REV. JIMMIE BRATCHER IS DREAMING OF A BLUES CHRISTMAS
Gifted bluesman To Release Man! It’s Christmas on October 6, 2009
Nashville, TN – Gifted bluesman, The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher, is set to release his first Christmas project, Man! It’s Christmas, on October 6, 2009 on Ain’t Skeert Tunes.
Man Its Christmas
Produced by Rev. Jimmie Bratcher, Man! It’s Christmas, hits the ground running with a jubilant classic jazz rendition of the Bratcher-penned title track, which expresses the joy of the season while referencing just about every holiday symbol there is. A smokin’ jazz funk version of “What Child Is This” follows, leading into a down-home dobro-driven country blues arrangement of “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Patriotic Christmas song “1941,” another original Bratcher tune, recalls the holiday just after the U.S. entered WWII, and expresses appreciation for those who have served our country and laid down their lives for our freedom. Backing Bratcher on the project are some world-class players, including Rick Yord (Suzy Bogguss, Lee Roy Parnell) on bass, Daron Tapscott (Joe Diffie) on fiddle and Kansas City’s Brandon Draper on drums & percussion. Bratcher is joined by Lester Estelle, Jr. (Pillar) on drums and Craig Kew (Proto-Kaw with Kerry Livgren) on bass on the live bonus DVD. Produced by Isaac Alongi (“Love, Marriage & Stinking Thinking”), the DVD gives the audience a front-row view of this lively holiday jam session.
Pastor, evangelist, author, singer, songwriter and guitarist, “The Rev” preaches in churches every Sunday, but on Saturday nights you’ll find him sharing his amazing testimony and blistering guitar licks onstage in blues clubs and at music festivals, prisons and even biker rallies.
Bratcher’s brand of the blues has been embraced by the Christian market and the mainstream blues industry alike, allowing him to perform at both Christian music festivals such as Creation East, Creation West Coast and Rock the Light, and at blues festivals such as Blues on the Hill, Simply the Blues Festival and Boxcar Full of Blues. He has appeared at venues along with Christian artists including Mercy Me, The Newsboys and Third Day, and with blues greats including Grammy winner and NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award winner David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Blues Music Award winners Zac Harmon and Otis Taylor, and Livin’ Blues Gold Award winner Hubert Sumlin, one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
Bratcher, who serves as the bandleader and frequent commentator for the new Sky Angel/TBN TV show “Love, Marriage and Stinking Thinking,” is driven by the desire to point as many people as possible to the reality of the love that God has for them. “The blues is my most effective way to communicate,” says Bratcher.
Jimmie Bratcher’s Man! It’s Christmas will be available on Ain’t Skeert Tunes. For more information on Jimmie Bratcher, Man! It’s Christmas and his latest album, The Electric Rev, visit www.jimmiebratcher.com.
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:
McCain & Co. Public Relations
PH: 615- 262-1727
Email: mccainprnews@mccainpr.com
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“THE REV” TO HEADLINE AT BLUES ON THE HILL
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher To Perform at Popular Texas Blues Concert Series on August 15
“I’ve been spinning the Rev. Jimmie Bratcher on the radio for about a year now…what hooked me was the stingin’ full-bodied guitar riffs, his very souful voice and the songwriting elements that give a positive message about life in general,” comments Chris Maley, Program Manager at KMBH Radio and Entertainment Coordinator of the Blues on the Hill concert series. Pastor, evangelist, author, singer, songwriter and guitarist, “The Rev” preaches in churches every Sunday, but on Saturday nights you’ll find him sharing his amazing testimony and blistering guitar licks onstage in blues clubs and at music festivals, prisons and even biker rallies. Bratcher’s brand of the blues has been embraced by the Christian market and the mainstream blues industry alike, allowing him to play at both Christian music festivals such as Creation East, Creation West Coast and Rock the Light, and at blues festivals such as Simply the Blues Festival and Boxcar Full of Blues. He has appeared at venues along with Christian artists including Mercy Me, Newsboys and Third Day, and with blues greats including Grammy winner and NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award winner David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Blues Music Award winners Zac Harmon and Otis Taylor, and Livin’ Blues Gold Award winner Hubert Sumlin, one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” According to Blues Revue Magazine, Bratcher’s upcoming release, The Electric Rev, “…erupts with a blast of righteously down-home funk. It’s as if Ray Charles has been reincarnated in the body of a character from a Woody Allen movie.” Produced by legendary Grammy Award-winning producer Jim Gaines (Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Journey) and Nashville’s Mike O’Neil, The Electric Rev showcases performances that are both intimate and raw. From the New Orleans street march of “Green Bananas” to the Sunday morning sound of “Pray for Me,” The Electric Rev speaks the language of the blues with a spirit that touches the heart and soul. The CD’s opening cut, “Call On Me,” urges those struggling in their lives and marriages to call on Jesus, letting them know that He is there with them through their darkest hour, all over a sweet gospel groove. “When the Blues Come” and “One Rock” express Bratcher’s love and respect for the blues, while the dobro-driven songs “Elijah’s Road” and “How Far Down” come straight from the soul of a man who knows just how far down the bottom is. Bratcher, who serves as the bandleader and frequent commentator for the new Sky Angel/TBN TV show “Love, Marriage and Stinking Thinking,” is driven by the desire to point as many people as possible to the reality of the love that God has for them. “The blues is my most effective way to communicate,” says Bratcher. Jimmie Bratcher’s The Electric Rev will be available on Ain’t Skeert Tunes on August 11, 2009. For more information on Jimmie Bratcher and his new album, The Electric Rev, visit www.jimmiebratcher.com. For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact:
High res DVD cover image and Word document available upon request. |
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 The Rev. Jimmie BratcherThe Electric Rev (Ain’t Skeert Tunes) |
Style:A soulful hybrid of blues, funk and gospel
Top tracks: “Elijah’s Road,” “Pray for Me”
In a nutshell: With a voice like Lyle Lovett and the guitar chops of B.B. King, Reverend Jimmie Bratcher preaches an unusually funky gospel on his latest album. But it is one that no less moving and inspiring than the most well-worn worship song. Bratcher, a regular on TBN’s Love, Marriage and Stinking Thinking, tries his hand at everything from impassioned dobro breakdowns (”Elijah’s Road”), a New Orleans-style shuffle (”Green Bananas”) and sax-driven funk on this fun and surprisingly powerful disc.
