Austin, TX. (Top40 Charts/ Steppin' Stone Records) - John Lee Hooker, Jr. will release his third solo album August 19th as he continues to solidify himself as a modern-day blues icon since his "celebratory redemption" from the streets in 2004. All Odds Against Me, to be released domestically on Jr. Hooker's own Steppin' Stone Records and in
Europe on Jazzhaus Records, is his first effort to include only new and original tracks, a contrast to either of his previous solo projects. Additionally, Jr. continues to stretch the envelope, becoming blues' first animated crime-fighter in Bluesman, a bonus video included on the enhanced disc.
The son of blues legend John Lee Hooker, Jr. Hooker was exposed to the life of the blues from a young age. At only eight years old he performed on Detroit's WJBK radio and knew from that moment that he wanted to follow the path of his father and become a world-class musician. Unfortunately, while living the "life of a bluesman" he succumbed to the demons that surround it, derailing his musical career for many, many years. Drugs, alcohol, divorce, incarceration, and death nearly brought his career to a screeching halt, but it was living the blues and his faith in the Almighty that resurrected Jr. Hooker. A Comeback Artist of the Year award in 2004, two critically acclaimed albums with another on the way, and a continued emphasis on ingenuity has him back on track and looking towards the future.
As Jr. Hooker prepares for the release of All Odds Against Me, he continues to carry blues into the 21st century. Blending his roots with a modern sound, his style is indicative of his Motown base and best described by Music Enthusiast as "2 parts R&B, 1 part jazz" and "down home blues." In addition to the innovative sound, Jr. Hooker takes creativity a step further with Bluesman, a crime-fighting musician who sings in clubs by night and cleans up the streets by day. Conceived by Frenchman Laurent Mercier at the Callicore Animation Studios in Paris, the video series has also inspired work to begin on a comic book. Mercier, son of a French jazzman contemporary of Hooker Sr., dreamt up the idea as a way for the two sons to pay tribute to their fathers' legacies and Jr. immediately embraced the vision. Set to "Blues Ain't Nothing but a Pimp" from Jr. Hooker's Blues with a Vengeance, the video is the first of three to be released in 2008 and is included free on the enhanced disc.
Jr. Hooker will be touring in support of All Odds Against Me across the United States, Western Europe, and Turkey throughout 2008. Joined on the road by Mike Rogers (drums), Brian James Vollriede (keys), George Lacson (bass), and Jeffrey James Horan (guitar), Jr. is bringing the next generation of blues to the world one stop at a time.
All Odds Against Me Tour 2008
August
10 Duluth, MN Bayfront Blues Festival
16 San Francisco, CA Biscuits and Blues
23 Navarro, CA Navarro Amphitheater
September
1 Marin City, CA Marin City Blues & Soul Party
4 Las Vegas, NV Boulder Station Casino
5 Santa Monica, CA Harvelle's
6 San Diego, CA Humphrey's
27 Enghiens, France Blues In V.O.
28 Paris, France One Way
October
2 Verden, Germany Jazztage
7 Koln, Germany Kulturkirche
8 Karlsruhe, Germany Jubez
9 Schaffhausen, Switzerland KIK
11 Wels, Austria Soundtheatre
14 Salzburg, Austria Rockhouse
15 Darmstadt, Germany Centralstation
16 Rankweil, Austria Altes Kino
17 Lorrach, Germany Burghof
18 Biel, Switzerland Blue Note
19 Koblenz, Germany Cafe Hahn
24 Mersin, Turkey Mer-Yat Armada Center
25 Adana, Turkey HiltonSA
27 Gaziantep, Turkey Kalender Plaza
28 Diyarbarkir, Turkey Demirok Tesisleri
30 Malatya, Turkey Altin Yunis Tesisleri
31 Kayseri, Turkey Hilton
November
2-3 Russia, Moscow Venue TBA
5 TRNC - Girne, Turkey Jasmine Court Hotel - Disco
7 Denizli, Turkey Richmond Pamukkale SPA Hotel
8 Antalya, Turkey Divan Talya
9 Konya, Turkey Rixos Hotel
12 Trabzon, Turkey Zorlu Grand Hotel
14-16 Ankara, Turkey Bilkent Otel
18 Eskisehir, Turkey 222 Park
19 Bursa, Turkey Bursa Suare
21-23 Istanbul, Turkey Venue TBA
25 Balikesir, Turkey Asya Termal Otel
26 Canakkale, Turkey Kolin Hotel
28-30 Izmir, Turkey Hilton
December
2 Kocaeli, Turkey Venus
3 Edirne/Tekirdag, Turkey Venue TBA
10-13 Anchorage, AK Blues Central
31 San Francisco, CA Biscuits and Blues
For more information: www.johnleehookerjr.com
Domestic Bookings: www.intrepidartists.com
International Bookings: www.jazzhausrecords.com
