Johnny Iguana – At Delmark  – Delmark Records 888

Can anyone have imagined this scenario?  Julia Miller and Elbio Barilari, Delmark Records’ CEO and Artistic Director, respectively, summoned Johnny Iguana, the Philadelphia-to-New York-to-Chicago keyboard virtuoso, to the label’s studios to run through some playing on the imprint’s Steinway piano so they could test the efficacy of their newly renovated analog tape set-up. 

Ah, but something else entirely was brewing!  Barilari confessed that Delmark Records was keen on Iguana laying-down a solo piano project for the label, a format not at all unknown for the label (think their tremendous historical blues, stride, jazz, boogie woogie, and barrelhouse outings).  The goal was simple and straight to the point.  Iguana’s immense talents were to be captured in single take with no edits or overdubbing whatsoever, and attained in a solely analog format.

As it went, Iguana commenced to providing his best versions of five original solo piano inventions and seven interpretations of the work of others including Little Brother Montgomery, Neil Young, Junior Wells, Chuck Berry, Magic Sam, Jay McShann, and, if one can imagine it, AC/DC’s Malcolm and Angus Young and the late Bon Scott.

And simply, it is a phenomenal collection!

We’ll leave the discussion of Iguana’s blues pedigree, his rock music work, and his dedication to his “garage cabaret” band, The Claudettes, to another time, as what certainly comes across here is the culminations of all of Iguana’s musical inspirations, from Ray Charles, to Otis Spann, Mose Allison, Joe Strummer, and Jay McShann, among so many others.  And lest we forget Junior Wells.  His spirit and importance to Iguana is felt throughout.

Simply put, what abundantly comes shining through across the expanse of this altogether enthusing collection is Iguana’s exhilaration of becoming a Delmark Records artist within an esteemed stable of historical keyboard peers whose work has rightfully stood the test of time for the renowned Chicago-based label.  Each cut, no matter if an original or a cover, or from what genre, is fully enveloped in Iguana’s considerable proficiencies, and the end product is proof positive of his position of authority and respect on Chicago’s musical landscape.

Iguana is a grand transporter of all his musical motivations, and these are 12 greatly commendable manuscripts of his enormous aptitudes.

Chicago’s piano great, Erwin Helfer, is still with us, but is now aged.  Barrelhouse Chuck is sadly departed.  And, yes, there are scattered keyboardists out there such as Ricky Nye, Carl Sonny Leyland, Mitch Woods, young Ben Levin, and others who are striving to keep piano blues alive.  And, there are labels such as The Sirens Records, headed by Dr. Steven Dolins, who are doing all they can to ensure the piano’s place in blues history is not overlooked and ultimately forgotten.

And what Iguana has done here for Delmark Records is a front-to-back celebration of solo piano mastery.

This CD belongs on the shelves of your blues collection.  It is yet another in that broad Delmark Records catalogue that highlights the importance of the label’s dedication to the blues.  From Delmark Records’ visionary, Bob Koester, to current ownership, tendering great piano work is a consistent tradition for the imprint.

This is Johnny Iguana at the top of his game.  Highly recommended!