Interview in the UK magazine Blues Matters Aug/Sept 2016 issue

September 2, 2016 By John Maxwell In News, press No Comments

Billy Hutchinson gave me a great write up in the September ’16 issue of Blues Matters Magazine. Read the article below or view the PDF in a new tab. [pdf-embedder url=”https://slowlyiturnmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BM91_Interview_JohnMaxw...

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Love’s a Funny Thing

July 22, 2016 By roger In original song, video, youtube No Comments

From the CD “Blues For Evangeline”. slowlyiturnmusic.com copyright 2014...

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St. Louis Women

July 6, 2016 By roger In video, youtube No Comments

A little slide mandolin blues on a beautiful,warm summer evening. I hope you like it and if so, please share! Filmed by Roger Jones.  slowlyiturnmusic.com...

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Bella’s Romp

May 6, 2016 By roger In video, youtube No Comments

New tune I’m working on....

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Blues for Evangeline

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Even Good Dogs Get The Blues

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Even Good Dogs Get The Blues

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What People Are Saying

About John

 

“He plays with very good fluidity and taste, and some nice slide. His vocals are pleasantly lacking in fake black-isms that are the bane of ‘white bluesmen’. Even better, he sings the meaning of the words and understands that the story of the lyrics is vital”.

– Bruce Iglauer – Alligator Records

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“John Greyhound Maxwell (is) a particularly refined and eloquent slide and fingerpicking roots and blues guitarist and singer/songwriter.

– Frank Matheis – Countryblues.com

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“Laid back elegance and a sort off off-hand virtuosity. Very smooth and mellow.”

– Paul Rishell – W.C. Handy Award Winner

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“John the finest bottleneck slide player I’ve heard in a long time.”

– David Lindley

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“This album should be a mist to acquire for any blues purists or just lovers of blues classic. John’s vocals are always appealing, and the musicianship is impeccable.”

– John Sacksteder

To read the full review in Blues Blast Magazine, Click Here!

2016

• Fri

  15

  Jan

  2016

  Solo at Rancho Nicasio in Marin

  8 to 10pm

  

• Sun

  14

  Feb

  2016

  Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

  Doors at 7. Show at 8pm

  Sweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley

  sweetwatermusichall.com

  Pete Devine (HowellDevine) and I open the show for the fabulous Jon Cleary!

• Fri

  22

  Apr

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  8-10pm

  Rancho Nicasio

  

• Sat

  14

  May

  2016

  Sun

  15

  May

  2016

  Corner Store West Mountain Jam Party

  11am to 7pm

  Cachagua Valley Carmel, Ca. With Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, and Joe Craven.

  https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.venue&VenueID=200

• Fri

  03

  Jun

  2016

  John opens for Ramblin' Jack Elliot

  Doors at 7. Show at 8pm

  Sweetwater Music Hall

  19 Corte Madera Ave.

  Mill Valley 94941

  sweetwatermusichall.com

  877-987-6487

  

• Sun

  26

  Jun

  2016

  John Maxwell opens for Ruthie Foster

  Doors open at 3pm. Show starts at 4. 1 Old Rancheria Rd. Nicasio,Ca.94946 www.ranchonicasio.com

  

  http://www.ranchonicasio.com/Calendars_2016/BBQ_on_The_Lawn_2016_Cal_final.pdf

• Sat

  09

  Jul

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  8pm to 10pm

  Murphy's Irish Pub

  Downtown Sonoma

• Sun

  11

  Sep

  2016

  John Gray Hound Maxwell opens for Maria Muldaur

  7pm

  Highway 99 Blues Club

  1414 Alaskan Way in Downtown Seatlle

• Sat

  17

  Sep

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  Doors at 7:30 Show at 8pm

  Rain Shadow Recordings at Fort Worden

  200 Battery Way #315 West, Port Townsend, Wa.

  Tickets available at:

  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2600358

• Thu

  27

  Oct

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  7-9:30pm

  G.Donnalson's

  3814 North 26th St.

  Tacoma Wa.

