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bryce janey "blues in my soul" (GYR064)

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Bryce Janey has been on the journey. He started playing guitar for appreciative audiences aged just 13 and is now unleashing his 11th solo album. A legacy to be proud of and one that, as he sets out on a Brand New Day, also ensures this underrated guitar master owns the “Key To The Highway”. It’s the title to the closing track on his latest offering but it’s also a piece that in many ways bares the soul of this album. The rootsiest, most stripped back blues excursion in evidence, there’s little doubt that the low slung guitar picking (some of it provided by Bryce’s ‘old-man’, Billylee Janey, and man is it good!) digging in deep and yet as relaxed and honest as can be. Unlike many releases that view an album’s final track as an opportunity to tack on an unrelated ‘bonus’ cut, or add a slice of misplaced humour, if there’s one thing that you know Janey wanted to do here, it was to leave you with the essence of his album as his parting shot. Brand New Day is a blues album with an eye on hard rock, but rest assured Bryce Janey is a bluesman first and foremost and he isn’t afraid to make sure you know it.

Elsewhere the intentions are the same, although the execution is a touch more exuberant and forceful, but in truth, BND is flow over force, feel over flash and tone over tenacity. If you’re looking for a blistering hard rock shot in the arm, in all honesty you’ll have to turn your attention elsewhere, because this album has different intentions. Things may open with Janey and his boys - Dan ‘DJ’ Johnson (bass), Eric Douglas (drums) and Tommy ‘T-Bone’ Giblin (keys) - daring to “Fire It Up”, but while the flame undoubtedly burns deep and the frets catch ablaze, nothing is rushed or roared. Instead groove is king and while the rhythm section often keep things relatively simple (and, of course, rock solid) what they do lay down is capable of shaking every apple down from the tree, such is its authoritative rumble. “Guitar Pickin’ Man” continues the theme, Janey’s gritty vocals just as relaxed as his fret-fancies, before “Tough On You” bares its pain and howls in anguish; ‘T-Bone’, who doesn’t always feature throughout, suddenly using his organ incursions to lay down a heavy edge, allowing the guitar to gently but intently roam free.

Being honest, and good though it is, I’m not completely convinced we needed yet another take on the Hendrix standard “Foxy Lady”, but that’s not to say that Janey doesn’t infuse enough of himself into the blues dripping mood to offer something a little new. However, with the strength and flow of his original material, I’d have taken another Janey penned track in this fox’s place any day. Something borne out by the sheer authenticity of the stinging “In Debt With The Blues” and marvellously melodic “Warning Signs”, which once again comes straight from the heart of the man providing it.

There’s no denying that the music market is awash with hard rocking blues right now, but Bryce Janey inverts that trend, bringing the blues to the fore. The hard rocking edge that underpins it all merely a by-product of the mood and emotion he reveals. It’s a rare skill in this day and age and one we really should cherish. In the meantime, let’s get out there and celebrate the best of what a Brand New Day can provide.

Steven Reid / Sea Of Tranquility (September 2018)
 

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“Okay, all six-string heroes need to move over for a new master of the Stratocaster. Bryce Janey is sittin’ in your kitchen and servin’ up a good helpin’ of superior blues-rock. The latest album is called ‘Brand New Day,’ and it has to be heard to be believed. Of course, his entire oeuvre of music is at this same highfalutin standard, but here he really hits his stride. What we have here are mostly originals with the exception of two: A new song with lyrics co-written with Groovedawg Joe Romagnola, and ol’ Jimi’s Foxy Lady. But despite his originality and contemporary taste, Janey comes from old school talent, the likes of which are dying off fast. Reminiscent of Cream, Hendrix, Trower, and the uncountable guitar gods of the past, this music will take you to new heights: If you’re a guitar aficionado, a musician, or just someone that likes good, kick ‘em in the face hard rock — this one’s for you. Don’t pass it up, ‘Fire It Up,’ with Janey at the helm. You won’t regret it!”

Steven J. Rosen / Author + Journalist (August 2018)
 

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'Brand New Day' is already the eleventh studio solo album of blues rocker Bryce Janey. Janey, who is from Iowa, stands out for his distinct voice and his "strong memorable songs, that rock your blues away ...". Since his thirteenth Bryce has been playing in a family blues rock trio that listens to the name The Janeys.

'Brand New Day' is an album with eleven tracks, of which Janey wrote most of them himself. He was also the producer of his album and was in the studio together with Dan "DJ" Johnson (bass), Eric Douglas (drums) and with special guest: Tommy "T-Bone" Fiblin (keys) on several songs.

Ever since the rocking opener "Fire It Up" (a song that Janey co-wrote lyrics with Joe Romagnola) up to and including the final (a good version of Willie Broonzy & Charles Segar song) "Key To The Highway" which als features his father Billylee Janey second guitar, you will encounter solid rock songs. Janey on Strat and his faithful rhythm section keep us in the right mood. In "Guitar Pickin' Man" and "Set Me Free" Janey pushes the pedal a bit deeper, but on "Tough On You" he can weep his guitar and with help from Tommy "T-Bone" Giblin on his organ to find the right one chords, to help express the restrained feelings. "Fallin 'Down" fits in well with this, but on "In Debt With the Blues" the tension can be felt again. "Foxy Lady" gets an update that Jimi can certainly give birth and before the end there is "Warning Signs", a ballad in which Janey explains, which signals to watch. I already mentioned it, we conclude with "Key To the Highway" the beautiful Broonzy song from 1941, that already so many artists (Clapton, Sonny Terry, Rolling Stones ...) could not pass up.

With 'Brand New Day' Bryce Janey releases one of his strongest releases from Grooveyard Records in recent years. This blues rock album feels pretty old-fashioned and will please the blues rock fans more than that!

Eric Schuurmans / Rootstime (August 2018)
 

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