When Johnny Winter died on July 16, 2014, many people wanted his brother Edgar to record a tribute album. But Edgar claimed he was simply too devastated at the time to manage it. It wasn’t until he completed the Rock ‘N’ Blues Fest, a tour his band was supposed to play with his brother’s band, that he began to consider what has turned into an all-star tribute for 2022 called Brother Johnny.
With “Lone Star Blues” as the centerpiece, there is not so much to grow mournful over. Keb’ Mo’ on slide with Winter delivering a spectacular vocal has this lead-off set us well into what happens around it and the guests who make it happen. Guitarist Joe Bonamassa lends his talents to the record by tackling Johnny Winters’ famous smokin’ riff on “Self-Destructive Blues,” showing his connection to the late bluesman. Guitarists Billy Gibbons and Derek Trucks trade licks on an updated version of “I’m Yours, I’m Hers.” We even get Taylor Hawkins singing on “Guess I’ll Go Away,” his first posthumous release.
The standouts on this album are two piano-led tracks. First, it’s a cover of Johnny Winter’s ballad “Stranger,” featuring Michael McDonald’s rich vocal, Joe Walsh’s sweet cry wailing (he also sings on “Johnny B. Goode”), and solid drumming from Ringo Starr. The last tune is another Edgar Winter original, “End Of The Line,” manned expertly on piano by David Campbell. As close as the Winter brothers seemingly were, it has to be difficult and probably still is for Edgar Winter to come to grips with his brother’s death. Brother Johnny is in every way a celebration of a great blues-rock icon, a man so many miss and call an influence.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
