Robert's Review of Johnny Sansone at Artscenter, 05/30/97

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Johnny Sansone walked onto the stage at the Artscenter in Carrboro and jumped right into playing harmonica and leading his four piece band into Chicago style blues and then switching to accordion for some finger licking New Orleans zydeco style blues & R&B.

Johnny plays harmonica with more than little of Little Walter and Paul Butterfield in tone but he also mixes it up by sometimes using a chromatic harmonica, sometimes playing into a closed hand mike, sometimes open into the vocal mike, sometimes with the mike next to this throat, and sometimes inside a box (but more on that later.) A very inventive and exciting show of harmonica playing that never lost its soul.

Johnny grew up in New Jersey and spent a few years in North Carolina before settling in New Orleans where he picked up the accordion as a separate lead instrument. He plays both well and together they fit his songs letting him cook up a unique mix of blues, zydeco, and New Orleans style R&B. He sings with a raspy but up beat voice that works very well with the R&B. Check out song clips and bio on the Web.

His band was equally strong. His guitarist is Rick Olivarez who played very tasty licks feeding off the harmonica and soling equally well. Sansone didn't mention the rhytmn section but the drummer was particularly fine with a funky New Orleans rhythm that he brought even to the blues.

The band played some old songs including "Blues with a Feeling" and a Clifton Chanier number. They also played a lot of songs from their new album including the great bouncy "Give me a Dollar" that brought the crowd to the dance floor. Also the funky blues songs "Crawfish Walk" and "The Talkin'is Over". The also kicked back with a rock and roll "Destination Unknown" and a truly great (great!) version of the dramatic title song - "Crescent City Moon". This is a steamy delta mood inspiring song that was voted New Orleans song of the year and he played a version of it that would stand up with any song.

For a encore Johnny got loose and after throwing some beaded necklaces to the audience - Mardi Gras style- he put the empty box over his head and played harmonica on the funky funny instrumental "Popeye and A Hubigs Part II" which even got the band laughing.

The crowd at the Artscenter was small but very active, lots of dancing this time. Johnny's music gets people active, but he deserves a bigger crowd. The Artscenter needs more advertising to get the word out about lesser known acts. I know it's tough to get a crowd on a fine spring weekend but they missed a great show. The Triangle has hosted a number of harmonica players lately including Kenny Neal and Mark Hummel - but Johnny Sansone's show topped them all.

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