AVAILABLE NOW!!! - THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK - "BETTY JEAN " - VIDEO

Eclecto Groove Records proudly presents the first commercially available video single for purchase by The Soul of John Black. The song “Betty Jean” is taken from The Soul of John Black’s latest album “Black John,” which the Los Angles Times hails as “simmering, groove-heavy modern blues that belongs on a bass-heavy dance floor as much as a rickety porch in the Delta.” The video single is directed by actor Clifton Collins Jr. who recently won a Country Music Award for “Breakthrough Video of the Year” for the song “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band. In addition to his directing/producing talents Clifton has also appeared in over 70 film and television shows including most recently the landmark blockbuster movie franchise Star Trek. “Betty Jean" (the video single) is being sold as a digital release only and is now available on iTunes. CLICK HERE!

"BETTY JEAN " - (EPK PROMOTIONAL VIDEO)

THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK - "BETTY JEAN " - VIDEO (COMING SOON!)

Eclecto Groove Records proudly presents the first commercially available video single for purchase by The Soul of John Black. The song “Betty Jean” is taken from The Soul of John Black’s latest album “Black John,” which the Los Angles Times hails as “simmering, groove-heavy modern blues that belongs on a bass-heavy dance floor as much as a rickety porch in the Delta.” The video single is directed by actor Clifton Collins Jr. who recently won a Country Music Award for “Breakthrough Video of the Year” for the song “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band. In addition to his directing/producing talents Clifton has also appeared in over 70 film and television shows including most recently the landmark blockbuster movie franchise Star Trek. “Betty Jean – the video single” will be sold as a digital release only and will be available soon on iTunes and all other major digital outlets.

THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK - "BLACK JOHN" - VIDEO (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Still can’t get enough screen time with JB? Then check out this video footage on youtube courtesy of the Associated Press - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvwwVxT_2E4

THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK - "BLACK JOHN" PRESS
Down Beat, the premiere jazz and blues magazine now celebrating 75 years, recently published an interview with John Bigham, the creative force behind the modern rhythm & blues sensation The Soul of John Black. The article dives into JB’s roots examining his influences and music career history.

Check out the June/July issue of Blues Revue magazine for a 3-page in-depth story on The Soul of John Black! The article finds John Bigham discussing his new album “Black John” along with other details surrounding his music career including time spent touring with jazz legend Miles Davis in the Eighties.

THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK - "BLACK JOHN" REVIEWS
Momentum continues to build on “Black John,” the critically acclaimed Eclecto Groove Records debut by The Soul of John Black, as the country’s leading newspapers and publications weigh in on the virtues of JB’s music and how he’s defining soul for a whole new generation. The Washington Post observes “from its rolling grooves to his moaning vocals and vamping fretwork, the claim certainly qualifies as truth in advertising.” Paste Magazine attests “Bigham brings it on every track. He's a fine singer, too, throwing in Godfather of Soul grunts and gospel melismas and pleading, sexually-charged asides that are worthy of Al Green,” and USA Today certifies “It’s no wonder the soul is so tasty with that kind of marinade.” Can I get a witness? Well, if that doesn’t wet your appetite for a strong dose of soul testifying then you can check out what all the other critics are saying with all the latest press and reviews - CLICK HERE!

THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK - LIVE AT 9
The Soul of John Black made a special television appearance this past May on Live At 9 during a trip to Memphis, Tennessee. JB performed two songs off his Eclecto Groove Records debut “Black John,” which included “Betty Jean” and “Bottom Chick.” JB’s appearance on the program was in honor of his scheduled performance on Friday night May 9th at the 4th Annual Delta & Eclecto Groove All-Star Blues Revue held at the New Daisy Theatre on historic Beale Street. Pay special attention and you may notice JB joined by Delta & Eclecto Groove Records CEO Randy Chortkoff on harmonica for the song “Bottom Chick,” taking the TV show out in style. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejk4n7bTzmw

THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK FEATURED ON NPR
Critics are hailing The Soul of John Black's new record 'Black John' out on Eclecto Groove. They praise leader John "JB" Bigham's progressive synthesis of genres and eras and compare his rich R&B vocals to Al Green. Monday, February 23rd John Bigham was interviews and played live on NPR News & Notes. To hear about the genesis of 'Black John' and a performance of this new material, CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

Read what critics are saying:
"'The Soul of John Black' is a band with a sound every bit as varied as the musical experiences of its leader, John Bigham." - NPR

"Groove-heavy modern blues that belongs on a bass-heavy dance floor as much
as it does a rickety porch in the Delta." - Los Angeles Times

"Retro soul tinged in country, funk and bluesŠ primed for jam-band fans. [Bigham] essays Al Green, paints Southern-rock-guitar tapestries [and] orders a double from the barkeep."  - Rolling Stone

