Review: Edgar Winter & Friends Tribute album – ‘Brother Johnny’

Edgar and Johnny Winter. Getty Images. Photo by Ron Galella.

By Ljubinko Zivkovic, Rock At Night The Netherlands

Review: Various Artists – Brother Johnny-Quarto Valley Records- via April 15, 2022

‘Brother Johnny’

Late great Johnny Winter is very rightfully considered as one of the greats of modern blues. The man from Texas was responsible for some incredible solo records, with his band, his brother Edgar and other artists, as well as producing absolute blues legends like Muddy Waters.

So, it is no wonder than that when his brother Edgar, a great musician in his own right decided to organize a tribute album to his late brother he was able to enlist a ‘who’s who of modern blues, including Joe Bonamassa, Doyle Bramhall II, Billy Gibbons, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ringo Starr, Derek Trucks, Joe Walls, the list goes on.

With such a stellar lineup and years being devoted to the project, listeners would certainly have high hopes for the results. And frankly, those high hopes are fulfilled, seemingly with ease.

Part of it lies in the quality of Johnny Winter’s music, another to the quality of artists involved, and yet another part to the devotion Edgar Winter had for this project.

Edgar reflects on the times after his brother Johnny passed away in 2014: “Many people immediately started trying to convince me to do a Johnny Winter tribute album. But I was totally devastated, and the timing didn’t feel right to me. It wasn’t until after I completed the Rock ‘N’ Blues Fest, a tour we were meant to do together with our respective bands, that the idea of a tribute record started to tale form.”

Eventually, all that time and emotion put into this project had the right effect, and the listeners have before them one of the better recent blues projects, and some music to thoroughly enjoy.

SPOTIFY

SOCIAL MEDIA

EDGAR WINTER’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Ljubinko Zivkovic