiert eine der interessantesten Persönlichkeit der "Schwarzen Volksmusik" - Johan Eliasson aus Schweden erinnert frappant an die Großen des Blues! Für mich eine echte Sensation aus dem kühlen Norden. Dieser Bottleneck John (g&voc) - alias Johan Eliasson - hat so gut wie nichts von einem "nordischen" Schweden an sich. Er sprüht von Temperament und Leidenschaft und seine Interpretationen der alten Lieder von Robert Johnson, Son House und Blind Willie Johnson klingen so überzeugend, als wären es eigene Kompositionen (mit denen er klassemäßig auch zu überzeugen versteht). Ohne Zweifel ist er einer der ganz Großen des Blues in Europa und unser heimischer Crack Christian Prechtl (g&voc) hat es trotz seines großen Könnens natürlich ziemlich schwer, gegen solch ein musikalisches Schwergewicht anzutreten - in naher Zukunft allerdings wird er seinem Freund sicherlich ganz schön "einheizen".. In English: "..A young blues singer and guitarist from of Vienna presents one of the most interesting personalities of the "afro-american folk music" - Johan Eliasson from Sweden reminds you very much of the big names of the Blues! For
me a genuine sensation from the cool north. Axel Melhardt, Jazzland, Austria 2007-08-09 * A nice review from ÖstersundsPosten! (only in Swedish, sorry..)
* Article from Switzerland!! Mais qui est Bottleneck John ? Pour y répondre, imaginez un bébé nommé Johan Eliasson né dans le Delta… de Lit (un peu plus au nord que le Delta du Mississippi, quelque part en… Suède !). Imaginez un jeune garçon qui a grandi dans avec les musiques et les chants folkloriques que lui apprenaient sa grand-maman et sa maman, et que son grand-père enregistrait sur un enregistreur à cassettes. Imaginez un passionné de guitares resonator doublé d’un collectionneur : National Duolian 1933, Amistar Singlecone pour ne citer qu’elles, sa plus vieille guitare jouable datant des années 1840/50 ! Imaginez un jeune homme qui très tôt intègre l’héritage musical afro-américain dans ses passions musicales et qui, boulimique de musique, cumule les expériences musicales : The Mudcats, Good Stuff, Fat Time Blues, The Hot Tamales, The Piano Duo, JE’s Heart & Soul, avant de privilégier une carrière solo sous le nom de Bottleneck John ! Imaginez que non content de reprendre de manière passionnée et avec un extraordinaire talent d’interprétation et d’orchestration des grands standards du Blues et du Spiritual des années 20 et 30, du Gospel et de la Soul, il en compose également ! Imaginez un artiste qui exprime son extraordinaire talent avec la voix de Son House, le talent d’écriture cumulé de Robert Johnson et Blind Willie Johnson, le cœur et l’émotion d’Eric Bibb ! Extraordinaire ! Mais décrire toutes ces qualités de Johan Eliasson alias Bottleneck John cela serait vain sans parler de ses deux talents essentiels : l’émotion et la passion de la Scène. S’agissant enfin de sa passion pour la scène Bottleneck John, en véritable passionné, ne se sent vraiment chez lui que lorsqu’il est sur scène et qu’il peut partager sa passion avec son public. Mais nul doute qu’après s’être un peu fait connaître dans notre pays, certains organisateurs helvétiques n’hésiteront pas à l’inviter très bientôt. Il serait en effet bien étonnant que le public suisse reste longtemps privé du plaisir d’applaudir sur scène un artiste si complet, si talentueux et si généreux ! David Fraternali And in English here.. But who is Bottleneck John? To answer this question, imagine a baby named Johan Eliasson born in the Delta... of Lit (a little more to the north than the Delta of Mississippi, somewhere in.... Sweden!). Imagine a young boy who grew in with the music and folk songs which his grandma and her mom taught him, and which his grandfather recorded on a small tape recorder. Imagine a passionate of resonator guitars doubled of a collector : National Duolian 1933, Amistar Singlecone to only talk about those ones, his oldest playable guitar dating from years 1840/50! Imagine a young man who very early integrated the musical heritage afro-American in his musical passions and who, fan of music, cumulates the musical experiments : The Mudcats, Good Stuff, Fat Time Blues, The Hot Tamales, The Piano Duo, JE' S Heart & Soul, before privileging a solo career under the name of Bottleneck John! Imagine that not only glad to cover in a passionate way and with an extraordinary talent of interpretation and orchestration the biggest standards of the Blues and Spirituals of the years 1920/30, Gospel and Soul, he also composes some! Imagine an artist who expresses his extraordinary talent with the voice of Son House, the cumulated writing talent of Robert Johnson and Blind Willie Johnson, the heart and the emotion of Eric Bibb! Extraordinary! But describing all these qualities of Johan Eliasson alias Bottleneck John that would be useless without speaking about his two essential talents: his emotion and his passion for the Scene. Talking about emotion, you just have to listen to quickly realize it. Listen and you will quickly be submerged by a flood of sweet and delicious feelings, wonders of smoothness and emotion. As for "Spirit in the Blues", this song literally makes me melt in tears each time. This interpretation would dissolve the most hardened heart on Earth. Finally talking about his passion for the scene Bottleneck John, as a real impassioned, only feels himself at home when he’s on stage and shares his passion with his public. It would indeed be quite astonishing that the Swiss public remained a long time starved of the pleasure of applauding on stage such a complete, talented and generous artist! David Fraternali, Switzerland 2007-03-01 * An article from the French blues magazine Blues & Co. Le
coup de coeur de Philou Découvert
par hazard et la magie d’internet le talentueux bluesman scandinave
