Jimmy "Flim" Johnson

[jacko]

Hope you make it Vince. The Glasgow show was superb. Overall the sound in the Armadillo was the best I've heard James, and Jimmy's bass tone was exactly what you'd want for that music.  I've been a fan since my older brother brought the Sweet Baby James album home in the early 70's and I've seen him live maybe a dozen times - some before I had an Alembic so I didn't know of JJ back then - and I can safely say that Friday's gig was up there with the best.

Graeme

[JimmyJ]

Hey Danno,

I think I told the story of that Frankfurt gig in here before but it was one of those famously chaotic Holdsworth band experiences...  It's a long story, but note the camera angles?  That's because the camera guys were right there on stage in our faces - as in - occasionally stepping on our pedals!  Extremely distracting situation.  Anyway, that was my original 1976 5-string Series I which was stolen in 1987 and has never surfaced. The very odd tailpiece would have attracted attention had it ever appeared anywhere.  Where the heck is that thing?

Jazzyvee,

I hope you are able to make it on Friday and I'm so sorry that I'm unable come out, say hello, and give you a hug.  I'll try to give you a musical hug instead.  Ha!  It's pretty mellow music but JT is a great songwriter and lyricist and the band and singers are fun to listen to.  You'll likely recognize a few tunes as they have subconsciously slipped into our heads over the last 50+ years of his career.  And looking at this band and the audience will make you feel young.  HAHA!!  Hope you enjoy it.

Cheers everybody,
Jimmy J

[jazzyvee]

Mature, Vince?  You think hanging out with your buddies in some dude’s bathroom, and then putting it on youtube is mature?   I mean the band ain’t called “Musical Grown Men”!   You look like you have too much fun playing to be “mature”.

hehehehe

Bill, tgo

Well hanging out in bathrooms didn't harm George Michael's career in fact it probably gave it a lift.
Jimmy J my taste in music is pretty wide and we do try to get out and see music that we don't know so this should be good.

Now let me see what tickets are available.

Great, managed to get two tickets. Not sure whether they are good seats but whatever i selected got changed when i got to check out or disappeared from my check out basket. I guess we shall see.

[David Houck]

... JT is a great songwriter and lyricist ...

To add to what Jimmy said, James has a wonderful voice and a wonderful way in which he sings the songs.  But also, often overlooked, he's a pretty good guitar player too, and his playing is integral to the songs.

Enjoy!

[keith_h]

... JT is a great songwriter and lyricist ...

To add to what Jimmy said, James has a wonderful voice and a wonderful way in which he sings the songs.  But also, often overlooked, he's a pretty good guitar player too, and his playing is integral to the songs.

Enjoy!

In my younger years it was the singing an lyrics that stood out with James' guitar being something underneath. I didn't come to appreciate his guitar skills until I was much older and gave his music a real listen.

[JimmyJ]

Yes, what James does on guitar is quite special.  I hear from other guitar players that he also uses non-standard fingerings for some standard chords.  And his fingerpicking just rolls along in steady time while he's doing his great loose vocal phrasing over the top - and telling a long story with the lyrics. I know there are many Artists who can do that but being a one-note-at-a-time guy myself the ability to keep all that going at the same time blows my mind.

Hey Jazzyvee, I tried to send you a PM yesterday but don't know if it got to you.  I had never tried Messages in here but I received one from somebody the other day and tried to answer it.  I don't know if that went though either.     Is there something I need to do to enable messaging?

Jimmy J

[goran]

Hey Jimmy, I think that all by default, if you left you email address that's valid in your account settings.

[JimmyJ]

Thanks Goran,

I've kept my email address private but "messages" here within the club's system do seem to be working because I got a reply.  Neat!

Jimmy J

[jazzyvee]

Not sure if this has been posted here but this is a concert clip of you Jimmy with one of your Graphite necked basses.

there is a close up view at 53:33


Enjoy.
I will be in the crowd tomorrow at your JT gig.

[JimmyJ]

Oh Lord...  I don't want any of you to spend too much time stuck in mid-80's fusion land here.  This was almost 30 years ago and a slightly embarrassing setting - for me.  Great playing with Carlos Vega and all those cats, but ... minor cringe factor.

I will comment on that bass though.  Having explained in another thread how I felt this graphite fretted bass didn't allow me to control the dynamics in live situations, I have to admit that it recorded well.  I can't remember if I was able to use it on any albums but it lives on in this vid and the Holdsworth "Tokyo Dream" vid from the same year.  I'll have to dig out an old calendar to see if I managed to play it on any studio recordings...

OK, don't watch all of that, it could cause time to warp. 

Jimmy J

[dannobasso]

Thanks Jimmy for sharing with all of us here. We truly appreciate all the  musical joy and inspiration we have experienced through your art. We also are grateful for your shairing of your tech insights on this club. No matter the decade you are represented in, we can dig it all.

[eddievig]

...what danobasso said.

[bigredbass]

I always giggle when I think of 80's gear, and how X-perimental things could get:  Rit with an Ibanez 335-style guitar with a locking tremolo?  Sheeez.  And it reminded me how much I hated those Ultimate Support keyboard stands:  Of all three shelves, all three keyboards were at the wrong height and angle !  Terrific players, and JJ you sounded fine on this stuff, and it is of the period, but my-t-fine nonetheless.

[jazzyvee]

Superb gig tonight at Resorts World Jimmy.
JT came out front to do autographs and selfies so I got to meet JT.

[David Houck]

That's great Jazzy!  Glad you enjoyed the concert: and you got to meet James!