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IGUANA !
T H I S I S
JOHNNY IGUANA
CHICAGO STYLE SOLO PIANO
A T D E L M A R K
by
The Delmark Records artist Johnny Iguana is the paradigm of the contemporary Chicago Blues pianist. Just as Otis Spann, Memphis Slim, Big Maceo, Sunnyland Slim, Roosevelt Sykes, Pinetop Perkins, or Jimmy Yancey were decades before him, to name just a few, Iguana, a musician who explicitly embraces his ventures into rock and the punk movement, has played a decisive role in restoring the essential figure of the pianist in classic Chicago blues. Throughout his career, he has performed and recorded with definitive bluesmen such as Junior Wells, James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Lil' Ed Williams, Jimmy Burns, Billy Branch, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Lurrie Bell, Magic Slim, Little Smokey Smothers, Matthew Skoller, Johnny Winter, Keb' Mo, Billy Flynn, and Bob Margolin, among many others. In 2020, he became part of the Delmark Records family, with whom he has released his two solo albums.
JOHNNY IGUANA (Brian Berkowitz) - PIANO
Tracklist:
01 Bass Key Boogie 02:58
02 Heart of Gold 2:30
03 For Dancers Only 2:20
04 Stormy Night at a Moroccan Blues Bar 03:01
05 Messin’ with the Kid 04:16
06 Tripping in a French Ambulance 03:32
07 One More, for the Cleaning Crew 02:43
08 You Never Can Tell 03:21
09 You Belong to Me 04:08
10 Welcome Distractions 02:22
11 Riff Raff 03:56
12 Roll ‘Em 03:06
Tracks 2,4,6,12 recorded on March 15, 2023
Tracks 1,3,7,9, 10 recorded on April 11, 2023
Tracks 5,8,11 recorded on January 31 2024
JOHNNY IGUANA AT DELMARK - CHICAGO STYLE SOLO PIANO DELMARK RECORDS DE-888
ALL TRACKS RECORDED LIVE IN "ONE TAKE" AT DELMARK RIVERSIDE STUDIO - CHICAGO
RELEASE DATE : APRIL 11, 2025
(USA)
Listen to samples - Johnny Iguana - At Delmark
Listen to samples Listen to samples Listen to samples Johnny Iguana - At Delmark - Chicago Style Solo Piano Listen to samples Listen to samples
J O H N N Y I G U A N A O N R E C O R D S
J O H N N Y I G U A N A O N R E C O R D S
J O H N N Y I G U A N A O N R E C O R D S
SOLO
ON JUNIOR WELLS' ALBUMS
2020
1997
2002
THE LIVING
HISTORY BAND
2018
OH MY GOD
2002
2003
2004
2007
2009
CHICAGO BLUES: A LIVING STORY
2009
2011
MUDDY WATERS 100
2015
w/ CAREY BELL
1997
w/ LURRIE BELL
2006
2007
2001
SITTIN' IN WITH
THE GREATS
w/ MATTHEW
SKOLLER
2003
THEM vs THEM
STEVIE LIZARD
ON SHUNSUKE KIKUTA ALBUMS
1995
1995
1996
1996
2008
1998
w/ LIL' ED & THE
BLUES IMPERIALS
2022
2020
2018
2017
2015
2013
NEW BLUES PIANO HERO
Johnny Iguana (Brian Bercowitz) was born in New Jersey. He moved to Philadelphia and at the age of 16, he began playing in local blues bands. Otis Spann walking through his mind.
At 22, he settled in New York, where he met Junior Wells. He later relocated to Chicago, and from 1994 to 1997, he was the pianist for Junior Wells' band.
In 1998, he formed the short-lived band Stevie Lizard & His Reptile Orchestra.
From 1999 to 2009, Iguana was part of the rock band Oh My Good, with whom he released six albums.
In 2006, he formed Them vs. Them, another short-lived band with guitarist Casey Kannenberg.
Chicago Blues: A Living Story released two albums between 2009 and 2011.
The Cabaret-Piano-Punk band The Claudettes emerged in 2010, and are still active, having released six albums to date.
In 2015, "Muddy Waters 100" was released.
The Living History Band released "Chicago Plays The Stones" in 2018.
Delmark Records released Iguana's debut album, "Chicago Spectacular", in 2020.
Johnny Iguana, alongside Jeffrey "JQ" Quaiyum, composed music for the FX on Hulu series The Bear, which premiered in 2022.
In 2025, he has released "At Delmark - Chicago Style Solo Piano".
Chicago Blues ; A Living Story featuring Johnny Iguana on piano.
"I love blues music, and I love playing it. But for some people, I am not bluesy enough because I play other music. I play classical and I grew up playing in punk bands. People in the indie rock scene think of blues as really square. You can upset people when you don’t easily fit into a box. I just hope folks will stay safe, and store up their enthusiasm for the live music experience" (Johnny Iguana for Blues Blast Magazine)
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