Man! It’s Christmas

www.christmasreviews.com

Man! The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher’s Man! It’s Christmas hits the ground running with a smokin’ blues rock rendition of the title track that’s quite an attention grabber. The Rev. man maintains the high-pressure sales job with a just-as-smokin’ cover of What Child Is This. Next, he comes through with a masterful blues arrangement of Go Tell It On The Mountain. The lamest Christmas song I can think of, the good reverend lays hands on it and it walks!

Vocalist Bratcher does not disappoint, either. A blues crooner, his bluesy vocals are intriguing enough to investigate further at first opportunity.

And as if that weren’t enough, the dude wrote several of these tracks. I loved them all, but by far my favorite (at least at the moment I was playing it) was the totally non-holiday-sounding Going To Grammy’s House a rambling, instrumental blues anthem, where the right Rev. Bratcher puts on a blues guitar clinic.

But let’s be clear: Jimmie Bratcher is not performing these red hot numbers all by himself. He is flanked by a manger full of blues musicians who help him turn Man! It’s Christmas into one of the best albums I’ve heard this year. Of particular note is Tulsa Reed’s harmonica on Go Tell It On The Mountain. David Chael’s saxophone made an impression as well, particularly on the R&B version of I’ll Be Home For Christmas. This versatile group of musicians plays with tremendous virtuosity in a number of genres, from blues, to rock, to jazz, to R&B. The instrumentals were impressive on every track.

What a way to begin winding down the reviewing season! Blues! Blues! Blues! Man! Man! Man! The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher makes a huge splash in my little Christmas pond with his beautiful Man! It’s Christmas.

–Richard Banks

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Blues Wax – March 13, 2006

Jimmie Bratcher – Red

BluesWax Rating: 7 out of 10

Back From Church

Red Album Cover

My first experience with Jimmie Bratcher and his Blues was during a memorial service for Stan Koron, the latepresident of the Kansas City Blues Society. Stan had passed on to that great Blue Room in the Sky rather unexpectedly and Jimmie had come to sing a goodbye song to him. He had written a great song and decided to dedicate it to Stan because it just fit Stan’s personality so well. Stan was a long-time promoter, producer, manager, and tireless supporter of the Blues who will always be missed. That song is included in Jimmie’s latest CD Red. The song is entitled “Three Chords.”

The first time you experience this Bluesman and his band you go “Hmmm.” This is good stuff, easy on the ears, at times gritty, soulful and jazzy, too. Then they take you on a journey with a sweet little ballad that is really easy to listen to and if you listen a little deeper there is an ever-present soul-saving message, too. You see Jimmie’s day job is saving souls for Christ, yes sir, you heard that right, he’s a bona fide reverend singing the Blues.

Red comes right at ya with “Bad Religion,” a rocking Blues number complete with a driving rhythm section, stinging slide guitar, and gritty vocals. The next track, “Mercy,” adds horns and a feel good Funk sound for a cool groove. “I See Red” gets a little bigger with full vocals, great breaks, and a driving rhythm almost like a Texas-style Blues. “Drive” showcases the horn section with some killer leads. “Dance With Me” takes us down that Country Blues ballad lane and does it quite well. “Restless For The Son” caught me off guard as I thought that the CD had switched to a Miles Davis track; not quite, but it is very jazzy and easy to listen to. “Three Chords” is a classic low-down, greasy Blues song with some very big guitar and vocal work; tasty, tasty.

The rest of this sweet CD is down-home Blues. “I Love My Baby” adds a little flavor with some sexy female backup singers. “Take It Back” swings us down to the Delta for a quick visit to Memphis and Highway 61. How low can you go if you were born on the “Right Side Of The Tracks,” this low-down, dirty Blues track will surely let you know what’s what? The haunting Miles-style horn in the background and that big Hammond B3 organ just makes this song work no matter what side of the tracks you’re from. Jimmie finishes up with “No Pretense” and “Happy” to complete a CD that people will enjoy many times over. The musicians on this album are all very good at their instruments and the songwriting is excellent. Producer Jim Gaines (Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Daniel “Slick” Ballinger) does a fine job of creating a quality work of art.

Jack “Sulli” Sullivan is a contributing editor at BluesWax

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Blues in Britain December 2005

Red by The Rev Jimmie Bratcher

With three acclaimed albums to his credit already, “Red” looks set to make it four in a row. The Rev Jimmie Bratcher is a fine guitarist, singer and songwriter, delivering powerful music with a passion that is all too rare in many albums from the blues genre nowadays. Jim Gaines has brought out the best in the band, ensuring that “Red” is an album that will make people sit up and take notice.

