Gypsy Epilogue - Tony Joe White
from the album Hoodoo (2013) I used to hang out with the bluesman Jack Yoder. It is from him that I gained my appreciation for tone. Tone is a lifetime pursuit for the conscientious musician. Finding that right guitar, experimenting with different gauge strings, playing thru countless amps - manipulating the dials - trying to match the sounds you hear with the sounds inside your head. It is an obsession. And for some, it never ends. Tony Joe White is a Louisiana guitarist who has been releasing great music since 1969. The arc of his 40+ year career has as much to do with tone as it does with great songwriting and recordings. Along the way, he has transcended the traditional music of his region thru his tone. It is like a $400 bottle of wine. Within it, you can hear the music that bubbles up from the swampy ground. However, what makes it special are the other elements, including Memphis country, Texas blues, and a soul that can only come from God. On his new album Hood