johan eliasson, donnant dans un registre country/delta blues des années
20/30 teinté de gospel, influence par Robert et Blind Willie Johnson. Né
dans la village de Lit à quelques kilometres d’ostersund dans le
centre de la suède. Depuis sa tendre enfance Philippe And
translated, big thanks to Jim Petit for helping out here!! Philou's
coup de Coeur Discovered
by accident and the magic of the Internet, here is the talented bluesman
from Scandinavia Johan Eliasson, who is playing country/delta blues
music of the 1920/30’s with a touch of gospel, influenced by Robert
Johnson and Blind Willie Johnson. This artist is really interesting to discover... Philippe
Le Guennec, Blues & Co. magazine, France
2007-02-12 * From the Blues Matters magazine. Just awesome!! THANKS!! (One thing though, Roy, I am NOT a "Dutchman" as stated in the review, LoL!!!) Johan Eliasson aka Bottleneck John The European blues scene continues to be packed with
pleasant surprises and this is one of them. Johan Eliasson is a Dutchman
with a passion for collecting mopeds(at
one time he had 60!) but his genuinely rewarding obsession is playing
and singing acoustic and he does it with a skill and virtuosity which is
never less than satisfying. One American reviewer likened his style to
Son House and he wasn’t far off the mark. Some stirring guitar work on tracks like “D-jam” and
“G-jam” and you’ll return again and
again to the ghostly tones of “Blind Willie’s tune” which
effortlessly gives Ry Cooders “Paris, Texas” a good run for it’s
money. If we can get Bottleneck John over to the UK for some dates he would open a few eyes and ears. Excellent stuff – the Van Gogh of European bluesmen – more power to your elbow! Roy
Bainton, Blues
Matters Magazine, UK 2006-11-20 * Here's a really, really nice soulful review on one of my Copenhagen gigs..!! I'm very thankful!! It had been a long day, following an out late Thursday evening listening to some really good blues at Denmark's Copenhagen Blues Festival. Invested were several hours on the Internet looking over the thirteen different acts on Friday night's festival slate, and visiting lots of web sites to listen to sample tracks/cuts. It was so difficult to settle on just one to hear live. (Or two at the most, since it might be possible to hear one and then squeeze into a later set at some other club.) Making a decision like that drives me crazy--I just know it might be the wrong one. But, with much thought the decision was made: we would give "Bottleneck John" a try. The room was claustrophobic in size and plain beyond words--no stage, just a few tables and chairs, a couple of speakers (not hooked up), and the sounds of uninvolved and uninterested people eating just across the way. The crowd for the music wasn't a crowd at all. At the appointed hour for the music to begin it was obvious that a mistaken decision had been made... there were a dozen folks (at most) ready and attentive for the blues. Oh no! Surely the (maybe) tens of thousands of Danes who would hear live music that night couldn't all be wrong-- and just us few in the little ground level room at Husets Café right. There wasn't even someone from the Festival there to introduce him. So the guy clutching the metal faced guitar walked over and stood before the chair centered between the speakers (still not connected) and began by saying "I'm Johan Eliasson from Sweden . . . ". He didn't talk long and I don't remember anything else he said because the only thing in my head was that little voice saying: "Oh man! You dummy, you should be over at Mojo's listening to SomeOneElse...look at this pitiful turnout...and, there are so few people here you can't even sneak out unnoticed." But, when Johan Eliasson stopped talking and he let "Bottleneck John" sit down...well... magic happened. I don't how, but suddenly the reincarnation of some now long dead Mississippi delta bluesman was playing his Amistar Reso-Phonic guitar like it was an extension of his being... an appendage of his soul, a part of his being. And when he sang it was like some alien's mother ship had tractor-beamed that 35 year old Swedish born Johan Eliasson into its evil airborne lab...scraped out Johan and stuffed him with the insides of an old black man with bad teeth...fresh from a full day of back breaking pickin' in the hot and dusty cotton fields. [Now listen readers, I know what I'm talking about: Born a mile and a half from the corner of Beale and Main Streets in Memphis Tennessee, I grew up in a house less than 200 meters from a cotton field in West Memphis Arkansas. Hey, I know a little something about about cotton sack breaking and acking back, toothless black men and their blues--at least I have seen it.] Real blues...the stuff that comes from the heartache and pain of real life in the fertile fields of the broad delta of the mighty Mississippi river back during those terrible times of inequality. John's were REAL blues, or a so close substitute that it was impossible (for me) to tell the difference. "Bottleneck John" is not some slick, button-downed studio hawker with a digitized, synthesized, commercialized and focus group selected "unique and marketable sound". Nope, this is like what Robert Johnson actually played on the front porch of some Mississippi River delta grocery store, while sittin' in a rocker and singin' the roots of what has today become "The Blues". But, Robert Johnson was not in Copenhagen that Friday night--this was "Bottleneck John", and when I closed my eyes it became so real that I could almost hear the pops and scratches on the records of the 1950s...where I had first heard that soulful music. Mine was most often heard on the RCA Victor wooden cabinet, console radio and record player which was the centerpiece of our modest living room. Long before anyone in town had one of those new