Rating: 8 of 10
Reviewer Gordon Baxter

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Review of Live On The 4th Of July

July 2004 Cross Rhythms UK www.crossrhythms.co.uk

Hot on the heels of his second studio album comes this pumpin’ live album from Jimmie Bratcher and Co, firmly in the style of Stevie Ray Vaughan or Robben Ford, complete with horn section and a glorious Hammond organ. Being a live

album it inevitably draws from both his studio albums, but as they are only 18 months apart anyway, there’s nothing old about it. The band is very tight and fluid and groove along effortlessly from start to finish. Jimmie, as well as being no mean guitarist, is also an evangelist and the lyrics demonstrate this extremely well, being quite upbeat and uncompromising. Highlights are the bass solo on “Party Goin’ On” and scorching guitar solos aplenty. There is little to fault on this CD quite honestly and I suspect it will be a regular visitor to my CD player. Any fan of “modern” blues would find this a worthy addition to their collection.
(TEN SQUARES out of 10) Keith Singleton

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March 30, 2009

A few days after I believed on Jesus in December 1976 a guy who I had never really meet stopped by my house and dropped off a few records. I had never heard of the artists but they soon became my life line to another world, a better world for sure. Who were the artists? Paul Clark and Phil Keaggy.

Last week I was invited to jam with both Paul & Phil two of my all-time favorite musicians. I was blessed and stressed at the same time. Bless to be invited and stressed because Phil is in my opinion one of the greatest guitar player alive!!! WOW. But I found both these men to be great men of faith and honor. I had a blast.

During sound check Phil walks over and says “hey Jimmie, you ever do this”? He’s giving me a guitar lesson on the spot. Needless to say I came home and have been practicing that riff and you know it will show up someplace in my playing.

Paul is one of the best songwriters in not only Christian music but in my mind all of music. He for sure has spoken to my life.

One of the lessons I have learned from being around successful people is that almost all of them have this really outstanding attitude. They are kind, gracious, encouraging and willing to give. I think it is the coolest thing. Being around people like that makes me want to try harder and be better.

Anyway, I heard there was going to be some bootleg YouTube clips leaked out and when they do I will for sure let you know.

Peace,
Jimmie

PS, if you don’t know who Paul Clark & Phil Keaggy are here are their links.

Review of Something Better

September 2003 Cross Rhythms UK www.crossrhythms.co.uk

‘Something Better’ is the second album from US blues man Jimmie Bratcher, featuring his current band and a host of notable players including drummer Doug Dimmel, formerly with Barbara Mandrel, and guest guitarist Larry Howard,

whose handle of hot blues gospel albums are much treasured by connoisseurs. Jimmie describes it as “a bit more aggressive” than his 2001 debut album, ‘Honey In The Rock’.
In the words of Muddy Waters, “If you want to know about the blues, ya got’s to go back to church.” Jimmie brings 25 years experience of playing the blues in the mould of Albert King, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, not to mention the Texas blues of Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He also has the perfect voice for it, constantly reminding me of Free’s Paul Rodgers. My favorite, the title track, runs to five minutes 40 with enough guitar solos to satisfy any blues fan, with a further two minute acoustic reprise to close the album.
As his website says, Jimmie’s ministry is “preaching the Gospel – playing the blues”, and he does a great job. He succeeds in varying the tone and tempo – gets a little funky, or adds a bit of gospel – but never strays too far from the blues. “You Are My Peace” borrows a few riffs unashamedly from Hendrix’s “Little Wing”. “Your Grace Is Enough” switches to some mellow acoustic guitar, but then the electric blues storms back with “Scarred King”. A great album. If you want to hear the blues redeemed for the Lord, get this CD!
(NINE SQUARES out of 10) Nigel Harris

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Review of “Honey in the Rock” by Jimmie Bratcher October 2001

In my short time of reviewing music for Gritz I have been ask to review different bands from all over the world but in no release have I found a more universal message then in this fantastic, heavy hitting blues release that just happens to also be all Christian music.
I thought when I heard what it was that there was no way it could possibly be true blues music and still have a Christian message- boy was I ever wrong!
“Honey in the Rock” by Jimmie Bratcher is a amazing collections of songs that take you to all realms of the blues world and you can hear the influences of all the great players from the standard blues song “Doctor, Doctor” to the swing sound on “Do you Know a Friend.” The message of Christ, his love and the safety that he affords us in his arms rings through on the sweet sounding “Everlasting Arms.” I have to admit that after listening to this release it never left my CD player for three days and I found myself switching favorites as each one spoke to me on different days in different

