Joe Bonamassa & Storybrook Mountain Zinfandel

It’s been a loooonnnngggg week and nothing helps me unwind better than some driving blues guitar, and Joe Bonamassa is one of the premier blues guitarists around. He was born and raised in New Hartford, NY, where his parents owned and ran a guitar shop. With a great-grandfather and grandfather who both played trumpet, and a father who plays guitar, Bonamassa credits his parents with fostering an appreciation of music in his life as early as he can remember. When he was a young child, he would listen to his parents' record collection, and recalls sitting with his parents on Saturdays, listening to Guitar Slim, Bonnie Rait, Jethro Tull, Eric Clapton, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.

He received his first guitar from his father at the age of 4, and by age 7 he was playing Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix. He cites three recordings as his biggest influences: John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher’s Irish Tour, and Cream’s Goodbye. As he says in the interview in the second to last link below, one day his father brought home a tape of Cream’s Goodbye concert at the Royal Albert Hall. He watched everything Clapton did and later learned the licks by heart. Life in the blues lane took off after that.

The last two links will take you to Joe’s entire 2011 two hour concert at the Royal Albert Hall. If you like the blues, you’re gonna like Joe.

Blues Deluxe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn09Xn9JF5s

Last Kiss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0lIZHspjXU&feature=related

Stop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWty_lD1ZLA&feature=related

Sloe Gin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UFXQVSnKs&feature=related

Woke up dreaming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry4NCejMZ7E&feature=related

Had to cry today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IN-qpLNQ3w&feature=related

Dustbowl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDH8Zl09pCw

Acoustic Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gItGaQBzsYQ&feature=related

Lonesome road blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10RyetlCG0g&feature=related

One of these days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amPWsd4Sv54&feature=related

Just got paid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0APsJ9U3N0&feature=related

Cradle rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW6fFNkeNc0&feature=related

Royal Albert Hall Concert Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIXAywCS5Vs&feature=related

Royal Albert Hall Concert Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhWzpTMgNSU&feature=related

I’m pairing Joe with a 2008 Storybrook Mountain Mayacamas Range Zinfandel ($24.00). This wine is normally about $34.00, but my wine shop had a sale, so it qualifies for my review. It’s also one of my favorite Zins. The wine is deep purple with a bouquet of fresh picked blackberries tinged with exotic spices. The flavor is full of sweet blackberries, tart raspberries, and vibrant strawberries with black pepper accents. After a long week, this is the perfect wine for unwinding with some of the best blues guitar you’ll ever hear. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Joe Bonamassa & Peter Lehmann Layers

Although he’s been around for a while, Joe Bonamassa is just now becoming recognized for the great blues guitarist that he is. For me, a great blues artist combines musical virtuosity with a rasping voice that captures the emotional essence of the genre. Stevie Ray Vaughn had it. So does Joe. He’s a rare performer splitting time between acoustic and electric guitar work. I’ve included seven acoustic and six electric numbers for your listening pleasure. My favorite is his electric work on “Stop,” but there’s a lot of good stuff here. Hope you like him.


Shredding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmsGsovV0Bo

High Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqMzGb1VTDo&feature=related  

Unplugged @ the Bluebird: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXGnyc539LY&feature=related

Zaragossa Spain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF6W3P6LzFI&feature=related

Woke up dreaming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5B3FYUBPyo&feature=related

Unplugged & Unleashed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71_Qw_HtukI&feature=related

Live in Berlin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNMAq8arzUM&feature=related

Albert hall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwoNA67k2EI&feature=related

Stop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMXXnLSRdBE&feature=related

Ballad of John Henry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaCjPdtDBxo&feature=related

Burning Hell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_3TkbS6C5s&feature=related

Don’t burn down the bridge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIMiKAIXHks&feature=related

One of these days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcx_5N9qVo&feature=related

Blues Deluxe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn09Xn9JF5s&feature=related

I’m pairing Joe with a very interesting white wine, namely Peter Lehmann’s 2009 Layers ($13.00). I say interesting because it’s a blend of Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürtztraminer and Muscat picked from different vineyards throughout the Barossa and Adelaide regions. You’d think with a combination like this the wine would have trouble establishing an identity, but each grape contributes a unique character and flavor to produce an easy drinking and approachable medium-bodied white. The “Layers” name comes from the layers of fruit that give the wine its complexity. It’s a pale yellow-green color with a bouquet reminiscent of Semillon and Sauvignon blanc with green apple and citrus aromas. When it first hits the palate, I taste the Pinot Gris and unoaked Chardonnay, again with lemon, lime, crisp autumn apples, and a nice jolt of acidity. It finishes with the spicy notes of the Gewurtztraminer that linger for quite a while.

With all the different grapes, that’s a lot of balls to juggle but it is pulled off with finesse making it a great wine for sipping on a cool autumn evening watching the stars come out and listening to the blues of Joe Bonamassa. Have a great Monday. Enjoy!

Cheers!