  253-761-8015

  

• Wed

  09

  Nov

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  730pm

  Pink Flamingo Theater

  2115 N. Fremont St.

  Monterey, Ca.

  831-238-2399

  

• Fri

  11

  Nov

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  8pm

  Rancho Nicasio in the bar.

  Nicasio, Ca.

  

• Thu

  01

  Dec

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  7-9:30pm

  G.Donnalson's

  3814 North 26th St.

  Tacoma Wa.

  253-761-8015

  

• Fri

  02

  Dec

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell opens for Studebaker John

  745-830pm

  Highway 99 Blues Club

  1414 Alaskan Way

  Seattle,Wa.

  206-382-2171

   

   

  

• Thu

  15

  Dec

  2016

  John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo

  7-9:30pm

  G.Donnalson's

  3814 North 26th St.

  Tacoma Wa.

  253-761-8015

  

• Fri

  23

  Dec

  2016

  Paul Rogers' HolidayHi-jinx 2016

  7:30pm

  Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden

  Port Townsend, Wa.

  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2708530

John “Greyhound” Maxwell brings his singular approach to slide guitar and mandolin, paying homage to the craft and tradition of the masters, while infusing the music with fresh energy. David Lindley is quoted as saying, “John is the finest bottleneck slide player I’ve heard in a long time.”

With an approach that is authentic and understated, Maxwell plays with the warmth and dexterity of someone who has loved the blues over a lifetime. Indeed, his education began as a teenager after seeing B.B. King play a set in Chicago in 1971. At Chicago’s historic Old Town School of Folk Music he took lessons from a young Johnny Long, himself a student of Homesick James. When Maxwell left for college in St. Louis, he originally studied classical, but grew restless and eventually fronted a blues trio.
He counts himself lucky enough to have mingled with blues legends Tommy Bankhead and Henry Townsend, with whom he later shared the stage and formed a friendship. He’s been drawn to slide since the beginning. “It increases that conversational aspect between the instrument and the voice,” he says.

That lineage is evident in the conversations he’s still having. In his capable hands, classics are given a deep bow and a quick wink, at once subtle and surprising. Likewise, his originals feel familiar to the genre, at home on a back-roads front porch or a downtown speakeasy.

His style is grounded and focused yet delivered with an ease and a lightness. He says the nice thing about getting older is, “Whatever you do, if you’ve been doing for most of your life, you reach a proficiency level that’s really enjoyable.” That comfort and skill is obvious whether he’s playing with a full band, as a duo, or just his caramel smooth voice and his silver Dobro. One gets the feeling he’d be equally at home with a symphony or a jug band.

In fact, he’s travelled the country, playing bluegrass in Tulsa and punk-rock in Hollywood, with forays into jazz, folk and rock and roll. No matter the genre, he always found himself coming back to the blues. He explains that his interpretation is not about a specific chord pattern or scale, but rather the emotion behind it. “I think that helps cross physical and cultural borders,” he says.

Now, having rounded the corner of 60, Maxwell is a master of his craft, garnering the admiration of his contemporaries. His recording, Blues for Evangeline, made the top five in the Best Self-Produced CD competition at the 2016 Memphis International Blues Challenge. In 2017, he had a song placed in a film at the Sundance Festival, and he taught at the prestigious Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival in Washington state, where he now resides. The Washington Blues Society recently nominated John “Greyhound” Maxwell for best solo artist in 2023. He previously was the 2018 award recipient for Best Acoustic Blues Guitar. His second self produced CD, “Even Good Dogs Get the Blues”, represented the WBS at the 2018 International Blues Challenge. “It’s really exciting,” he says. “I feel like I’m finally coming into my own.” In past years Maxwell has recently shared the stage with well-known blues greats, opening shows for Ruthie Foster, Sonny Landreth, Keb’Mo and Taj Mahal.
“Back when I was 16 or 17, I would tell myself I wanted to have a successful music career, and it was okay if it happened at 60, as long as it happened.” He laughs softly. “I think I set my course there.”