television things, we had a radio that was a lot bigger than a TV set is today. It had a speaker a full foot across and, during the day our "maid" (we didn't call her our "mammy", but she was) would tune in WDIA, the AM radio station over in Memphis which we all knew as "the Negro station". A station, which in the 1950s had a "Beale Street Blues Boy" singing live on the air. That name was later shortened to "Blues Boy" and, later still to a simple "BB". That is right, B.B. King played right into my living room, live, when i was kid--listening.) We would listen to "Negro music" until time for mom or dad to get home...and, then 'Louise' would re-tune to "yall's kind'a music". Yep, I grew up on real blues...and, through the magic of an alien mother ship (or something) you too can relive the experience. Do yourself a favor--if all you know about "the blues" is hard driving dancin' music you need to make the chance sit at the feet of "Bottleneck John" for an hour or two--more if you are really lucky. And enjoy a little time travel back to the roots of good, down home, cotton pickin', God-fearing, closely kin to church music, blues...take the trip...and, don't worry about those tens of thousands of folks who are not smart enough to be exactly where you are. DenverD * From the Blues Art Magazine!! JOHAN
ELIASSON a.k.a. BOTTLENECK JOHN * Finally!! My first review from France..!! And it's a good one, I'm a happy man..!! "..Jouer
le blues acoustique du delta du Mississippi quand on est originaire de
Suède est un exercice plutôt original mais qui peut s’avérer payant
dès lors que la manière de le faire est sincère et que le résultat
colle au plus juste au genre recherché. Affichant une voix qui n’est
pas sans rappeler celle de Son House et un jeu de guitare digne d’un
Robert Johnson ou d’un Muddy Waters, Johan Eliasson n’a en rien
usurpé son surnom de Bottleneck John et s’il a déjà eu la chance de
jouer dans des shows télévisés devant près d’un million de
personnes, il est un des animateurs imperturbables des juke joints de la
région d’Östersund … On le découvre au travers d’un ouvrage hors commerce qui
fait office de carte de visite … Capable de vous plonger instantanément dans la moiteur des clubs du Sud des USA, Bottleneck John tapisse la pièce d’une atmosphère un peu étrange dès lors que cette rondelle prend place dans la platine. On se sent plongé dans un vieux film noir et blanc où les fantômes hantent les pianos et où des danseuses un brin dénudées aguichent le client pour le pousser à la consommation. Rien n’est laissé au hasard, jusqu’aux craquements vintage qui rappellent les 78-Tours d’époque usés jusqu’à la trame … Ajoutez à cela que non seulement le jeu du bonhomme qui excelle en slide mais aussi sa voix particulièrement riche sentent bon l’écurie et que l’ensemble tourne aussi bien sur du blues roots que sur des influences gospel et même barrelhouse et vous tombez immanquablement sur le cul grâce à des pièces sur lesquelles ont jurerait entendre Charley Patton ou encore Blind Lemon Jefferson. Bête de live, Johan Eliasson se produit en solo mais aussi en duo et même en formation complète et fait mouche à chaque fois, que ce soit dans des concerts privés chez les particuliers, dans les églises, dans les bars et même dans les écoles où il aime à partager sa connaissance du blues ou plutôt des blues avec les élèves … Il suffit de poser une oreille attentive pour être convaincu que l’essayer … c’est l’adopter ! Chérie, devine qui vient dîner ce soir.." And
translated, thanks to Jim Petit and Babel-Fish..!! "..To play the acoustic blues of the Mississippi delta when one is
originating from Sweden is rather original but it can prove to be worth
while since the manner of making it is sincere and that the result fits
so well in the genre. With a voice sounding like Son House’s and a guitar playing worthy of a
Robert Johnson or Muddy Waters, Johan Eliasson truly lives up to his
nickname of Bottleneck John and he’s already played in front of nearly a million of people on TV shows, he’s one of
the famous players of the Juke Joints in the area of Östersund... Add to this the
man’s excellent slide playing and his incredible voice and as the CD
unit turns out the blues roots with gospel influences and even
barrelhouse you fall inevitably on the bottom thanks to the music where
we would swear to hear Charley Patton or Blind Lemon Jefferson. A beast of the live music stage, Johan Eliasson performs solo but also in
duo’s and even in full bands, in private concerts, in the churches, the bars and even in the
schools where he share his knowledge of the blues with the students. It is enough to listen attentively to be convinced that when you’ve heard
him... You’d want to adopt him! Darling, guess who comes for dinner this evening..." Fred
Delforge, ZicaZic (on-line) Music Magazine, France
2006-08-31 Here's a new review from the Austrian Blues Portal "..Vor ganz schön langer
Zeit haben sich mehrere Cds aus dem fernen und vor allem kalten
Norden, genauer gesagt aus Schweden, zu uns in unsere virtuelle
Redaktion verirrt. * How
is it possible that I heard about you just today? Is music industry in
such a bad condition? Man... you are amazing! Roi Geyari, Israel 2006-05-25 * Just got these very nice comments from Croatia, I send my humble thanks..!! When I met the traditional blues for the first time
(a long time ago) in 1976, it was love at first sight. I remember so
well when I heard the old legendary blues masters like Robert Johnson,
Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Blind Willie McTell, Leadbelly, Big Bill
Broonzy, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Son House, Robert Nighthawk, Otis Spann,
Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Pine Top
Perkins etc. who’s named it all, but it was really a discovery for me.
