If people remember the group The Time from Purple Rain with their
songs "The Bird" and "Jungle Love" you might remember their pink suited
guitar player Jesse Johnson. Or you might remember some of Jesse's
funky dance R&B solo material from the next few years such as "I'm
Gonna Be Your Man" and "I Want My Girl"...
This is NOT that Jesse Johnson, except for being the exact same guy.
From his 1994 Blues album "Bare my Naked Soul".
Striped down to a Bluesy Power Trio - this guy ROCKS! I'd always heard
that Jesse was a serious player, but trapped within the confines of The
Time and even his own Jesse Johnson Revue he only occasionally had
chances to truly let it rip. He apparently isn't hiding it anymore.
Some of these songs including "Let Me In" and "Shock to the System" are
included on Jesse 1996 solo CD "Bare My Naked Soul". Learning to play
when he was just 15, Jesse had played largely with Rock bands through
his 20's until a friend recommended he move to Minneapolis as was
recruited by Prince to join The Time Time.
Some flashes of this
Rock edge were actually visible during The Time's 1990 reunion record
"Pandemonium" particularly on the tracks "Blondie" and 'Skillet" (Live versions w/ Tory Ruffin on Guitar).
Either
way, this version of Jesse where he actually PLAYS his instrument is a
long, long way from this one where he just wears it like a big pink bling
necklace ....
