John Blackwell Project | 4ever Jia

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Drummer John Blackwell Jr.’s musical destiny was already carved out long before he started public school.  For hours on end, he observed his father’s drum technique and joined him on the road when he played with The Spinners and Mary Wells, to name a few.  The first jam that Blackwell picked up on his own was that funk blast, “Brick House” by The Commodores – at age two mind you.   Besides playing in various high school bands, he had the distinct honor to work with Billy Eckstein, one of his first real tastes of working with a professional besides his father.  Then after graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts, Blackwell paid dues with various musicians in the greater Boston area before hooking up with some of the greatest icons in urban music and his early musical heroes, including Cameo and Prince.  His experience eventually brought him more attention on a national level as Modern Drummer Magazine dubbed him a ‘Promising Up& Coming Drummer’ in 1998; and Prince, who always demanded high quality work from his musicians, bestowed Blackwell with the highest praise for his drumming work.  Despite all those accolades plus his work as a drum clinician, one particular event almost altered Blackwell’s hard earned musical stripes. 

In 2004, he lost his two year old daughter to a freak accident, and he strongly considered leaving the music business.  Ironically, another memorial for a legendary musician would eventually lead to a new chapter in Blackwell’s career.  In 2008,Blackwell and his fellow musicians attended the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert, in tribute to a drummer who set a tremendous standard for other percussionists in all genres.  Afterwards, he not only fulfilled his wishes to finally lead his own group, those musical friends Will Lee, Paul Pesco and Corey Bernhard formed The John Blackwell Project (JBP).  Their special tribute to Blackwell’s daughter, courtesy of their self-released debut 4ever Jia, is a truly cathartic experience for this deserving musician and entails his diverse inspirations, including fusion jazz great Billy Cobham and two tracks that recall his days with Cameo.   

Blackwell is one of those drummers who can hold down a steady groove yet manages a melodic quality within many of his solos, most of them accompanied by the other musicians.   From all the solos, his virtuosity shines best on “Jaiven.”   What can be said about Will Lee, who has played with almost everyone on the planet because his bass guitar skills provides a solid foundation while sparking his solos with soothing textures and sensitive musicianship.  Born into a multi-cultural family, Paul Pesco’s scorching and funky guitar licks have crossed many musical boundaries with Madonna, Bob James, Mary J. Blige, and others prolific musicians. Finally, Corey Bernhard, who once toured with reggae/funk/hip-hop band Soulfege in Ghana and played with Blackwell on his Master Drum Class DVDHudson, is a keyboardist on the urban music radar. 

“Hyper-Formants” kick starts 4ever Jia with an impressive drum line of Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons), veteran studio musician Curt Bisquera and Greg Bissonette (Steve Vai).  This track along with “Sexual Harassment” is a welcome return to fusion jazz’s heyday (think Return to Forever, Cobham, etc.)  At times, this experimental yet invigorating era seems like a musical dinosaur which should be resurrected.  “Black House” & “Mind of J” registers on the funk factor and peppers in some acoustic jazz tidbits. “Amazing”could pass as a Cameo jam for the millennium, but the band’s guitarist/vocalist Charlie Singleton avoids retreading the past by lending a fresh approach that should please faithful and newer Cameo fans.  Blackwell and company also know how to pick versatile musicians, such as Esperanza Spaulding and Sue Quin.  On “No Ordinary Day,” Spaulding’s caressing voice (sans her acoustic bass) is one of 4everJia‘s finest moments.  Sue Quin, whose performance on Jada left me wondering why isn’t this U.K. based veteran singer/songwriter is not currently signed, stamps a soufully lasting impression on “Jada.”   

If there any misfires on 4everJia, the electronically enhanced lead vocals by Singleton on “You’re The One” is the only true disappointment.  Otherwise, JBP’s on-point tribute to Blackwell’s belated daughter serves as a wonderful springboard for Blackwell in a leadership role and now fulfills a destiny supported by strong mentorship from family and many musical friends.

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene