Rogue Johnsen Project – 20/20

Self-produced CD

www.roguejohnsen.com

If you’re a fan of keyboard players Charles Brown and Jimmy Smith and the cool jazz-and soul-infused blues sounds that they produced in the ‘60s, you’ll absolutely love this debut release from the Rogue Johnsen Project. It serves up 53 minutes of the grooviest instrumentals you’ll hear this year.

Based out of Virginia but with strong West Coast and Texas roots, the five-piece unit is fronted by Johnsen, who was Brown’s protégé student. His resume includes extensive work with W.C. Clark, Miss Lavelle White, Norton Buffalo and Bo Diddley, among others.

Chill out for a while and listen to “Wally Collins Shuffle,” “Tired of Winning,” “Just Before Sleep,” “Stax Tracking,” “Downtime,” “Goin’ Rogue,” “Just A Minor Blues,” “New Blue Soul” and “Monkey Tumble Too.”