Why? Because until then I had
listened only to white blues music, which came from the Blues Workshop
of legendary Alexis Corner (John Mayall, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton,
Long John Baldry and others). Bottleneck John, I intentionally covert up his real
name, presents his blues in extraordinary roots blues music style. His
blues is so real, coloured by traditional forms that You just can’t
believe it. Today in the 21st century we can still enjoy
it… By fantastic blues singer – musician Bottleneck John. he took us to the Delta MS. deep down in the
Mississippi mud. Please believe me, is so damn good and on the same level. At the end I must tell You that Johan Eliasson a.k.a. Bottleneck John comes from far away and cold Sweden. He was born and raised up in Lit (small village) 25 km outside of Östersund. His grandparents and mother teach him in music. From his early youth he played blues, gospel and soul. Bottleneck John is really great collector of mopeds, cars and guitars. All of that isn’t his number one, his really first love is the blues …. Delta blues. Johan Eliasson
a.k.a. Bottleneck John is extraordinary vocalist, has expressive
and strong vocals, naturally he is fantastic guitar player too. Personally, I hope that we can have him here
in Croatia in the near future and we can better know … Fantastic BLUES
SINGER … Johan Eliasson
a.k.a. Bottleneck John, be sure Johan Eliasson a.k.a. Bottleneck John is
worth it. Recommendation: YES, YES and once again YES!!! Yours
bluesy, Mladen
Lončar, Rock
Oko Radio, Croatia 2006-05-17 * From Black Cat, USA.. "It's
hard
for a non-North American to pull this stuff off convincingly and imbue
it with heart; that's the case whenever a player is producing blues in
which he or she has no personal stake, and it's pretty hard to find a
modern blues performer who went through the kind of
second-class-citizenship misery experienced in the delta. That said, it
can be done...." The
preceding quote was taken from a review I recently read. The artist in
question is from outside the U.S. and I am familiar with his work. I
didn't agree with Mr. Loome's viewpoint on that disc and on his
viewpoint in general, except for the last sentence, "..it can be
done...." With
regard to the point of a blues artist having no personal stake in their
music: If any musician, blues or not, has no personal stake in
the music they make, then they have no business exposing themselves on
disc. Second, it's true that the pioneers of the blues are dying out on
a daily basis. But because they are does not mean that modern delta
blues has no future. You don't need to live through the brutality and
hardships of slavery to get the blues. A child who loses his mother in
Wal- Mart has the blues! It's an emotion. Being a second class citizen
is not a requirement. Although not to trivialize the obvious horrors the
forefathers experienced, it is important to realize that the seeds
planted back then from the inhumanity of man on man gave our music a
voice. Of course, it's hard to find a modern day blues performer who
suffered second class citizenship. Does that mean we should only drag
out our old Robert Johnson CDs when need to hear deep blues? We might as
well pack it in and go watch American Idol. You're
damn right it can be done. Johan Eliasion a.k.a Bottleneck
John who hails from Ostersund, Sweden. As far as I am concerned,
Ostersund is now 25 miles south of Leland, Mississippi. And as far as I
know, Mr. Eliason has never been to America, never mind the delta. But
make no mistake, his understanding of his craft is equal to anyone I
have ever heard and his performance is better than most. I was
hooked on this from the moment I heard that voice. A deep, clear,
resonating growl that has the ability to make your woofers shake. If
there was ever a poster child for how this form of music should be done
then look no further than Bottleneck John. "Didn't
My Lord Deliver Daniel" really opened my eyes to the power that is the voice of Bottleneck
John. Not since Paul Robeson have I heard someone master this song with a
vocal effort that is nothing less than thunderous. Add to that a stellar
composition on guitar and the result is a track that deserves to be heard
by a much wider audience. There
is something special here. Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart and
others have already made it, now Johan Eliason is poised to join the ranks
of the "It can be done" league. Steve Landy, Editor, Black Cat, USA 2006-03-15 * Amazingly nice reviews from the latest tour in Germany!!! I'm happy!!!
Awesome, Thanks SüdDeutsche Zeitung!! 2006-01-28 And translated: A Swede has the blues.. "..If
you went down to Cafe Pegasus last saturday, you felt like starting out
from the neighbouring aeroplane-repair factory on a long, long trip. The
Swedish Johan Eliasson, from a little town named Östersund shows –
something only possible in music – that you don’t have to be a
coloured person or even be in the USA to have the blues and to play it
authentically. The
tall of stature, mid-thirty Eliasson is a real specialist in his music.