Check out this review from the February / March 2009 issue of Blues Revue Magazine
THE REV. JIMMIE BRATCHER
The Electric Rev.
Ain’t Skeert Tunes
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher looks like someone you might find on an East Coast college campus an intellectual hipster who reads Kant while sipping white wine. It’s all the more startling, then, that “Call On Me,” the opening track of Bratcher’s fine new album, erupts with a blast of righteously down home funk. It’s as if Ray Charles has been reincarnated in the body of a character from a Woody Allen movie.
Bratcher is a study in contradictions. The Kansas City-based performer is an evangelical minister who splits his time between churches and bars. But listeners wary of folks who use religion as a political force can rest easy: Bratcher’s approach, at least on this outing, is universal enough to stand on its own in a multicultural world. This is due in large part to his strong sense of musicianship. Surrounding himself with a cadre of first-rate musicians, Bratcher builds each performance on intelligent and unexpected elements - the tuba, for instance, that rumbles beneath the opening track. Bratcher accompanies himself ably on guitar, and his voice is excellent: clear, soulful, and penetrating, with a built-in elasticity that lets him explore diverse musical forms without straining.
The Electric Rev Cover
“Green Bananas” is a fun New Orleans-styled shuffle, while “Pray for Me” captures the slow blues intensity of classic Percy Mayfield ballads. “One Rock” arrives with a spirited burst of pure gospel energy, balancing the darker mood of tracks such as “When the Blues Come.” Bratcher’s power diminishes when he embraces heavy rock balladry: The wry humor that makes much of the disc sparkle disappears on heavy-handed tracks such as “Cadillac” and “How Far Down.” This comes as a disappointing surprise, since Bratcher ventures into serious territory elsewhere without sounding leaden. Fortunately, spirits rise for the closing track, a funky cover of “Grits Ain’t Groceries.”
As Bratcher proves on The Electric Rev., blues and gospel aren’t merely acquaintances; they’re branches of the same family tree.
-David Freeland
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Blues Blast Magazine April 2009
The Reverend Jimmie Bratcher - The Electric Rev
Ain’t Skeert Tunes www.theelectricrev.com
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher is an honest-to-gosh man of the cloth, along with being a pretty hot blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Based in Kansas City, MO, Bratcher brings, as one might expect, a strong gospel influence to his blues music and the songs contained on his latest CD release The Electric Rev., are entertaining and uplifting at the same time. Bratcher uses his music as part of his ministry to preach the word to both the churched and un-churched alike and takes his blues and his message everywhere and anywhere he is needed. He plays in venues ranging from blues clubs to churches to correctional institutions, bringing the Word with him. If his sermons are anything like his CD, Rev. Bratcher surely has a large and growing congregation, as he is one of the more unique and talented characters on the roots music scene today.
The Electric Rev Cover
When preaching time comes, Bratcher really turns it on, as evidenced on the CD’s opening cut “Call On Me”. The song calls those struggling in their lives and marriages to call on Jesus, letting them know that He is there with them through their darkest hour, all over a sweet gospel groove. Bratcher lays his soul bare on this and other cuts here and speaks directly to what is good in all of us, which is what makes his message understandable by all types of people, not just the already devout. Other highlights on the record include “Green Bananas”, “Pray For Me”, and “Cadillac”. Those looking for a different flavor in the music they love or for deeper lyrical content than the typical big-legged-woman-fuss-fight-boogie themes found in much of the blues may find what they seek as part of Bratcher’s flock.
Reviewer Mike O’Cull is a noted Chicago music writer and Blues Blast contributor. Visit his MySpace page at:
www.myspace.com/mikeocullmusic
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Man! It’s Christmas
Man its Christmas Cover
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
Copyright Visionation, Ltd 2006. All Rights Reserved with limited rights offered to artist and their agents for publicity purposes only with proper citation to BluesWax, BluesWax.com, or www.blueswax.com. BluesWax is the largest Blues publication in the world. It is delivered via email to more than 70,000 subscribers around the world each week. It is only sent to subscribers and maintains a strict privacy policy and never shares its subscribers’ information; just the Blues in your box each week. You may subscribe at www.blueswax.com. For further information contact blueswax@visnat.com or call 515.440.0610. Visionation. Ltd. is the publisher of Blues Revue, BluesWax, FolkWax, and Comix View. Information at www.visnat.com or 515.440.0610.| Download Article | Cover High Res. | Cover Low Res. | Profile Pic High Res. | Profile Pic Low Res. |
Blues in Britain December 2005
Red Album Cover
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
Live on the 4th of July
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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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,
Something Better Cover
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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