Johnny Iguana

Chicago – Style Solo Piano

Delmark Records

Brian Berkowitz known professionally as Johnny Iguana is a highly regarded Chicago blues pianist having toured or recorded with Otis Rush, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, James Cotton, Eddy Clearwater, Buddy Guy, Lurrie Bell, Matthew Skoller and Lil’ Ed. More importantly he appears on three notable projects: the 2009 Grammy nominated and Blues Music Award winning “Chicago Blues: A Living History”, and its sequel 2011’s “The (R)evolution  Continues”, and on the 2015 “Muddy Waters 100” tribute. Iguana also fronts his band The Claudettes and has released five albums with them since 2013. Iguana had appeared on Delmark previously as a sideman but in 2020 released his debut “Chicago Spectacular”. No bassist was utilized on the recording as Iguana evoked the basslines from the wood and hammers of the 100-year-old Kingsbury piano. The album is produced by Elbio  Barilari and includes five Iguana originals and seven selected covers, all recorded in one take.

“Bass Key Boogie” is from Little Brother Montgomery, its an instrumental first recorded in 2003. “Heart of Gold” is from Neil Young and one can really hear the wood and hammers. “For Dancers Only”, is the first of the originals, and starts off with a doo-wop sound before quickly becoming jazzy, and eventually turning into a fierce boogie-woogie. “Stormy Night at a Moroccan Blues Bar” is just one of the songs guaranteed to be played by Iguana in New Orleans on piano night.

“Messin’ with the Kid”, credited to Mel London, was recorded by Junior Wells in 1960, this  is a rollickin’ version of a classic tune. On “Trippin in a French Ambulance”, Iguana  suggests that our over indulgent friend might have needed a helping hand, but hopefully there was a blossoming that occured. “One More for the Cleaning Crew” is a fourth  original which hopefully helped to clean the soul.

“You Never Can Tell” from Chuck Berry was recorded in 1964, a fantastic version Iguana adds some tremelo to this classic. “You Belong To Me” written by Samuel Maghett a.k.a. Magic Sam, just seems to roll, and roll. On “Welcome Distractions”, the last of the  originals, Iguana modulates the sound by playing softly at times before bursting with energy. “Riff Raff” written by Young, Young, and Scott, was first recorded in 1978. The  closer “Roll ‘Em” was recorded in 1987 by Jay McShann, as Iguana passionately pays  tribute to one of his inspirations.

On Johnny Iguana “Chicago – Style Solo Piano” Iguana combines his reverance for the  past blues paino masters with his own adventurous originals. Recorded at Chicago’s Delmark Riverside Studio in March and April 2023, and in January 2024, this is an album that should delight you.

Richard Ludmerer