The learnings that he made in Sweden, is no different to the way of the
North-American musicians. The
passionate collector (vintage and reso-guitars) not only shows
considerable abilities by playing bottleneck on his, for slide-tone tuned,
Amistar´s, but also a huge voice. Four authentic musicians, by which classics like Robert Johnsons “Crossroads” come fast and relaxed at the same time and the groove is still going on til the end. Soon Eliasson goes on his his first US-tour, and then some people will be surprised, because this Swede lets some more established blueser’s look “very old”.." Translation by Christian Prechtl - Thank you, bro!!!!! *
* Review from the Oberpfalznetz! Blues aus Schweden 2006-01-28 * Some new comments about my music.. Many thanks!!! "..Dear
Johan "..Dear
Johan, Mannn what a Great Music you are making. Please let the world know
that you exist, the blues world needs players like you. Nice traditional and straight from the heart.." "..don't know what to say... Your CD blew me away. I'm sure that God loves the blues and this is the reason he gave you such a voice, just great. Together with intense slide playing you created a time-travel machine that took me on a journey to the Delta of 1920s. I'm very impressed!.." PD, Poland 2006-02-04 "..Bottle Neck, Great Blues. you remind me of Mississipi where I grew up. You're on the delta dude.." Earl Flemm, USA 2006-01-09 "..it takes a certain kind of talent to make really enjoyable music with just a voice and guitar. I also liked "G-Jam". Great stuff. You've got an authentic sound to my ears - especially considering that Scandinavia is a long way from the Mississippi Delta.." Dan Brown, USA 2005-12-29 "..I enjoy your music very much. Great slide playing, and a tremendous voice! Silky smooth man.." Lightning Brown, Australia 2005-12-29 "..Yo
John I've seen your name flyin around the net while researching resophnic
stuff. Glad to get to hear you. I love your vocal style. Anyhow just
wanted to let you know you have a new fan who will be turning you on to a
lot of folks. Good Luck!.." About a nice award I was honoured with this year!! "..Östersund Bluesförenings årliga utmärkelse till en person, företag, organisation eller förening som på ett utmärkande sätt bidragit med att utveckla, marknadsföra eller på annat sätt spridit rootsmusiken i eller utanför Jämtlands län.." Årets BLÅDÅRE (Blue Maniac)har 2005 tilldelats:
Johan
Eliasson Translation: It's difficult not to be moved by some peoples great and deep passion for their artform. People who choose to give all and then a little bit more for the love of an expression, written or sung, or both. When it then takes off in every other possible direction, it turns into something greater. The Blue Maniac of the year has done all that and more. Over the past few years he has travelled to many parts of the globe on his misssion to spread blues and roots music. And it is impossible not to be infected by his great passion when you meet him live. That's why Johan Eliasson is a true Blue Maniac from head to toe! Östersund
Bluesförening, Östersund Blues Association
2005-12-28 (more
info here..) * Från Östersunds-Postens kultursida, en kommentar om Blues & Spirituals-konserten!
Translation: The foundation of music should be joy! The Friday's lunch-concert, Blues & Spirituals in the Old Church is an excellent proof of just that. Johan Eliasson, Vocals and guitar, Mattias Nordqvist, Piano and Mattias Olofsson, Percussion, displayed both happiness and feeling while playing one good'ol song after the other. Petter Frisell, Östersunds-Posten 2005-12-08 * Article from the leading blues magazine in Poland, TWOJ BLUES..!! "..Johan, being a master of the resophonic guitar, naming Bob Brozman as his idol, plays like a true bluesman from over the pond. His low voice, sometimes resembling Son House's tone, sounds the best in such moving spirituals like I Want Jesus to Walk With Me or Amazing Grace. Each time I listen to recorded music, I make myself a top songs' list and then come back to them later. I have done so this time, too. As the best I would name Spirit In The Blues and How Long, How Long Blues, which is recorded so, that is sounds like a song from the 30-ies.." Wieslaw A. Chmielewski, Twoj Blues 2005-12-07 (Translation by Piotr Zegadlo) * A really nice review from the Karlstad gig..!! Thanks!!! (translation to follow..) I BOTTLENECK
JOHN Munken,
Karlstad Publik:
100+ Höjdpunkt: Sanna spirituals DET
BLEV EN kalasstart för Karlstads Bluesförenings höstsäsong när ett knökat
Munken i helgen fick lyssna på genuin amerikansk rootsmusik i jämtländsk
tappning. Johan Eliasson, alias Bottleneck John, kom från Östersund
tillsammans med slagverkaren Mattias Olofsson och munspelaren Stefan Swén.
