Leslie Johnson
b. June 20th, 1933 in Torras (Louisiana)
d. August 22nd, 2018 in Paradise (California)
LAZY LESTER
Flyright
1956 - January 1967
I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN' : THE EXCELLO SINGLES
Excello
1956 - October 1965
I'M A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER
Ace
October 1957 - October 1965
I'M A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER
Jasmine
1956 - April 1962
Il joue de la guitare et de l'harmonica depuis son enfance dans la région de Baton Rouge souvent avec son ami Raful Neal. Un jour, il rencontre Lightnin' Slim qui l'emmène dans une de ses séances pour Excello. L'harmoniciste prévu pour la séance, manquant à l'appel, c'est Lester qui se propose. Sa prestation a l'instrument plut au producteur Jay Miller qui décida de 'enregistrer immédiatement. Il démarre, donc, en 1956 une carrière en leader pour le label Excello d'Ernie Young. Son style est, tout de suite, reconnaissable : chant trainant, jeu d'harmonica simple mais excitant, typique du Swamp Blues, parfois mâtiné de Rockabilly. Lester enregistre substantiellement de remarquables morceaux pendant une dizaine d'années : "I'm gonna leave you baby", "Lester's stomp", "Tell me pretty baby", "I'm a lover not a fighter", "Sugar coated love", "I hear you knockin'", "Patrol blues", "I'm so glad", "Lonesome highway blues", "Ponderosa stomp", "Bloodstains on the wall", "Sad city blues". En plus de sa carrière personnelle, il devient un sideman demandé jouant derrière Boogie Jake, Clarence Garlow, Henry Gray, "Honey Boy" Allen, Lightnin' Slim, Lonesome Sundown, Leroy Washington, Tabby Thomas. Mais, mécontent de ses royalties qu'il juge insuffisantes, il abandonne le monde musical au début de l'année 1967. Il trouve un métier dans l'industrie automobile et s'installe à Chicago en 1969 pour quelques temps avant de revenir vivre en Louisiane. On préfèrera les sélections "I hear you knockin'" et "I'm a lover not a fighter" (Ace), plus complètes et mieux construites, que les deux autres.
He had been playing guitar and harmonica since childhood in the Baton Rouge area, often alongside his friend Raful Neal. One day, he met Lightnin' Slim, who brought him along to one of his recording sessions for the Excello label. When the harmonica player scheduled for the session failed to show up, Lester stepped in. His performance on the instrument impressed producer Jay Miller, who decided to record him immediately. Thus, in 1956, he began a career as a leader for Ernie Young’s Excello label. His style was instantly recognizable : a drawling vocal delivery paired with simple yet exciting harmonica playing quintessential Swamp Blues, occasionally tinged with Rockabilly. Over the course of a decade, Lester recorded a significant number of remarkable tracks : "I'm gonna leave you baby", "Lester's stomp", "Tell me pretty baby", "I'm a lover not a fighter", "Sugar coated love", "I hear you knockin'", "Patrol blues", "I'm so glad", "Lonesome highway blues", "Ponderosa stomp", "Bloodstains on the wall", "Sad city blues". In addition to his own work, he became a sought-after sideman, performing with artists such as Boogie Jake, Clarence Garlow, Henry Gray, "Honey Boy" Allen, Lightnin' Slim, Lonesome Sundown, Leroy Washington, Tabby Thomas. However, dissatisfied with the royalties he received which he deemed insufficient, he left the music business in early 1967. He found work in the automotive industry and moved to Chicago in 1969 for a time, before eventually returning to live in Louisiana. Among the available collections, the compilations "I hear you knockin'" and "I'm a lover not a fighter" (released by Ace) are more comprehensive and better structured than the other options.
LAZY LESTER RIDES AGAIN
King Snake
Stomp
Blue Horizon
Ace
May 1987
Retrouvé grâce aux efforts de Fred Reif (qui devient son manager) en mars 1987, Lazy Lester embarque pour une seconde carrière. Il part en tournée puis trouve l'opportunité de graver un album en Grande Bretagne à l'invitation du producteur anglais Mike Vernon. Lors de ces séances, Lester se montre toujours aussi convaincant au chant et à l'harmonica. On peut retenir, en particulier, les excellents "Sugar coated love", "Travelling days", "Out on the road", "I hear you knockin'", "Hey Mattie" sans oublier son puissant instrumental "Lester's shuffle". En 2011, le label Ace propose une version allongée avec deux titres inédits et neuf prises alternatives.
