Smoky Greenwell

What the critics are saying about Smoky Greenwell:

“Greenwell, who has lived in Memphis, Nashville, . . . and New Orleans, (is) the harp voice currently touring with WAR. Such a road map should clue listeners in to the geography of soul within Greenwell’s playing.” Art Tipaldi, Blues Revue

“New Orleans harmonica wizard Smoky Greenwell has cooked up another highly original, barnburning set of instrumentals. . .” Scott Jordan, Bluesworthy column, OffBEAT Magazine

“Most harp players wish for chops such as his; and most blues and jazz fans wish for the subtlety and taste of an artist using his gifts well.” Shannon Williford, Nashville Music Guide

“Greenwell on harmonica is incredible.” Easy Reeding (Hohner, Inc. newsletter)

“. . . when it’s time to step up, the good groovester does, letting his Marine Band harmonica go wild like a bunch of sailors on a three-day pass.” Dirty Linen Magazine

“His tone is always warm; his style never obtrusive, always engaging.” Reviews, Blues Sprint


- Lots & Lots!!!!!!!!!!

What the critics are saying about Smoky Greenwell:

“Greenwell, who has lived in Memphis, Nashville, . . . and New Orleans, (is) the harp voice currently touring with WAR. Such a road map should clue listeners in to the geography of soul within Greenwell’s playing.” Art Tipaldi, Blues Revue

“New Orleans harmonica wizard Smoky Greenwell has cooked up another highly original, barnburning set of instrumentals. . .” Scott Jordan, Bluesworthy column, OffBEAT Magazine

“Most harp players wish for chops such as his; and most blues and jazz fans wish for the subtlety and taste of an artist using his gifts well.” Shannon Williford, Nashville Music Guide

“Greenwell on harmonica is incredible.” Easy Reeding (Hohner, Inc. newsletter)

“. . . when it’s time to step up, the good groovester does, letting his Marine Band harmonica go wild like a bunch of sailors on a three-day pass.” Dirty Linen Magazine

“His tone is always warm; his style never obtrusive, always engaging.” Reviews, Blues Sprint


- Lots & Lots!!!!!!!!!!

OffBEAT MAGAZINE REVIEW:
SMOKY GREENWELL - SMOKIN’ CHRISTMAS
(Greenwell Records)

Christmas albums have always been among the hokiest things you can buy, the kind you bring out when your Republican friends visit and your wife has on her favorite reindeer sweater. There haven’t been too many cool ones, but leave it to harmonica hellion Smoky Greenwell to buck that trend with his Yule-ruling Christmas collection. With such notables as former Allman Brother Johnny Neel (keyboards), Shane Theriot (guitar) and Willie Weeks (bass), he practically redefines Christmas music with ferocious second-line beats, artery-clogging funk attacks and seductive jazzy stylings. The arrangements are indeed slammin’ with Neel’s barrelhouse ivory boogie and snazzy organ rides, Theriot’s good rockin’ tonight solos and Greenwell’s lip-peeling riffs that nearly ignite the surrounding mistletoe.
Selections such as “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night,” and “Frosty the Snowman”---the latter featuring Greenwell on sax---are breathtakingly gorgeous. The uninhibited sax man and his crew swing mightily on “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” while the heat-inducing “Homeless Christmas” rocks to the high heavens. Yet, the surprise tune of this whole joy ride is “Merry Christmas To All” that has a touch of the ‘80’s star-studded “We Are The World” that enlisted pop stars ranging from Michael Jackson to Willie Nelson. This one, too, is stacked with such luminaries as the Crescent City’s “Sunpie” Barnes, Harold Brown, Fredy Omar, Coco Robichaud, Samirah Evans and others who contribute to its resounding chorus that’s as celebratory as the holiday season itself. It’s a safe bet that Greenwell’s Smokin’ Christmas will not only be a New Orleans favorite this year but in many years to come.
- Offbeat Magazine