Som
artistnamnet antyder spelar Johan Eliasson med förkärlek slide på någon
av sina två resonatorgitarrer. Han sjunger dessutom med en stor bluesröst
som har rejäl botten. Johan har auktoritet och en stor känsla för den
tidiga bluesen. MATTIAS
OLOFSSONS slagverk härstammar från den tid när instrumenten utgjordes
av det man hade i närheten. Han spelar på en cajón, ett instrument med
rötter i Latinamerika. Cajón är en trälåda som man sitter på och
spelar med händerna på lådans sidor. Det enkla instrumentet utgör en
ursprunglig och effektiv rytmsektion. Mandolinen
är i dag inget vanligt förekommande instrument, men i början på förra
seklet vann instrumentet popularitet i den framväxande bluegrassen och
bluesen. Det var första gången Bert Deivert spelade med Bottleneck John,
men i bluesens språkliga gemenskap var det inte svårt att finna
varandra. Dessutom
är det ett stort inslag av spirituals, med "I woke up this
morning" som en höjdare. Detta ger en fin variation och den andliga
musiken framförs dessutom med stor känsla och skön stämsång. FRAMFÖRANDET ÄR enkelt och avskalat, och musiken når
kraftfullt fram till den stora och uppmärksamma publiken. Johan Eliasson
har en kort karriär bakom sig, men engagemangen står nu på kö
med turné i Estland och Polen i oktober och i USA nästa år. Bottleneck
John är på väg. Olle
Herngren, Värmlands Folkblad
2005-10-04
And translated..! Impressive
start of the blues season
2005-10-04 BOTTLENECK
JOHN Place:
Munken, Karlstad
Audience:
100+ High
point: True spirituals The
autumn season for Karlstads Blues Society had a really good start when an
absolute crowded Munken got to listen to genuine American rootsmusic in a
Jämtlandish form. From Östersund came Johan Eliasson, alias Bottleneck
John, together with Mattias Olofsson on percussion instruments and Stefan
Swén on the harmonica. From
Karlstad joining the trio was also Bert Deivert playing the mandolin. Mattias
Olofssons percussion instruments are from a time when instruments were
made from whatever that was nearby. He plays on a cajón which is an
instrument with its roots in South-America. The cajón is a box of wood
which you sit on and play with your hands at the sides of the box. This
simple instrument constitutes an original and effective section of rhythm. The
music is traditional slide and fingerpicking blues. Most of the songs are
standards but some own material are also played. In the reportare we have
for example Robert Johnsons “Crossroads” and Leroy Carrs “How long
blues”. * Here's a VERY nice review from the Norwegian blues magazine BLUES NEWS..!! (Translation will follow, check back!!)
Very nice review!! THANKS!! Väldigt trevlig recension!! Tack så mycket Blues News!!! * Great comments from a Swedish radio station!! SR Värmland P4!! Makes me proud and thankful.. And translated: "..The most exciting artist of the year, Johan Eliasson, who sings with, most likely, the blackest voice in Sweden and plays slide guitar in the same eerie haunted way as Blind Willie Johnson.." Sveriges Radio P4 Värmland 2005-07-17
Said about me and the bands at The Nidaros Blues Festival in Norway..!! "..Östersunds okrönte blueskung Johan Eliasson fanns överallt på Nidarosfestivalen. Nästan i alla fall. Var det inte pensionärs eller frukostblues i form av Good Stuff så var det som frontman framför det tungt svängande och ömt smekande bandet Heart & Soul. Med det senare fyllde han restaurang Cicignon på lördagskvälllen och förtjusta festivalbesökare dansade både vilt och tätt ihop.. " And translated: "..The uncrowned blues king of Östersund, Johan Eliasson, was everywhere to be found at the Nidaros festival, almost anyway. If it wasn't the Senior peoples blues or at the Breakfast blues as the duo Good Stuff then as the frontman in front of the heavy swinging and tenderly caressing band Heart & Soul. Along with the latter he filled out the restaurant Cicignon on Saturday night and delighted festival vistitors danced both wildly and close together.." Björn Bostrand, Länstidningen 2005-05-03 * Wonderful words from Australia!! Many thanks!!! I'm an Australian country
blues fan and new convert (no pun intended) to Blind Willie Johnson. I
found your Soundclick page via the Big Road Blues discussion forum, and I
really am speechless. David Lupton, Australia 2005-03-22 * From LazySwede productions. Over the past years i have
worked with many bands & artists helping to promote their music around
the world and many times i have recieved a cd which gets put on the shelf
for one reason or another until one day the cd cries out to you and tells
you to listen to it and this cd by johan eliasson is one such cd. Some real nice words from the man who makes the finest bottleneck slides in the world!! Thanks!! Wooowww!! I got your promo-pack this morning...and I've spent the whole day in the office here..drinking good coffee & listening to some of THE BEST blues music I've EVER had the pleasure of hearing! Sorry buddy - I'm gonna embarass you
here...but, in my 30-plus years of following the blues - both Ian McWee, Diamond Bottlenecks, England 2005-01-06 * It warms my heart to hear comments like this..!! I've been listening over and over to your mp3 tracks for the last three weeks. That's all I care about! Thanx very much. You inspired me to improve my singing. You put so much soul in your thing it's
amazing! Thanx very much. Keep on keepin' on! * Comment from a fellow bluesman, Dave from the US ..You've got a great sound. I can't beleive it's coming from Sweden. What's it like to play delta music to Europeans, I know they love it, but isn't it weird. Hope to run into you someday, maybe we can slide some.. Dave the Roadman, USA 2005-01-05 |
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From the Wonder Budgie Reviews/Soundclick.com.. And I'm SO thankful..!! "I think Im going to burn my guitar and never sing again. The moment this guy starts singing......you KNOW you are listening to an ancient, weathered black man from the southern US, who has endured all the hardships that life could possibly offer. The toils, trouble and inhumanities have burned an imprint into a hardened soul. Great. Then you check out his page and find out that hes a thirty something as white as you can get guy from Sweden. This music is nothing short of incredible for the genre. Either this gentleman has been possessed by the spirit of a roaming Delta Jook-Joint long dead madman, or hes just plain genius. Im pretty sure its the latter. The depth of soul in this man's voice is at the least stirring, and at the most.....entirely captivating. To top it all off......his traditional bottleneck accompaniment on vintage pre-war resonator tricones and duolians are so perfect for the genre that if we added some phono hissing and record scratches......we wouldn't know that we weren't listening to a lost blues legend. I don't say any of this lightly. Wow. If you like the Blues, and particularly the Delta (country) Blues, I can almost guarantee that you will hang on to this guy's MP3's. Absolutely amazing, John. Amazing."
