JOHN GINTY
FEAT. ASTER PHEONYX
ROCKERS
AMERICAN SHOWPLACE MUSIC
THE SHARK–LUCKY 13–BELIEVE IN SMOKE–TARGET ON THE GROUND–CAPTAIN HOOK–MOUNTAINS HAVE MY NAME–MR. BLUES–WKYA (FEAT. REGGIE NOBLE)–PRISCILLA–ELECTRIC–MAYBE IF YOU CATCH ME–ROCKERS
Jersey native John Ginty can play the Hell outta anything with a keyboard. We’ve known him for ’bout five years now, and we’ve watched his career take several turns along the way. He’s toured with the Dixie Chicks, rapped with Redman, played alongside Santana , Robert Randolph, and countless others, as well as releasing three highly-acclaimed solo albums. His latest outing finds him teamed with female vocalist Aster Pheonyx, whom he heard on stage at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Their outstanding collaboration is entitled “Rockers,” twelve original cuts that further exemplify John’s versatility in adapting his keyboard skills to work within any genre.’ “Rockers” is just that—Aster’s big voice can go from a Joan Jett-meets-Janis Joplin growl to a Dusty Springfield purr in one note, and these cuts give both ample room to shine.
John leads off with a stone slab of funk in the tradition of vintage Graham Central Station, the bass-and-keys-driven instrumental strut of “The Shark,” then closes the set with the similarly-themed title cut. In between, John and Aster work their magic on varying degrees of rock interspersed with a bit of blues.
We enjoyed “Mr. Blues,” (wondering about whom it might have been written), as Aster sings of the man who’s “judge, jury, and executioner,” and who vows to “show them righteous the door!” John makes good use of his acoustic piano on the somber “Priscilla,” and again over a soulful, testifyin’ vocal from Aster on “The Mountains Have My Name,” giving way to a gospel-inflected organ solo from John at the bridge.
John Ginty remains one of the premier keyboard men on the planet, and is a favorite of ours. Combining his talents with those of singer Aster Pheonyx makes perfect sense, and makes “Rockers” a dynamite listen, indeed! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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