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5/25/2007

Nick Cristiano

The man behind, or, more accurately, in front of the Soul of John Black is John "JB" Bigham, a singer, guitarist and percussionist who has played with Miles Davis, the rock-funk band Fishbone, and numerous others. His group's new album, The Good Girl Blues, delves into soul and blues with a striking blend of rootsy pungency and urban polish. The simple arrangements are built on Bigham's voice and acoustic, electric and slide guitar - he also plays drums - and he finds inspiration in everything from wailing field hollers to the uptown seductiveness of Al Green. Throw in some gospel and swamp atmospherics, and it's a sound that comes across as both old and new.