Leon J - Down Home
Leon J is a music artist who provides a soulful, modern take on classic genres like delta blues, country, country blues and Americana roots music. Known for music that will make you tap your feet and clap your hands, this artist’s music has been featured at renowned venues and events across the globe. Leon's vocals stand out, as a blend between Eric Clapton the smoothness of Marvin Gaye and the powerful bluesy delivery of the great BB King. Growing up on his parent's gospel tour bus, you certainly see where he gets his soulful mojo and expanded range in his vocal delivery. Today, we are excited to share our thoughts on Leon J’s Delta themed EP, Down Home!
Down Home opens with “Dyin Day”, a song that beautifully showcases Leon J’s take on blues music. Honest, soulful lyrics and some impressive guitar soloing are the highlights of this song - a theme that you will find in abundance across this entire project. “Kind Hearted Woman” follows and continues the overall feel, also featuring the immediate lyrical return of “Mr. So & So”, a man receiving the affection of the woman Leon J is singing to. I love how, despite its title, this song’s lyrics subvert expectations in a way perfectly befitting the delta blues genre. I also would be remiss, if I did not miss the phenomenal harmonica solo in this one. “Death Letter Blues” is third and stands as the shortest song on the EP at three minutes and eight seconds. A spirited song with a meaning matching its title, this one features some extra gritty and powerful vocals from Leon J, giving it an extra punch that makes it stick out in a positive way.
“Big Leg Lady” is fourth from Down Home and this one featured my favorite work with textures as guitar, bass, harmonica and percussion all team together to make this song swing. The fact this one even had a stand-up bass solo was already enough to make it my personal favorite from this project but it really does come together perfectly with all elements of the lyrics, vocals and instrumentation in-sync and full of life. Closing out the EP is “Champagne & Reefer” and I think plenty of the readers here will enjoy the lyrics to this one quite a bit (spoiler: they are pretty much in line with what you would expect based on the title and four songs before it). This one has that classic delta blues sound through and through and I am a big fan.
Leon J’s take on Delta Blues is impressive; the songs from this project are all intertwined but manage to stand on their own through a dazzling mix of sounds that are - while centered in the classic roots of Delta Blues - varied in a way that gives life to one of radio’s oldest popular genres. You can keep up with Leon J through his website, RootsBlues.com, and his Facebook pages and his Instagram @desertbluesman. Want to hear him live at his lodge, check out AcousticCellarsLodge.com/events for an evening you won’t forget. Also, opportunities are available for guests at the lodge to experience exclusive campfire music. We have Down Home embedded below via Spotify - check it out and look for credits beneath the Spotify player below!
Vocals, Guitars and African Djembe - Leon J
Guitar - Scotty Spinner
Recording, Production and Pre-war Aluminum stand-up bass - Jeff Farias
Album photo credit: Tony Mandarich
