Loving You Bernard Allison

• 1 Left Me With My Guitar 03:31
• 2 4 O'clock In The Morning 04:20
• 3 Time Traveler 04:26
• 4 Slide On Over 03:21
• 5 Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo 03:48
• 6 Busted & Disgusted 06:13
• 7 Loving You 03:53
• 8 Should I Wait 03:17
• 9 Pay What You Owe Me 04:01
• 10 Blues Thang 04:03
• Total Runtime 40:53

Info for Loving You

There was a time during the 1990s when Bernard Allison was looked upon as one of the hottest young guns on the contemporary blues scene. The son of blues legend Luther Allison has roots in Chicago & Europe. He is heavily influenced by his father of course and Texas guitar giants Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan, adding funk and R&B flavours to the mix to create his recognizable sound. With his first string of solo albums in the mid-90s, he stepped out of his father's shadow and quickly found his own audience, voice, and style.

Now, after more than three decades on the circuit, Allison is a seasoned veteran with countless tours and festivals and more than 20 albums under his belt. He's made quite a few musical friends during that time and has chosen his newest release Loving You to celebrate those friendships and the vibrant spirit of the blues community. Among the album's distinguished guest musicians are guitarists Larry McCray, Devon Allman and Matthew Curry, violinist Heather Hardy, piano virtuoso Victor Wainwright, as well as Bernard's nephew Jasper Allison and niece Lyndsey Allison, adding soulful backing vocals. Allison also welcomes a vital new contributor to the fold in rhythm guitarist Stephen Johnson (aka Stevie J Blues), who co-wrote five of the album's seven original songs. The Jackson, Mississippi native and former Bobby Rush band member adds new vigour to Allison's excellent rhythm section, which also includes drummer Sam Butts Jr III, keyboardist Eric Roberts and long-time bassist George Moye.

“I’ve always wanted to record an album, bringing family and friends together!! Loving You is simply showing my appreciation and respect for my family and friends. So, I decided to invite & collaborate with a selected group of musicians and family members. I placed them on tracks where I felt they could bring out their true emotions and musical passions. We created a well-rounded album full of surprises, while showing our appreciation to all of our musical influences & genres. WE layed down my blues foundation, with a taste of Funk, R&B, & Rock!! And we did it, The Allison Way!!!” explains Bernard Allison (aka “BA” on the circuit).

Stylistically, Loving You is, on the one hand, familiar. And yet, thanks to the numerous guests, the reshuffling within the band's lineup and Allison's openness to collaboration, the sound and vibe is quite new compared to anything he has released before. It opens with "Left Me With My Guitar," a funky electric blues number about the front man's most faithful companion. On "4 O'Clock In The Morning," seven-time Blues Music Award Winner Victor Wainwright joins in, sharing lead vocals with Allison and adding his trademark piano stylings. The well-executed "Time Traveler," with its staccato rhythm, is a different kind of funk, highlighted by the clever interplay of guitarists Larry McCray and Matthew Mwangi (who co-wrote the song).

"Slide On Over" might sound like the perfect title for a slide guitar showpiece, but instead the track stays in mellow, lustful soul, with Allison name-dropping Marvin Gaye and Betty Wright on his way to the bedroom, while Jasper and Lyndsey Allison add rich, soulful backing vocals. The album then shifts gears into classic rock mode, with Matthew Curry joining on guitar and vocals in an exciting reimagining of "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo" in tribute to the late Rick Derringer. On "Busted & Disgusted," Allison assumes the role of a desperate, down-on-his-luck gambler who simply can't resist one more roll of the dice.

The title track, "Loving You," keeps the momentum going with an irresistible funk-infused groove, elevated by a guest appearance from Devon Allman on guitar and infectious handclaps of Larry "Doc" Watkins. On "Should I Wait," Allison reflects on the uncertainty of an unreliable relationship, pairing heartfelt lyrics with a deep, soulful groove. The band continues with the soulful "Pay What You Owe Me," where elegant string arrangements by Heather Hardy add richness, while backing vocals from Stevie J Blues and Bernard's nephew and niece, Jasper & Lyndsey Allison add depth to the track.

The journey concludes with "Blues Thang," a fitting finale that brings Loving You's ten-track collection to a confident and satisfying close. These four minutes of funk-infused blues serve as a statement of Bernard Allison's raison d'être: He sees no need to complicate things or change... "It ain't nothin but a blues thang”. The song puts a perfect bow on a well-rounded album from an artist who has been around the block and knows exactly who he is. For Bernard, it's always been about singing the blues, playing his axe, traveling the world, and giving you the best blues you can use. ENJOY!

Bernard Allison, guitar, vocals
George Moye, bass
Sam Butts Jr lll, drums
Eric Roberts, keyboards
Stevie J Blues, guitar, backing vocals
Gäste:
Victor Wainwright, piano, vocals
Larry McCray, guitar
Matthew Mwangi, guitar
Jasper & Lyndsey Allison, backing vocals
Matthew Curry, guitar, vocals
Devon Allman, guitar
Heather Hardy, violin

Bernard Allison
was introduced to the roots of black music and playing electric guitar by his father, the blues legend Luther Allison.

