“Know Your Driver” - John Stephan Band (Self Released)
By Malcolm Kennedy
I mentioned John Stephan to someone recently and they quipped “yeah, he’s good; but he’s so loud” to which I replied, “Sure he can peel paint with the best of them; but you really need to hear his new CD Know Your Driver.” I think that John is possibly the most overlooked guitarist in town [Seattle]. This man has chops to spare, from blistering leads to impeccable rhythm guitar skills, and all points in between.
I could write something on just about every one of the dozen tracks, nine of them originals; but I will be brief here. My favorite cut is “Root Hog or Die” to which John applies a deft touch on slide guitar. Another I particularly enjoyment is “Last Call,” a tribute to Albert Collins and Isaac Scott which John infuses with a fat jazzy tone. “Hard Worker Down” got my attention as John sings about the tough times the workers face in today’s job market. You will find slashing slide work on “Hard For The Devil” and Willie Dixon’s “Down in the Bottom,” followed by melancholy acoustic stylings on “Treatment Blues” where John informs us that the blues is a preexisting condition. John imbues “Trouble Machine” with the ghost of Elmore James as he sings the evil car blues, a tune that reminds me of my own ride. The liner photo of John as a young boy in Palmer, Alaska in a field standing next his horse Prince is absolutely priceless. Do yourself a favor and pick up this excellent CD.
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