Jimmy set to tour with iconic US soul musicians
AUSSIE music legend Jimmy Barnes made a promise last year that he would gather some of the most legendary American musicians together and tour the very chart-topping album they helped him create - The Rhythm And The Blues.
Brace yourselves, for Barnes is about to deliver on that promise.
In conjunction with the Frontier Touring Company and Premier Artists, our most famous rocker has his A-team in place for a select run of shows through late March and early April. These will be for ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Jimmy has gathered musical luminaries such as the great drummer James Gadson (Diana Ross, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin), bass-man Reggie McBride (Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker), keyboardist Mike Thompson (Eagles), guitar icon Johnny Lee Schell (BB King, Etta James, Joe Cocker) and experienced brass maestro and arranger Darrell Leonard exclusively to come to Australia to perform with Jimmy on his ‘THE RHYTHM AND THE BLUES’ tour.
If you thought ‘The Rhythm & The Blues’ album moved you, wait until you see and hear Barnes and company in the flesh breathe new life into such rollicking classics as Red Hot (Billy Lee Riley), That’s Right (Chris Powell), Keep A Knockin’ (Little Richard) and Big Joe Turner’s Shake, Rattle and Roll. Or, for a sweet turn of tenderness, the subtle charms that reworked Johnny Adams’ Reconsider Me or Nina Simone’s My Baby Just Cares For Me will no doubt yank at the heartstrings when caressed through the speakers in a live atmosphere.
Speaking of heartstrings, Barnes doesn’t merely enjoy playing this brand of 1950s rock and roll – he damn well loves it, especially when serving it up in the company he will keep on this tour.
“This album was such a pleasure to make. Three days in the studio with the musicians of that caliber and singing these type of songs was a breeze. I was sort of bummed by the end of it because I could’ve done a double album it was so much fun, just so I could keep singing with the band,” Barnes said after recording the album.
“There I was, in the studio with players who had the pedigrees of doom, and the attitude of doom, so we got in there and it was like their first band … their enthusiasm overwhelmed me. With them, it was like playing in my first band. It was fantastic.”
Be bummed out no more, Mr Barnes. The Rhythm And The Blues is about to have its second coming. And it’s our impending good fortune that it will happen right before our very eyes and ears at the following venues.
Jimmy and his mega band will also include songs in the set from his multi platinum ‘Soul Deep’ and ‘Soul Deeper’ albums. Both of these chart toppers feature Barnes classic reworked versions of soul hits that have become staples of today’s classic radio playlists.
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