ways and that is what makes this such a special CD its what I like to call “music with a message.” This CD features former Grinderswitch guitarist Larry Howard on “Keep On,” “Can’t Get Over It” and The title track “Honey in the Rock.” Howard, these days a contemporary Christian singer himself, produced the album.
After the second day of listening I found myself sing the words to “Honey in the Rock” in some of the most unusual places like the shower or while doing my day job. I found that it was God speaking to me through something I love more then anything, and that’s great blues style music. The words to “Honey in the Rock” start off saying “I don’t know what life has dealt you. I don’t know your pain and trials. All I know is that He promised that all for you he will provide. I don’t know where it’s coming from I don’t know what the future holds but I know the Master of hard places has got it all in his control” -and that speaks volumes in this trying time we are living in.
When you think of Blues most people think of sad love songs or songs about life’s hard times but the song ” Can’t Get over it” proves that blues is a feeling that comings through in both sad and happy songs, and when singing about God’s grace and his love for us the happy has to out weight the sad.
Jimmie is backed by a stellar band made up of Charlie Hayward (Charlie Daniels Band) on bass guitar; Jack Gavin on drums; (also CDB) , Brad Jerkins on keyboard; Rob Sumowski on percussion and Larry Howard on guitar on the above mention tracks.
For ordering info visit Jimmie’s web site and be sure to tell him the folks at Gritz sent you.
-Scott Greene

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Blues in Britain December 2005 Gordon Baxter – Review of RED

With three acclaimed albums to his credit already, “Red” looks set to make it four in a row. The Rev Jimmie Bratcher is a fine guitarist, singer and songwriter, delivering powerful music with a passion that is all too rare in many albums from the blues genre nowadays. Jim Gaines has brought out the best in the band, ensuring that “Red” is an album that will make people sit up and take notice. Rating: 8 of 10

The Phantom Tollbooth November 2005 Jonathan Avants Review of RED

What makes Red such a good listen is that its artist is both highly talented with his instruments, yet also adept at writing effective and moving songs. He shows off his guitar skills throughout, yet never at the expense of good song craft……

Christrock.com November 2005 Robert W. Blake – Review of Red

This is a great album to listen to if you are not a fan of this genre. Jimmie Bratcher offers a wide range of music that will introduce you to the complexity of blues music. And for the fan of blues music it is an inspiring album that causes you to dwell on life from a different perspective of God’s grace. This album is worth an addition to your CD collection and an excellent product from start to finish. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Cross Rhythms Magazine UK July 2004 by Keith Singleton

Live on The 4th Of July – Jimmie Bratcher Band
There is little to fault on this CD quite honestly and I suspect it will be a regular visitor to my CD player. Any fan of “modern” blues would find this a worthy addition to their collection…

Clarksdale Press Register Clarksdale, Mississippi September 2003 Emily Le Coz

Crossroads Bikes and Blues confirmed its first musical act for the weekend motorcycle rally Internationally acclaimed gospel bluesman Jimmie Bratcher has agreed to play the festival, said rally co-chairman Doc Bolm. Combining elements of Southern rock, soulful gospel and raw blues, the minister/musician has two albums to his name: the 2001 release, Honey in the Rock, and the 2003 release, Something Better. He plans to release a live album early next year.

Gritz Southern Music Magazine October 2001 by Scott Greene

Review of Honey in the Rock by Jimmie Bratcher
“Honey in the Rock” by Jimmie Bratcher is an amazing collections of songs that take you to all realms of the blues world….

I have to admit that after listening to this release it never left my CD player for three days and I found myself switching favorites as each one spoke to me on different days in different ways and that is what makes this such a special CD…

I’ve been on the road this month and MAN it was fabulous. Even after I tell you that I’ve never been colder in my life that this month and it was still fabulous!!!

As in 2008 my friend Mark Gungor invited me to Green Bay, WI for three weekends in a row to help him with a teaching series “How to Beat the Blues”. If the cold in Green Bay wasn’t bad enough I spent last week in Winnipeg and man it was really cold there. I was invited to appear on a TV show “It’s a New Day” and that was a blast.

While in Green Bay ministering at the church we were able to do an “Out of the Box” event in prison. It was the first time that this institution has ever allow anything of this size behind the walls. We were able to do two full concert with altar ministry and it was outstanding.

As we cleared security they gave each of us a visitors id card. In a spontaneous moment while speaking I pointed at one of the men who was wearing an inmate id card and said “how about I trade with you, you take my card and leave and I’ll stay here and do your time”. Needless to say I had his attention and the guards as well. I continued to explain that this is exactly what Jesus did for us all “paid the price for our crime so that we could be free”. It was a powerful moment that I am sure every man there will remember.

Let’s not forget that if it we’re for Jesus, if it wasn’t for Him breaking the chains that held us we would still to this day be bound. I am so glad for the gospel that is the power of God for all mankind.

Here are a couple of pictures from Lambeau Field I had lunch at the stadium t a great place called Curly’s. Next time you’re at a Packer’s game check it out.

Peace….. Jimmie