Joel Paterson Wheelhouse Rag (CD)

(Jalopy Records) 14 tracks, digisleeve.

Joel Paterson has been a fixture on the Chicago roots music scene for over twenty years. He has played with many bands showcasing his unique blend of jazz, blues, rockabilly, country and western swing. Wheelhouse Rag is a 14 track collection of original rags and country blues that he performs solo and fingerpicked on acoustic guitar. The all-acoustic, 1920s-inspired "Wheelhouse Rag" may at first seem like a genre shift for the guitarist - best known for his instrumental, multi-track recordings reminiscent of Les Paul and Chet Atkins - Joel learned to play guitar by ear from the records of acoustic legends like Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Reverend Gary Davis and Big Bill Broonzy. He later expanded his repertoire to include the techniques of thumb-picking giants Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. These influences can be heard throughout the album, mixed with many more twists from the artist's mind to bring you "Wheelhouse Rag":.