MUSIC
by Jimmie Bratcher
latest albums
FAR Enough
2023
Jimmie’s 13th album is packaged with a 117-page companion book that completes the album “Far Enough Songs & Stories.” Bratcher collaborated fully with keyboardist and producer Eric Stark to write or co-write the collection of eleven new tracks in a sophisticated presentation that expands the boundaries of “Blues Rock,” employing strings, brass, lap steel, and Irish penny whistle to back up Bratcher’s guitar work and providing a colorful landscape for his expansive tales of faith, discovery, love, loss, and life.
i’m hungry
2021
Songs written with food in mind!
For his 12th album, Bratcher gathered several musical friends in Kansas City and Nashville to record 10 original tracks and two inspired cover songs to round out this unique project.
The music ranges from barrelhouse boogie to straight-ahead blues, roots rock, and soul, mixed to enhance and inspire the downhome recipes, creating an entertaining and irreverent collection.
mAN! iT’S CHRISTMAS AGAIN
2019
New arrangements of some holiday classics, from Jimmie Bratcher, on Man! It's Christmas Again!
Music that is guaranteed to drive away your Christmas Blues.
Blazing horns, full choir, B3, red-hot rhythm section, and Jimmie's guitar & vocals are infectious with the Christmas Spirit!
NEW OLD STUFF
2017
A collection of some of my favorite hymns, gospel songs… and some of my old songs as well.
These songs inspire me to worship my Father God and give thanks to Jesus.
I hope they inspire you to do the same.
THIS IS BLUES COUNTRY
2017
A compilation of some of Jimmie’s favorite country songs from the 50’s & 60’s.
SECRETLY FAMOUS
2013
Produced by multi-Grammy-winner Jim Gaines and recorded at his Bessie Blue Studio in Stantonville, Tennessee, Secretly Famous marks the second time the two have collaborated on an album project; Gaines also produced Bratcher’s 2006 release, RED.
EXCHANGE
2011
Backed by his own rhythm section Craig Kew on bass and Dave Autry on drums Exchange is rock solid. Then add in Charmelle Cofield, Charity Von & Tasha Bryant on backing vocals and the richness of Exchange is extremely deep.
The title track opens with the vocals of the legendary Danny Cox moaning out the pain expressed in the song. Then followed up with “God Screams” expressing the first and last words of Jesus on this planet.
The production and arrangements are excellent and work just as well on the full-on, full-band tracks as they do with a pared-back acoustic number. Do not be fooled into thinking blues means depressing either as this album will not fail to lift the spirits and is almost a master class in blues and blues-influenced music.
THE ELECTRIC REV.
2008
Lighting strikes, snakes are running and the good news is sounding as sweet as Al Green on Sunday morning. 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 will touch your heart and soul.
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher's fifth studio project “The Electric Rev.” features some of Jimmie’s best songwriting and guitar playing. In the vein of the Grammy award-winning release from Jonny Lang “Turn Around” Jimmie brings a performance that is both intimate and raw. “When the Blues Come” and “One Rock” express his 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.
MAN! ITS CHRISTMAS
2006
A collection of some of Jimmie's favorite Christmas songs and a few originals.
Man! It's Christmas hits the ground running with a jubilant classic jazz rendition of the Bratcher-penned title track "Man! It's Christmas".
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, and it leads you 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 WWII events of December 1941. It 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 York (Suzy Bogguss, Lee Roy Parnell) on bass, Daron Tapscott (Joe Diffie) on fiddle, Kansas City’s Brandon Draper on drums and percussion, and Eric Stark on keys and trumpet.
RED
2005
Red, released in 2005 is the third studio project in five years Jimmie, it has several noteworthy firsts on it. Jim Gaines joined Jimmie at the helm to produce this CD, Jim is known for his work with Carlos Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughn, among many others.
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.
LIVE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY
2004
SOMETHING BETTER
2003
There must be Something Better!
Jimmie’s second release is a bit more aggressive than its earlier predecessor.
Something Better embraces a colorful array of soulful melodies and hard-hitting rhythms, but still, holds true to the root of blues.
HONEY IN THE ROCK
2001
Jimmie’s first album titled “Honey in the Rock” debuted in July of 2001 and has been described as an “Amazing collection of songs that take you to all realms of the blues world”, (Scott Greene, Gritz Southern Music Magazine).
Honey in the Rock has received favorable acclaim in the US as well as the UK by both Christian and secular media.
Lins Honeyman of Cross Rhythms UK puts it like this, “A compelling offering of sanctified blues.” Connie (CRASH) Hummison host of Soul Fixin’ Blues KKFI Radio, Kansas City, quotes, “Jimmie Bratcher spreads the gospel in mysterious ways – with quality, quality, blues!”