James Armstrong B•I•O•G•R•A•P•H•Y

Guitarist, singer and songwriter James Armstrong has a bright future in blues music. His song "Pennies and Picks" from his third Hightone Records release, Got It Goin' On, garnered a 2001 WC Handy nomination for Song of the Year. Armstrong himself was nominated for Contemporary Male Blues Guitarist of the Year. It's easy to see why ... Armstrong tours extensively and his shows are considered one of the best on the circuit. The son of a blues-singing mother and jazz guitar-playing father, James Armstrong got the music bug at an early age. He formed his first band in the seventh grade, and progressed rapidly ever since. Armstrong singles out Jimi Hendrix and Robert Cray as singing influences, and Albert Collins, Albert King and Eric Clapton as guitarists whose work have inspired him. Based at the time in the Los Angeles area, Armstrong learned by playing - a lot of it - in the club scene of Southern California in the early 1980s. He recalls backing "Big" Joe Turner during that time at Santa Monica's Music Machine, and a similar gig with Albert Collins later on as part of a band that included guitarist Coco Montoya. Then there was that wild gig with Smokey Wilson in East L.A. that reinforced the image of the blues as a tough business on a young Armstrong. Armstrong's first HighTone release, 1995's Sleeping With a Stranger, drew widespread critical acclaim, as well as tremendous popularity on the European circuit. The great momentum he had going into early 1997 ended with the stabbing attack in April of that year. During his slow recuperation, Armstrong recorded Dark Night in late 1998, an album that reflected the turmoil and introspection of the time, as well as his debut as slide guitarist. Since its release, James Armstrong has come on strong. He's back playing lead guitar now, and has added his searing slide work to his repertoire as well. "This is much more of a blues album because I'm playing a lot more guitar on it," he announces. The songs on "Got It Goin' On" cover a wide spectrum of experiences: "Pennies and Picks" is a true story of the road; "2 Sides" was written over eight years ago and included in the movie Speechless, starring Michael Keaton; "Mr. B's" is another true story, about a club in Santa Monica where James was their number one act sold-out every weekend in the early '90s; "Love Will Make You Do Wrong" is a cautionary tale about the downside of the heart and the mesmerizing "Another Dream," a blues ballad for the new millenium. On all of the songs that include an Armstrong music credit, James offers his take on the process: "I let the tone of the lyrics dictate the style of the music". In other collaborations, "I'll just grab a title first and then go with an idea," he says. Whichever way he approaches things, James Armstrong attacks songs with his voice and guitar like few artists in blues. James Armstrong has Got It Goin' On.

JAMES ARMSTRONG

Living Blues - "... With a skintight band and a well-balanced combination offire, technical proficiency, and taste, Armstrong continues on his way to the upper echelon of contemporary blues artists. "

Blues Access - n...Whether alternating vibrant slide work with Hendrix-like rock leads on the title track or flat-picking BB King style during Love Will Make You Do Wrong, " Armstrong smoothly redefines the range of contemporary blues. Highly recommended. "

Downbeat - 4 stars out of 5 - "...[He] is a rare prize of a singer and guitarist with an exceptional sense of rhythm and understatement... a most soulful type of modern blues... "

Jazz Times - "...Demonstrates the kind of flexibility that allows him easily and convincingly shift gears from slow blues... to urban funk... to N' awlins grooves to rousing roadhouse shuffles... "

Blues Revue - '_..Armstrong still has the chops to make his six string weep...his eloquent vocal expressions of joy and melancholy make this a world-class effort "

Big City Blues - “…This release presents a formidable array of contemporary blues. It's well written - movin _ jivin _ and doin' all the right things. "

James Armstrong D•I•S•C•O•G•R•A•P•H•Y•

Got It Goin’ On HighTone Records Dark Night HighTone Records Sleepin’ With A Stranger HighTone Records Mama Roo Crescendo Records

COMPILATIONS

Monster Blues Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Monster Music New Blues Blood Slender Man Era Records Disaster Blues Devils Livin’ There Taxim Records

MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS

The Florentine Bank Of Love Monarch Home Video Hal Holbrook & Virginia Madsen

Speechless Two Sides Too Every Story MGM Michael Keaton & Geena Davis

Hear No Evil Bank Of Love Twentieth Century Fox Martin Sheen & Marlee Matlin

TELEVISION

The Young And The Restless Bank Of Love Ongoing Italy Two Sides Too Every Story

Guest Artist

Stranded/Tucker & Thomas HighTone Records