BLUES HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

 

 

 

                  PRESS

 

 

interview with jonathan Kalb May 2005

— BLUES IN BRITAIN ISSUE 41

South Carolina Blues festival 2005/6 review
"And Jonathan Kalb’s lunch show at the Dailly Grind was another highlight for me -the man has got a lot of style and one heck of a throat.”
— Jim Tatum
Chronicle Independent, Camden, S.Carolina Downhome Blues Festival review

Blues in Britain review
"WOW!... That's all I have to say about Jonathan Kalb... It was clear from the off that this guy is the real deal, that indefinable sound, phrasing, confidence and just all around X factor that makes the greats stand out from others. Few have it, Jon is one of those few. As he played a borrowed Fender, pickless, I could not help thinking of an early Stevie Ray Vaughan. Bending, vibrating and manipulating the guitar to produce a sound of his own.. Vocally, Jon is very powerful, but subtle too, with perfect phrasing. The overall sound produces excitement and makes for an intoxicating cocktail for the audience to enjoy... You must hear him live."- Captain Pat, Blueprint Magazine
— Captain Pat
Blues in Britain

NY Times Review
"Jonathan Kalb... His guitar playing reveals an unassuming rhythmic fluency that supports the intensity of his solo lines beautifully. Raw and graceful by turns, his solo lines do not so much fill the space as use it with economy and intelligence... the results are transcendent."
— Proctor Lippincott
NY Times

Jonathan Kalb Colors the World with the Blues
If you're a true Blues fan, when you think Blues, you think Bo Diddley, Lightning Hopkins, BB King, Johnny Copeland to name a few. Jonathan Kalb has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with all of them and more in one capacity or another. For over forty years, Jonathan has been a bluesman. Multi Talented, Kalb plays everything from lead guitar to Bass, drums, keyboard to harmonica, is a vocalist, a songwriter and has played both as a solo artist and with countless bands. Listening to Jonathan Kalb's music is experiencing history, for he plays the blues the way it should be, he feels it.
Read Online
— Susan Leak

blog from Concerts at the Old Gaslight 2012
Frank Beacham's Blog on Facebook.

Frank Beacham

Jonathan Kalb, guitarist and blues singer, put on an extraordinary show last night at the old Gaslight in Greenwich Village.

A Village legend, Kalb was part of Bob Porco’s the Friends of Mike Porco series, all musicians who played at his grandfather’s legendary Folk City club.

Kalb, who studied guitar with the Rev. Gary Davis, has also played with Steve Miller, Otis Rush, Lightning Hopkins, Bo Diddley, Solomon Burke, Sunnyland Slim, Honeyboy Edwards, B.B. King, Dr. John and Mike Bloomfield.

At age 19, he was music director of the Fugs. His good friend at the time was Jimi Hendrix. One of the few times Kalb ever used a Fuzz Box was with the Fugs and Hendrix was in the audience. Later, when Hendrix had adopted the famous device for himself, he gave Kalb credit for his discovering it.

Here’s a picture of Kalb at the Gaslight last night by Frank Beacham.

 Michael Collins Totally agree, Frank -- Jonathan Kalb put on a terrific show last night. His singing reminds me a little of Otis Rush, but he's got a sound & style all his own. Good stuff.
August 26, 2012 at 4:54pm · Like · 1


Jj Franklin Jonathan WAS great ! Would have loved to hear another set from him. Will be checking his calendar for more soul food.
August 27, 2012 at 8:09pm · Like


Daria Jarmel Awesome set indeed by Jonathan Kalb, great pic. ~ Thanks Frank!