Who's who in contemporary Chicago blues? When it comes to pianists, there's no question: Johnny Iguana is the man. Born Brian Berkowitz in New Jersey, Johnny Iguana was drawn into the world of blues after hearing junior well's "Hoodoo Man Blues". Years later, he not only met his hero but also spent three years as the pianist in Wells' band. Over the course of his career, Iguana has lent his extraordinary piano skills to artists such as Koko Taylor, Carey Bell, Lil' Ed Williams, Lurrie Bell, John Primer, Matthew Skoller, rusty zinn or Bob Margolin, to name just a few. During the 2000s, he co-founded the band Oh My God, recording six albums with the group. In 2010, eager to explore new musical territory, he founded The Claudettes, a band that blends blues with rock, soul, jazz, and pop in refreshingly original ways. He also appeared on the landmark albums "Chicago Blues: A Living History" (2011), "muddy waters 100" (2015) and "Chicago Plays the Stones" (2017), three recordings that have become essential listening for blues fans. After joining the Delmark Records family, Iguana released his acclaimed solo debut, "Chicago Spectacular!", in 2020, earning widespread critical praise. His second and most recent solo release, "At Delmark" (2025), is widely regarded as one of the finest solo blues piano albums of the past several decades.
With The Claudettes, Johnny Iguana has released seven albums, including "Garage Glamour", a remarkable musical experiment in which the blues expands into rarely explored territory, offering a compelling and contemporary perspective on America's roots music