Blues: Jimi Hocking - Blue Mandolin

[Ed Goist]

This entire album (http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=19294015&albumid=10907760) is available for listening (with some short commercials between tracks) on myspace.

Some REALLY Nice Stuff!

Edit: Found while listening to Blue Mandolin :grin: Hocking has some very nice write-ups about his mandolins (http://www.jimihocking.com/mandolins.htm) on his website...Enjoy!

One last thing...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE 'Big Garage' (Fellow Old-Time fans, are you reading this!)

[journeybear]

Boy, is this ever a find! I don't know how you found him, but am I ever glad you did. This is the first album from a myspace musician I may have to actually buy - which is saying something about what i hear there, or my persnicketiness, or something - if only because I've been dragging my heels on Totally Gourdgeous for some reason. (Coincidentally, they too are from Australia.) Right now I'm digging on "Little Black Cat" - it's closest to my style. But he's got a pretty good range in songwriting, won an award as producer of this album, and knows his way around the instrument - and he's primarily a guitarist. :disbelief: Quite the talent! :mandosmiley: Sometimes the mandolin sounds just a bit light, but overall this is miles ahead of so many others, it's a thrill to hear. Good call!

[Ed Goist]

Boy, is this ever a find! I don't know how you found him, but am I ever glad you did.
...snip...Good call!

I can't really take too much credit, I found him because he's listed as a recommended mandolin Blues Player (http://www.mandolinblues.com/network.html) by Rich DelGrosso.

There is also an awesome series of YouTube videos featuring Hocking on mandolin with Heather Stewart on fiddle - I'm watching them right now...Interestingly, my favorite of these is 'Little Black Cat' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVCF9TfgOxI)!

Finally, how sweet is Hocking's Gilchrist Model 2 (http://www.jimihocking.com/_images/_mandolins/gilchristA2mandolin.jpg)!?

[journeybear]

I did a quick search on him here, and he has been mentioned only once, at this thread, of all things - Swedish Mandolinists (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?34476) - and then just in passing. The guy has some serious chops. He clearly applied himself to learning the instrument, and on a couple of songs really lets it fly. He also understands the value of just bearing down on straightforward down home blues, like the two we've mentioned already. That Swedish poster also mentioned Gerry Hundt, and I see he's got a new album out, so I'll have to check that out too. Tomorrow - I'm a bit beyond right now. ;)

[ald]

When I go to the site you linked I don't seem to see his album or his name!

[Ed Goist]

Hi Ald:

Give this a try (the entire url):
http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=19294015&albumid=10907760

If this doesn't work, you can:
* go to http://www.myspace.com/music
* enter Jimi Hocking in the search bar at the top/right
* scroll down to Albums, and click on Blue Mandolin
* you should be able to listen to each song, or the entire album, unless, for some reason this is blocked in Europe or Belgium...But that's not likely, is it?

Trust me...It's worth the effort.

[Ed Goist]

The more I listen to this the more I like it!

Also, something obvious to me here is the dominance of blues/rock elements over Bluegrass elements in Hocking's phrasing and technique. As a blues/rock guy it is very invigorating for me to find someone who has found such a virtuosic blues/rock voice on the mandolin...In short, THIS is what I want my playing to sound like someday.

BTW...no offense intended to the Bluegrass guys.

[journeybear]

I'm sure that's a result of him coming to mandolin after years, even decades, of playing blues and rock on guitar. And it is nice to hear, a refreshingly different approach to the instrument.

[ald]

Ed Goist,

Thanks for the information. I tried both those things and when go to the myspace link and type in his name I dont get a list of albums: I just get three tunes: Trouble, Skinny white boy and I wanna play the blues. Moreover, the rest of the information on the page is in French. How odd!

[journeybear]

http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=19294015&albumid=10907760

Works for me ...

[gregjones]

This is great.

I like the "similar songs" window---
"Sorry, no results.
We're still learning which songs are similar."

That sums it up very well.

[bluesmandolinman]

great CD , I have it too !

[Ed Goist]

FYI, I recently friended Jimi Hocking on FaceBook and we had the following brief exchange:

Me: Jimi; Thank you for Blue Mandolin! I was thrilled to come across this great album. Thank you also for promoting blues mandolin. Your playing is an inspiration. I'm looking forward to hearing more!

Reply: Many thanks Ed, I'm working on some more Mandolin material as we speak…you can also check out my mandolins at my website www.jimihocking.com

Can't wait to hear more!

Finally, check out the sweet oval hole Gibson (F4?) in Jimi's current FB pic:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs371.snc4/45468_458038025379_698120379_7011375_1232387_n.jpg

[bluesmandolinman]

Quote : Finally, check out the sweet oval hole Gibson (F4?) in Jimi's current FB pic:

it´s a 1923 F2 ... sounds great on his CD

[Ed Goist]

it´s a 1923 F2 ... sounds great on his CD

Thanks much for the clarification. Great looking and sounding mandolin!

[parttimepicker]

+1 for Jimi Hocking. I downloaded it the first day I heard it and I've been working on it since. "Shooting Stars in my Backyard" is going to be a milestone for me if I can get it, but my favorite is "The Wood, the strings & me".

[djidaho]

+1 for me too. This cd and Delgrosso's lastest cd "Get your nose out of my Business" have been what I've been playing along with and listening to for months.

Rich Delgrossos book & cd "From Memphis to Maxwell street" is the best!!
I would love something like that from Jimi Hocking.

[Ed Goist]

I just had to post this picture...
I'm Facebook friends with Jimi Hocking, and here is a picture a woman posted on FB of him playing at her wedding!
Oh man...Now there's a wedding reception not to be missed!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs527.snc3/29945_432418131678_646166678_5497581_3108806_n.jpg

[Santiago]

I found one of his songs, but I can't get to him through those links.

[Ed Goist]

I found one of his songs, but I can't get to him through those links.

Unfortunately it looks like myspace has pulled access to the album.
You can still hear samples from all of the songs on the album here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CKIBGW?ie=UTF8&child=B001CKICAW), or download the entire song 'Yank it Up', here (http://www.jimihocking.com/mp3s.htm).

[frankenstein]

I know Jim, you could contact him via his webpage and he'd be glad to help out if somebody wants a copy or 2.

[NAS]

I found it as an .mp3 download on Amazon.co.uk so it may also be available from Amazon.com.

A truly excellent album.

Neil

[Ed Goist]

It's also available as an mp3 download (http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Mandolin/dp/B001CKIBGW/ref=sr_shvl_album_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1290798816&sr=301-2) in the US from Amazon.com for just $9.
I just happily bought it...Glad to contribute to his record sales.
I had planned on staying commerce free today...Oh well... :grin:

[Ed Goist]

Jimi Hocking's Mandolins (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.354457321273406.95495.272101732842299)