J-Rad Cooley Yard Sale (CD)

(VizzTone Records) 9 tracks, digisleeve

Young Salt Lake City musician J-Rad Cooley is a singer, songwriter, pianist and harmonica player, a unique storyteller with a keen sense of blues, melody and groove. His soulful songs showcase his diverse influences from Lightnin' Hopkins to Ray Charles to The Band, some with a New Orleans twist or a notable ragtime flavor.

For his impressive debut album, Yard Sale, J-Rad collaborated with Memphis-based musician and producer Tony Holiday.

Yard Sale contains only original compositions and one classic cover, and features Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright on four tracks. Other backing musicians on the album include bassists Kasik and Josh Karrick, guitarist Aubrey McCrady and drummer Shake E. Fowlkes, as well as guest Tim 'Too Slim' Langford on guitar and Hannah Jason on background vocals.