"..When ever I think of my new radio show and the playlist format, Bottleneck John is standard equipment there! Also check out "Baby how long?" he does a very convencing 1930's sounding tune if you click lyrics/story he says its him at 1st I thought it was a recording of a 78 record as he has foolingly typed into the description on the song listing.." DJ Flash, USA 2004-09-25 * |
| En recension på LT's kultursidor som gjorde mig stolt!! Gospel med allvar och djup
* Nice comments from down under!! Man tackar och bockar!! Wow, this man has real talent. I'm from perth Australia and just discoverd the blues. I am a Keb Mo and Eric Bibb fan but I tell you, what this talent is equal to those two classy acts.I recommend Bottleneck John for any blues collectors mix. Keep them comin Bottleneck John, this is true blues at its best. Greg Buck, Australia 2004-10-03 * Recension från Skellefteå Bluesfestival!!
The Hot Tamales
har tagit sitt namn från en gammal Robert Johnson-låt, och det ger också en
fingervisning om hur det låter. Gruppen består av Johan Eliasson och Ulf Wahlström som
båda sjunger och spelar gitarr, ofta slide. * Kommentarer från USA, alltid lika kul! " I've checked this guy out before and he's as good as it gets man. He not only has the licks both on the Guitar and Vocally but he can create a mood. If you close your eyes he'll take you somewhere else man. Not many people can do that!!! " Ed Pavy 2004-10-24 " ..Bottleneck John's voice is incredible, and his simple somewhat percussive guitar accompaniment effective for his rendition. " P. Michael 2004-07-12" Hello John... Oh my!! I can't
begin to tell you how much I am enjoying your soulful music. Talk about heart..I can hear
yours beating in this work. You have truly been blessed. I can't stop smiling as I listen
to these songs. " Hey Bottleneck John, Best regards, Kid Klash - The EXECUTIVES " Hey John, loved the songs, slide playin' brilliant, thats what i call the blues! Fantastic! " Headstock64* Mitt solomaterial, nyligen recenserat på sajten Muzic.se
Mycket trevlig recension av nya skivan!! Hot
Tamales firar fem år med 13 nya låtar * " It's as if Son House's voice has come alive again. Deeply moving! "... Don Hooper, www.unpluggedrecords.com 2004-07-09 * Ett mail jag fick från ett skivbolag i USA!! Hi Johan, Thank you for your email. I'm Ed Gowens, President of Echota Records. I have visited your website and it is a great one. You have some very good songs and a great voice. We would be honored to air some of your songs on our Internet shows. Thanks again my friend, Ed Gowens, www.echotarecords.com 2004-06-22 * Michael Frazier reviews Johan Eliasson: "Hey Soundclick members - give a listen - this guy has got a great sound! You are now number one on the list of folks I have reviewed on Soundclick. Sorry Maine Street - you are still a strong # 2. Johan, I can't even begin to measure up to a review of your songs. I've listened to everything you have posted and you have a great vocal quality - I'm totally jealous. The mixes are all well done and the instumentation is nearly impeccable. I like the instrument choices in every tune as well as the execution - are you doing all these parts yourself? If not - you really should credit the other musicians somewhere - maybe on the lyric page. The lyrics are also very well written on all of the tunes. You remind me a bit of Keb Mo in spots. Your music is not mainstream - which I completely appreciate - and is also causing you difficulty in signing a major recording contract, I suspect. Everything is a bit slow - low key - which I love, but can't compete with BrSp. You have a great sound going - I say keep on - do what you love and know in your heart that commercialism isn't all it's jacked up to be. Music is for the soul, I believe, and the money is tainted anyway. Great stuff - I love the fact that I can listen to your music from hundreds of miles away. Thanks so much for the contact. Sorry I couldn't provide much in the way of a review - but you are already there, my friend. Hey sound click members - check this guy out - He's got a really good sound and a bunch of solid songs. Here's his music page link - Go, Listen, Now!!! Man, I wish you lived next door, I could learn so much." Michael Frazier, USA 2004-06-21 |
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Sagt om mig och min musik!! - Some words about my music!! "..After listening to the album a few times it is clear that Johan is a very profound person and this evident in his songs. Although he plays guitar, he also has some guest musicians accompanying him. Johan has nice voice and sings extremely well in a laid back style putting a lot of feeling into the songs. The songs are quite nice and the arrangements are faultless.." Greenman Reviews, USA 2005-12-19 "..Jeg vil lige benytte lejligheden til, at rose dig for dit spil og et par enormt flotte sites du har lavet på nettet. Af dine numre vil jeg i særdeleshed fremhæve "Tired man", som noget af det mest eminente jeg længe har hørt. Så simpelt, ærligt, hudløst og smukt skal man lede længe efter. " Chris, DK (2004-08-15) " Johan Eliasson är en hängiven blues/soulfantast. Han lever för sin musik. Det ger hans tolkningar ett sällsamt allvar och djup. " Länstidningen (2004-08-24) " Blues man, singer/songwriter, guitar/car collector etc etc . We honestly don't know how to label strong voiced Johan Eliasson. Think: a black American Van the Man. Only, he's a white bloke from Norrland." (Dancin Dingo) " Känslomättat och naket med Johan Eliasson." (Länstidningen) " John, simply
stunning...what a great sound and a total joy to listen to. " Eliasson har en färgrik och känslosam röst. Som mjuk bourgogne med en viss strävhet. Den kom lyssnaren nära utan att tränga sig på." (LT) "Eliassons sånger och musik är utlämnande och naken. Sin största styrka äger de genom hans nyansrika röst. " (LT) " Med rätt musiker omkring sig kan Johan Eliasson gå långt. Själ och hjärta har han i sin musik." (LT) " When You sing, You sound just like a black person." (H.C. Boyer, Professor Afro-Amerikansk musik, USA" Mina tankar förs genast till artister som svenske Kristofer Åström och kanadensaren Ron Sexsmith." (ÖP) "Blind Willies Tune är det närmaste jag hört någon svensk komma! Respekt." " Helt otroligt BRA ! Blev totalt golvad av både låtarna å din röst. Länge sen jag hört nåt liknande." " Hello Johan...Listening
to "Emptiness" in the wee hours of the morning. This song is perfect for
listening at this time. My compliments. Very nice piece here. So much real passion in the
vocal. I wish
all good things for your future in music..... and God bless that journey." |
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Ur Programmet för Östersund Bluesfestival 2003.