He joined the tourband of Luther Allison in 1989 after a furious collaboration of 'Father & Son' at the '89 Chicago Blues Festival. Bernard released his first solo album in 1990 and the title was program: 'The Next Generation'. He started touring with his own group all over Europe and released several albums, taking the tradition of black music he grew up with into the new century melting the influences into his own brand - Bernard Allison.

"It's just a big pleasure for me to continue my father's legacy, but you know I don't go out and try to be Luther Allison. I just go and do what I've learned from my Dad and the likes of Koko Taylor, or Stevie Ray Vaughan or Albert King. So, I'm trying to keep the blues alive Bernard Allison style." (Bernard Allison)

Born in Chicago on November 26th, 1965, the youngest of nine children Bernard Allison was first introduced to the roots of black music and the art of the electric guitar by his father, the late great Luther Allison. Bernard made his first appearance on record at age 13, when he played on a live LP his father recorded in Peoria, IL.

"I didn't start to play 'til I was maybe 10 years of age" Bernard recalled "I picked up the guitar, listened to records. I was in grade school and I played with the high school jazz band. They thought I was reading the sheet music, but actually I was making up everything I could play."

Soon after graduating from High School, he began a three-year guitar apprenticeship in Koko Taylor's high-flying Blues Machine. He also played in the late Willie Dixon's Blues All-Stars and performed with his Dad at the 1983 Blues Festival - one of the event's highlights. Along the way, Bernard picked up slide guitar tips from Johnny Winter and in the 80's also learned from the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.

With those experiences under his belt, Bernard moved to Paris in 1989 to live and play the blues with his father. He joined the tourband of Luther Allison after a furious collaboration of "Father & Son" at the '89 Chicago Blues Festival. A recording of this formation is to be heard on the Luther Allison album "Let's Try It again" (RUF Records). Bernard released his first solo album in 1990 with the significant title "The Next Generation". In 1999, two years after Luther passed away, Bernard decided to move back to the States to go back to his roots and push his career in his native country. Bernard seems to have inherited Luther's knack for igniting audiences, but he's no clone of his famous father. He is definitely blazing his own path with a style that reflects a unique mix of traditional and modern influences. The Allison torch has been passed, and it's clear that Bernard takes his role as its bearer very seriously. He's assumed the challenge of keeping the blues alive and growing - a commitment he renews every time he takes the stage.

In 2004/2005, Bernard Allison released his 6th album on Ruf Records, "Higher Power". Whether you pay your respects to Bernard Allison as one of the high powered blues guitarists in the world or you, like Bernard, pay your respects to that Higher Power that guides you through life, these are 13 songs Bernard sings that will speak to you.

Bernard totes the same smokin' six string shooter that his late father Luther Allison assaulted the blues with. And he is blessed with his father's soulful voice, spiritual devotion, and a musical freedom which experiments with the blues.

"In order for anything to expand, you have to take a risk," says Bernard. "Blues is about experimenting and getting your feelings across to someone else. And if you want to keep it going, people are going to have to give it all a chance because we're losing all our creators. Because I've been taking risks on every album I've recorded, this record is just a logical progression from everything else I've done. Instead of playing rippin' 12 bar blues guitar over and over, there are bluesy songs, soul, funk, R&B songs and a couple of rock things which shows the overall musicianship of Bernard Allison."

The major risk Bernard takes here is in his song writing, where he is confident enough to strip away the layers and bare himself to the world. It has taken Bernard a long time to feel free to talk or write a song about what's going on within him or his personal tragedies. After decades of chasing the muse, Bernard is now settled down raising a family without the old personal vices. Thus the music he's written speaks of the inner peace and companionship every human searches for. The CD opens with Bernard's trademark blues rock guitar, but it rocks out with a moral. Therapists recommend getting problems out, instead of concealing them. In the highly personal opening song "I've Learned My Lesson," Bernard sheds himself of any disguises and admits to the world the inner personal problems that have held him back. That is until his personal Higher Power delivered him safely to inner peace.

Other original songs like "Stay With Me Tonight" or "Next To You" speak intimately about his love of the security of his family. While in other songs like "New Life," Bernard goes even further by apologizing to those he's hurt by word or deed.

And that's the magic power of the blues. If Bernard's honesty touches just one person with a similar struggles then the power of the blues works. Then Bernard becomes the higher power by healing another troubled soul. "Musically and lyrically this is definitely a mature effort. I've been through a lot since the passing of my father. I'm married and I have started my own family. This music comes from everyday responsibility and lifestyle. I'm calling the album Higher Power because there were times when I had to pray to my own higher power to help me through. Immediately after my father's death I was still touring, I wanted to continue because that was what he wanted me to do. I feel that with his presence, he's still, even today, with me everywhere I go, and the help of my higher power, there's no going wrong. That is the message in many of these songs."

Amid all the daily pop culture pressures to be the next American Idol why does Bernard stay rooted in the blues? "The blues is my roots. Regardless of how far outside of the blues I reach for tones, I can't ever leave the blues. Whenever I play, all those guitar parts are Luther Allison coming through me. My dad was the same way, he wasn't all blues. He loved Otis Redding or Chuck Berry. I'm just showing where my influences come from. And respecting the people who got me to this point."

Booklet for Loving You