OffBEAT MAGAZINE REVIEW:
SMOKY GREENWELL - SMOKIN’ CHRISTMAS
(Greenwell Records)

Christmas albums have always been among the hokiest things you can buy, the kind you bring out when your Republican friends visit and your wife has on her favorite reindeer sweater. There haven’t been too many cool ones, but leave it to harmonica hellion Smoky Greenwell to buck that trend with his Yule-ruling Christmas collection. With such notables as former Allman Brother Johnny Neel (keyboards), Shane Theriot (guitar) and Willie Weeks (bass), he practically redefines Christmas music with ferocious second-line beats, artery-clogging funk attacks and seductive jazzy stylings. The arrangements are indeed slammin’ with Neel’s barrelhouse ivory boogie and snazzy organ rides, Theriot’s good rockin’ tonight solos and Greenwell’s lip-peeling riffs that nearly ignite the surrounding mistletoe.
Selections such as “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night,” and “Frosty the Snowman”---the latter featuring Greenwell on sax---are breathtakingly gorgeous. The uninhibited sax man and his crew swing mightily on “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” while the heat-inducing “Homeless Christmas” rocks to the high heavens. Yet, the surprise tune of this whole joy ride is “Merry Christmas To All” that has a touch of the ‘80’s star-studded “We Are The World” that enlisted pop stars ranging from Michael Jackson to Willie Nelson. This one, too, is stacked with such luminaries as the Crescent City’s “Sunpie” Barnes, Harold Brown, Fredy Omar, Coco Robichaud, Samirah Evans and others who contribute to its resounding chorus that’s as celebratory as the holiday season itself. It’s a safe bet that Greenwell’s Smokin’ Christmas will not only be a New Orleans favorite this year but in many years to come.
- Offbeat Magazine

The latest from Frenchmen Street warriors Smoky Greenwell & the Blues Gnus will likely appeal on several levels. On one level, the handful of omnipresent covers (“Key to the Highway,” “One Way Out”) are executed well enough to appeal to weekend revelers looking for anything familiar and dance friendly. But deeper than that, where the Gnus really excel is in their enchanting chemistry that produces some exhilarating, off-the-chart jamming between harmonica hellion Greenwell and guitarist Mark Penton (slide) and Greg Hodges, who frequently recall the gods of southern rock. Greenwell and former Allman Brother Johnny Neel wrote the album’s best tracks, the John Lee Hooker turbocharged “Back To The Boogie” and “Goin’ Uptown,” which finds Greenwell venturing off on a mind-tripping tear. No doubt the shuffling, clever word-play title track is poised to be the local hit as Greenwell questions why our nation dumps billions into a Middle Eastern sinkhole while Louisiana’s problems are left unresolved. It’s too bad that there aren’t more songs like this because one of these days that alleged DC brain trust might just get the message. - OffBEAT MAGAZINE

The latest from Frenchmen Street warriors Smoky Greenwell & the Blues Gnus will likely appeal on several levels. On one level, the handful of omnipresent covers (“Key to the Highway,” “One Way Out”) are executed well enough to appeal to weekend revelers looking for anything familiar and dance friendly. But deeper than that, where the Gnus really excel is in their enchanting chemistry that produces some exhilarating, off-the-chart jamming between harmonica hellion Greenwell and guitarist Mark Penton (slide) and Greg Hodges, who frequently recall the gods of southern rock. Greenwell and former Allman Brother Johnny Neel wrote the album’s best tracks, the John Lee Hooker turbocharged “Back To The Boogie” and “Goin’ Uptown,” which finds Greenwell venturing off on a mind-tripping tear. No doubt the shuffling, clever word-play title track is poised to be the local hit as Greenwell questions why our nation dumps billions into a Middle Eastern sinkhole while Louisiana’s problems are left unresolved. It’s too bad that there aren’t more songs like this because one of these days that alleged DC brain trust might just get the message. - OffBEAT MAGAZINE