Sagt om The Hot Tamales.
" Debuten är en sparsmakad blueskreation som övertygar, borta är de elektriska instrumenten och de akustiska gitarrerna regerar totalt. " (LT)" Tolkningarna av dessa örhängen skvallrar om stor låtskrivarpotential i bluesens tecken.. " (LT)
" Eric Bibbs " I want Jesus to walk with me " är en klockren avslutning. " (LT)
"Det finns ingen i länet som slår dessa herrar på fingrarna ifråga om att sjunga blues med mer naken nerv och känsla" (ÖP)
" Det är ärligt och naturligt på något sätt, det är bara du och gitarren. "
"Akustisk rootsblues med både öppen själ och stort hjärta." (LT)
"Östersundsduons akustiska blues imponerar stort med genuin känsla för genrearvet." (ÖstersundsPosten)
"Att bluesen har en svart historia vet
vi alla. Men man blir alltid lite stolt när man får höra vita män från republiken
tolka den på ett så passionerat och kunnigt sätt som Eliasson och Wahlström. "
(LT)
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Recension i LT av Solo-CD:n i Januari 2003.
-DEMO-
Björn Bostrand, LT
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Artikel i Länstidningen inför premiärgiget 11/1 -03 med de egna låtarna.
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Skrivet i ÖstersundsPosten 14/1 -03 efter premiären.
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Recension i LT av "The Hot Tamales" 2000.
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LT:s recension av The Hot Tamales andra album: "All over again" Mars -02
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Utdrag från recension av Öppen Scen på The Big Ben, Söder Stockholm.
Johan Eliasson från Östersund spelade en blues "Spirit of the blues", kompad av okänd kille på vit strata.
En stor soulig bluesröst. Johan är i Stockholm på en gospelkurs. Bravo!
/ Hugo Wester
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Utdrag av recension i LT av Frösö Gospels
vårkonsert 2003.
Rockigt tryck i Frösö Gospel
Proffsigt och genomarbetat var det i går kväll i Pingstkyrkan där
Frösö Gospel med ledaren Malin Strömdahl gjorde sitt bästa
/ Bernt Carlsson, Länstidningen
*
Said about the "With Heart and Soul demo CD"
First of all, I really like the way you use that voice of yours!
On "Emptiness" I sense kind of an Eric Satie vibe, the early 19th century French composer, do you know him? It's that quiet, understated piano, nice.
Nice piano work on "The harder I fall" too, and nice chords and harmonic structure, like it a lot, and overall a lot of feeling to it, like there should be!
The nice spider-bridge sound is back on "Forever more", and is that a mandolin in there too? I think you guys are really good, laidback players, and that there's a good sense of warmth and emotion in the way you sound, and that's the most important thing of all, and one thing thät's missing in so much music nowadays. You have to sense some kind of devotion as a listener, and you guys manage to get that across very nicely in my opinion. Feeling!
/David Kampmann, DK
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En okänd beundrarinna från USA!!
"You have No idea who I am, but I came across your song Unpredictable... and I just wanted to thank you for writing it.Its beautiful, and it conveys the way things really feel when your heart is broken.
Sounds like you've got some talent going on there...
keep working towards it...it can happen! "
/Rachel Underwood, USA
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© 2003 - 2009 BJ
Das
Lieblingsinstrument von Bottleneck John ist (no na!) die Dobro, und
der Blues der 20er und 30er ist seine Leidenschaft und auch den
Spirituals ist er nicht abgeneigt. Auf den uns vorliegenden CDs, die
zum Teil live, aber auch aus dem Studio stammen, findet sich eine
bunte Mischung teils eigener, teils geklauter Nummern. Die Stücke auf
der Dobro gespielt überzeugen eindeutig: Der Mann kann was!!
