Reviews

“Being a solo lounge singer isn’t always the easiest gig, but Luttrell makes it look that way. An excellent singer and an even better guitarist, Luttrell sang covers that meshed seamlessly, from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Smokey Robinson, even to Stevie RayVaughan. A job well done.”- Steve Morse- Boston Globe

Greg Luttrell: As Known by Jimmy Leon.


I first met Greg during our senior year in high school. I was a guitarist wannabe, whose mouth wrote checks that my guitar playing couldn’t cash. We had a common friend Ricky who brought Greg into art class, where I had commandeered the tape player with my mixtapes. Greg mentioned he really liked the music and we fell into conversation with the common ground as guitar players. Greg mentioned that his band would be playing the school talent show. Well, to my relief, they stunk-but Greg didn’t. He didn’t sing back then, but his showmanship and chops brought to mind an unholy cross between Prince, Kirk Hammett and Jimi Hendrix.
Graduation brought to an end my music dreams, but Greg went to the University of Lowell to study music and we lost touch with each other. Even though I fell into a series of jobs including assembling Chevrolets, loading trucks and installing telephones I still avidly followed music. My tastes gradually changed from favoring Metallica, Iron Maiden and Alice in Chains to Angie Stone, Jill Scott and Roy Hargrove.
One night after work my coworkers and I stopped by a Boston financial district bar for a few. They had a poster for their coming attractions and as I looked at it I realized, “Hey, I know that guy.” I made a mental note to stop by and check out Greg’s music. The first time I saw him I think he hadn’t started yet, but he recognized me and we caught up on what each other was doing. He told me about his main gig, Michigan Blacksnake. I had to go, but I made a point of trying to catch him with Blacksnake.
I knew from past experience that Greg could play, but when you are claiming the Great Lakes State, you better be able to sing. We’re talking Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, the Clark Sisters, Betty Carter, Bob Seger, Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robinson, the Winans and the Dramatics,-you better represent.
So, I stopped by and saw them at a place in Salem, conveniently about a mile from where I was living. I needn’t have worried. It would have been worth a fifty mile drive. Blacksnake brought the funk with covers of the Ohio Players, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder as well as their own slamming joints. Greg can both bring some church into his voice and make it pretty for the ladies as well as get gritty as a backstreet.But don’t worry fellas, he’s got the chops you want to hear on guitar, conjuring up delta hoodoo , country precision, a touch of jazz and some good old rock and roll flash.
But don’t take my word for it –check out Greg yourself with Blacksnake, sitting in with any number of bands or solo acoustic., or pick up Blacksnake's latest record. Mind Over Matter.Your ears will be glad you did.