Rediscovered thanks to the efforts of Fred Reif (who became his manager) in march 1987, Lazy Lester embarked on a second career. He went on tour and subsequently had the opportunity to record an album in Great Britain at the invitation of english producer Mike Vernon. During these sessions, Lester proved as convincing as ever on both vocals and harmonica. Notable tracks include the excellent "Sugar coated love", "Travelling days", "Out on the road", "I hear you knockin'", "Hey Mattie" not to mention his powerful instrumental "Lester's shuffle". In 2011, the Ace label released an expanded version featuring two previously unreleased tracks and nine alternative takes.
HARP AND SOUL
Alligator
1988
Ces séances produites par Bob Greenlee étaient prévues pour son label King Snake. Finalement, elles sortirent sur le label Alligator de Bruce Iglauer. Un programme sympathique mais inégal, qui semble parfois manquer un peu d'inspiration. On retient notamment "I done got over it", "Patrol wagon blues", "Bloodstains on the wall" ou le furieux instrumental "Alligator shuffle".
These sessions, produced by Bob Greenlee, were originally intended for his own label, King Snake. Ultimately, however, they were released on Bruce Iglauer’s Alligator label. It is a nice but uneven collection, which at times seems to lack a bit of inspiration. Notable tracks include "I done got over it", "Patrol wagon blues", "Bloodstains on the wall" and the furious instrumental "Alligator shuffle".
BLUES ON MY RADIO
South West Musical Arts Foundation
January 1991 / January 1998
ANTONE'S ANNIVERSARY ANTHOLOGY vol.2
Antone's
July 1991
Sur la scène du club Antone's, Lazy Lester reprend son "The same thing could happen to you".
On the stage at Antone's club, Lazy Lester performs his song "The same thing could happen to you".
ANTONE'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Antone's
Discovery
July 1991
Une version live de "A woman" sur la scène du club Antone's.
A live version of "A woman" on the stage at Antone's club.
TRAVELING DAYS
New Shot
1991
LIVE FROM THE HOUSE OF THE BLUES
Royal Sound Machine
June 1995
Sur la scène du House of Blues de West Hollywood, Lazy Lester reprend son "Sugar coated love" avec la guitare de Duke Robillard.
On the stage of the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Lazy Lester performs his song "Sugar coated love" accompanied by Duke Robillard on guitar.
UNCUT DETROIT : LIVE BLUES IN THE NIGHT
Venture
May 1997
Autre version live de "Sugar coated love" avec Doug Deming et les musiciens du label Blue Suit.
Another live version of "Sugar coated love" featuring Doug Deming and musicians from the Blue Suit label.
BROADCASTING THE BLUES
South West Musical Arts Foundation
1990's
ALL OVER YOU
Antone's
1998
Cette séance, enregistrée à Austin par le producteur et guitariste Derek O'Brien, présente le bluesman Lazy Lester en bonne forme, dix ans après son dernier disque studio. On trouve, ici, un solide programme de Swamp Blues avec des morceaux de bonne facture comme "I need money", "The sun is shining", "I'm a lover not a fighter", "I made up my mind". Il faut aussi signaler deux remarquables morceaux où Lester joue seul guitare et harmonica : "Nothing but the devil" et "My home is a prison". En 2023, pour le 25ème anniversaire de l'album, le label Antone's propose une réédition contenant un titre live inédit.
This session, recorded in Austin by producer and guitarist Derek O'Brien, finds bluesman Lazy Lester in fine form, ten years after his previous studio record. The album offers a solid selection of Swamp Blues featuring well-crafted tracks such as "I need money", "The sun is shining", "I'm a lover not a fighter", "I made up my mind". Also noteworthy are two remarkable tracks — "Nothing but the devil" and "My home is a prison" — on which Lester performs solo, playing both guitar and harmonica. In 2023, to mark the album's 25th anniversary, the label Antone's released a reissue that includes a previously unreleased live track.
SHUFFLE WITH LESTER
Blues International
Great Blues
1999
En réalité, il s'agit surtout d'un album du texan Paul Orta. Lazy Lester joue de son harmonica sur 5 titres et chante sur un autre titre. Un beau programme de Blues entre Texas et Louisiane agrémenté de solides compositions de Paul Orta et d'une poignée de reprises.
