Jontavious Willis: West Georgia Blues Review

Jontavious Willis might be described as an “old soul” with a youthful and fresh bluesman’s approach. Listening to his music brings back memories of some of the greats. His new release, West Georgia Blues is bound to satisfy the appetites of those anxiously awaiting his next collection of great tunes. Self-produced, this album showcases the songwriting, musicianship, and vocal talents of Willis; and his love for pure blues music. West Georgia Blues is Jontavious Willis’s third album release, and follows his Blue Metamorphosis album released in 2016 (which won him The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge Award for Best Self-produced CD) and his 2019 release of Spectacular Class. Jontavious Willis has been mentored by two of the blues music world’s most talented artists; Taj Mahal and Keb Mo’; with Taj Mahal, once referring to Willis as “Wonderboy”.

West Georgia Blues is a collection of 15 songs that begins with one of my personal favorites, a percussion dominated tune that is the title cut from the album, called “West Georgia Blues”. It’s difficult to keep your feet from tapping in time while listening to this tune and it is full of great vocal harmony. On “Broken Hearted Man” you can almost feel the tears falling from the breaking heart of a hurting soul. The 4th tune on this project is “Keep Your Worries On The Dance Floor”; which is almost guaranteed to get you up and dancing across the floor. “Rough Time Blues” sings of the way that life really is, out there in this world today. “Lula Mae” is full of imagery. Two dollars at the door? You can’t beat that. In “Ghost Woman” you hear the story about missing someone special very badly. It’s something that we all experience at some time in our lives. Song number 9 is, “A Lift Is All I Need”; and let’s face it; we all need a lift every now and then. “Too Close To The Finishing Line” is a spiritualistic tune that talks about us all running toward that finish line. “Earthworm Basement Blues” is a lighthearted tune that is so funky that you can smell it. “Time Brings About A Change” reminds each of us that everything is changed by time.

The last song of this album is “Jontavious’ West Georgia Grind” and is a great instrumental cut that wraps up Jontavious Willis’s West Georgia Blues album.

This album is bound to bring listening pleasure to anyone who loves traditional blues or to anyone who just wants to hear some great blues music.

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– West Georgia Blues
– Keep You Worries On The Dance Floor
– Ghost Woman
– So Close To The Finishing Line

The Big Hit

– West Georgia Blues