"Roiling grooves to moaning vocals and vamping fretworkŠ Incantatory funk." -  Washington Post

"Wildly eclectic funk." - Ben Greenman, The New Yorker

THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK FEATURED ON KCRW’S TOP TUNES!
Early reaction to The Soul of John Black has been overwhelmingly positive with Southern California’s leading NPR affiliate KCRW adding the new single three weeks early! Taken from the forthcoming album Black John, the first single Betty Jean pays tribute to Betty Davis, the funk-rock singer and former wife of Mile Davis. The song was added to KCRW’s rotation on January 1st and featured on their website on Today’s Top Tunes. http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/tu/tu090101the_soul_of_john_bla

The official add dates for Betty Jean began on January 19th & 20th for Triple A and Americana radio formats and the single will also be featured on an upcoming MM Music Triple A Radio sampler to help it further penetrate the market.

EARLY RADIO FEEDBACK:
“I’ve listened all the way through and The Soul of John Blues is an absolute masterpiece!!!!
It’s always nice to listen to an album that has more than 1 or 2 good tracks and this one has a bunch!!” – Robb Morrison / The Blues Brunch 107.3 The Road, Wichita / 98.1 The Max, Memphis

“Yes, we got the Black John album and I featured it today. Great stuff… I’d love to see this cat at our Telluride Blues and Brew Festival. His record last year was an album feature, too. Tell Mr. B. he’s got it. Really got it.” – Suzanne Cheavens / KOTO Music Director, Telluride, CO

JB INTERVIEW SEGMENT AIRS ON KPCC:
JB recently graced the airwaves here in Southern California on KPCC 89.3 FM. John arrived at the studio with guitar in tow to perform songs from his brand new release Black John on Off-Ramp, a weekly show hosted by radio veteran John Rabe. The program aired on Saturday, January 10th at 12pm PST and the podcast is currently available in the archive section on the station’s website. http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/shows/2009/01/10/index.html

JB ON LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIAN:
Last October JB appeared on television with Nikka Costa on NBC’s Late Night With Conan O’Brian. Nikka was there to promote her latest CD Pebble To A Pearl and performed the song Stuck To You. That’s JB playing guitar in her band! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEvBvV8u460

NEWS:

Eclecto Groove Records is pleased to announce the signing of yet another cutting edge, contemporary musician whose styles are grounded in the essence of the roots of African American music.  The Soul of John Black is John “JB” Bigham, an adventurous artist who isn’t afraid to take risks while pursuing his musical vision.  JB draws his influences from musical pioneers such as Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, Earth Wind & Fire, Prince, Iggy Pop, Bo Diddley, Blind Boy Fuller, Al Green and so many others.

JB’s music is a true testament of the dynamic beauty of music, which he strips down to the core –guitar, instrumental funk, vocals and exposed human emotion all muddled together and spit out in attention grabbing performances wrought with raw and spontaneous power.  Bigham’s mastery of the genre and its stylistic range is verified  through his amalgamation of wailing, field hollars, Latin rhythm suggestive of the Caribbean sugar plantations, sanctified harmonies, uptown Memphis soul, playful, sexy style, hauntingly, swampy backbeat, and down home grit all polished together with the stroke of studios today.

The Soul of John Black is a name shrouded with an element of darkness and mystery, inspired by the 1976 cult film J.D.’s Revenge.  JB declares, “I tend to like artists who lean toward the shadows and walk the edge and wanted my music to reflect that….There’s no one-way to play the blues, it’s just a feeling.”  And JB’s music sure has left many with quite an impressionable feeling, earning rave reviews for his freshman and sophomore releases, the eponymous debut album, The Soul of John Black, and The Good Girl Blues from such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Interview, Blender, Billboard and New Yorker magazine.  Rolling Stone magazine touts JB’s music as “amazing (the harbinger of)… a whole new brand of soul.”

In addition to rave reviews, JB boasts a mighty impressive resume.  He’s written songs for Miles Davis, played percussion with the group, contributed the track “Jilli” to the trumpeter’s last studio album, Amandla, and appeared with Davis on the recently released DVD, Live in Paris, which was recorded at the 10th Annual Paris Jazz Festival.  He played with the pioneering rock-funk-ska band Fishbone for eight years and went on to tour as a side man and session player with artists such as Eminem, Dr. Dre, Rosey, Joi, Nikki Costa, Bruce Hornsby, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Garcia and Everlast.

The Soul of John Black is back in the studios currently, recording the debut album on Eclecto Groove Records, with JB driving the machine, self-producing and writing the music.  We are thrilled with the rough cuts and are confident that this impending album will further prove the eclectic nature of all roots music, which is contributory to the sole purpose of the formation of Eclecto Groove Records –to bring blues and roots music to the mainstream market.  Stay tuned for more information on JB and The Soul of John Black.