In reality, this is primarily an album by the texan Paul Orta. Lazy Lester plays harmonica on five tracks and sings on another. It’s a fine collection of blues, bridging the styles of Texas and Louisiana, featuring solid original compositions by Paul Orta alongside a handful of covers.
LAZY LESTER
APO
October 2000
BLUES STOP KNOCKIN'
Antone's
2001
Ce second album pour Antone's s'inscrit dans la directe continuation de "All over you", déjà produit par Derek O'Brien. On retrouve, aux côtés de Lester, un excellent groupe avec notamment O'Brien, Jimmie Vaughan et Sue Foley. Le programme de Swamp Blues, brut et excitant, est intense : "Blues stop knockin'", "I'm your breadmaker baby", "Go ahead", "They call me Lazy", "Ponderosa shuffle", "Sad city blues".
This second album for Antone's is a direct follow-up to "All over you", which was already produced by Derek O'Brien. Joining Lester is an excellent band, featuring — among others — O'Brien, Jimmie Vaughan and Sue Foley. A raw, intense and exciting Swamp Blues selection : "Blues stop knockin'", "I'm your breadmaker baby", "Go ahead", "They call me Lazy", "Ponderosa shuffle", "Sad city blues".
SUPERHARPS II
Telarc
2001
Organisée par le label Telarc et Randy Labbe, cette réunion d'harmonicistes surfe sur le succès du premier épisode de 1999. Les quatre souffleurs rassemblés sont Carey Bell, Raful Neal, Snooky Pryor et Lazy Lester. Ce dernier est le leader sur 5 titres intéressants dont l'excellent "Bloodstains on the wall". Le morceau final "Harp to harp" rassemble les quatre leaders qui prennent chacun leur solo.
Organized by the Telarc label and Randy Labbe, this harmonicist meeting riding on the success of the first episode of 1999. The four blowers gathered are Carey Bell, Raful Neal, Snooky Pryor and Lazy Lester. The latter is the leader on 5 interesting titles including the excellent "Bloodstains on the wall". The final track "Harp to harp" brings together the four leaders who each have their solo.
YES INDEED
Tempo
August 2003
BLUES HARP MELTDOWN vol.3
Mountain Top
January 2004
Mark Hummel a rassemblé sur la scène du Moe's Alley (à Santa Cruz, Californie) quelques grands harmonicistes de blues. Lazy Lester figure à l'affiche de ce superbe concert. En bonne forme à l'harmonica, il délivre de belles versions de "Bloodstains on the wall" et de "Nothing in this world".
Mark Hummel assembled on Moe's Alley stage (in Santa Cruz, California) some great blues harmonicists. Lazy Lester is featured on this great concert. In good form on the harmonica, he delivers fine versions of "Bloodstains on the wall" and "Nothing in this world".
ONE MORE ONCE
Karonte - Cambaya
2010
Les retrouvailles avec le producteur Mike Vernon plus de 20 ans après "Lazy Lester rides again". Enregistré en Espagne pour un label local, Lazy Lester montre qu'il est toujours en bonne forme et plein d'inspiration. Bien accompagné par un groupe solide, il donne d'excellentes versions de "Sugar coated love", "I'm a lover not a fighter", "I hear you knockin'", "Irene".
A reunion with producer Mike Vernon more than 20 years after "Lazy Lester rides again". Recorded in Spain for a local label, the album shows that Lazy Lester is still in fine form and full of inspiration. Well supported by a solid backing band, he delivers excellent versions of "Sugar coated love", "I'm a lover not a fighter", "I hear you knockin'", "Irene".
YOU BETTER LISTEN
Bluestown
2011
Gravé à Notodden en Norvège, le dernier album de Lazy Lester présente une belle tranche de Swamp Blues, pas forcément originale mais très bien jouée. On peut retenir, en particulier, "Rooster blues", "Ethel Mae", "Scratch my back", "O.J. shuffle", "The same thing will happen to you".
Recorded in Notodden, Norway, Lazy Lester’s latest album offers a fine slice of Swamp Blues, perhaps not particularly original, but very well played. Notable tracks include, in particular, "Rooster blues", "Ethel Mae", "Scratch my back", "O.J. shuffle", "The same thing will happen to you".