Jonathan Kalb - Colors the World with the Blues

If you're a true Blues fan, when you think Blues, you think Bo Diddley, Lightning Hopkins, BB King, Johnny Copeland to name a few. Jonathan Kalb has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with all of them and more in one capacity or another. For over forty years, Jonathan has been a bluesman. Multi Talented, Kalb plays everything from lead guitar to Bass, drums, keyboard to harmonica, is a vocalist, a songwriter and has played both as a solo artist and with countless bands. Listening to Jonathan Kalb's music is experiencing history, for he plays the blues the way it should be, he feels it.

" Blues is feeling, it comes from the heart, it comes from your soul. Someone can sit and practice the way another blues artist plays something, and can get it to the point of perfecting every lick, but if they don't feel it, it is not blues." Jonathan explained. "What you are hearing on the radio as blues now-a-days is good music, but I wouldn't call it true Blues." When asked what advice he would give a new comer that wants to be a 'Bluesman' he replied "listen, watch and learn from the Masters. Study the greats like Buddy Guy, Lightning Hopkins, Sunnyland Slim, discover all you can about Robert Johnson. Learn how to take a song and make it yours without losing the song in the process. And be prepared for a long road of promoting yourself. You have to love the genre, if you are in it for fame, you might want to try something else"

Kalb knows that long road, but the journey has been a colorful one. From learning Texas Blues styling from Steve Miller, opening for BB King, to working with Evelyn Champagne King as the Band Leader, Jonathan enjoyed it all. One of the high points was back when he was nineteen, he signed on as Lead Guitar and Musical Director of The Fugs. It was then when a young guitarist named Jimi Hendrix , who was playing next door at the Café Wha, caught many of the Fugs shows and liked the unique style Jonathan accomplished through use of a Fuzz Box. So much, Jimi went out and got one for himself.(Hendrix said two years later that he got idea for using fuzztone while watching Jonathan playing lead through one) The two of them often crossed paths playing, and always made a point to visit during and after shows whenever possible.

Growing up, Jonathan cut teeth to music. Coming from a musical family, (his brother, Danny Kalb is also an accomplished bluesman ) Kalb started honing his skills at a young age. Playing at a party in College, Jonathan met Steve Miller whose Texas Blues played a large role in Jonathan developing his own style. They played together often.

"I have also played with Otis Rush, Solomon Burke and others in the R&B /Soul world. And I also have done Jazz and Funk. I studied the phrasing of the Kings ( BB, Albert and Freddie), and jammed with some great local musicians across the US. All of this has helped me develop the Jonathan Kalb Style. Right now I am learning Brazilian which is really cool, very heavy on beats, I love beats." Kalb laughs. "I have a stint coming up to play drums for a band and I am looking forward to it. Drums controls the tune. It gives a song the earth, the color. The overall personally of any tune comes from the drummer."

After such a great journey, including a European Tour, and being Featured Blues Artist at two South Carolina Blues Festivals, what is Jonathan's next goal. " I am working on my next Album now, and I would love to play the South. Been a longtime since I had, and the South is Blues Country. Hope to be able to tour there soon"

For more information about Jonathan visit www.jonathankalb.org/