Product Description

JAY WILLIE - STILL RAISIN' CANE
RELEASE DATE JUNE 06, 2025. ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Blues guitarist/singer Jay Willie delivers a deep dive into Texas Blues - with Bobby T Torello, drummer on Johnny Winter's 1980 Raisin Cain.

Still Raisin' Cane is our 7th rhythm and blues recording, a project born from deep admiration and musical kinship. For over 20 years, ZOHO Music has been a champion of independent music, and we're honored to continue our partnership with Jochen Becker and this esteemed label, a relationship that began back in 2013 with the Jay Willie Blues Band's New York Minute (ZM201303.)

Still Raisin' Cane is a heartfelt tribute to my musical hero, Johnny Winter, and the incredible musicians who contributed to his legendary sound. Johnny's 1980 album Raisin' Cain on Blue Sky Records, featuring Jon Paris on bass and harmonica and Bobby T Torello on drums, was a pivotal record for me. I was fortunate enough to jam with both Jon and Bobby at BB Kings in NYC during Jon's Monday night open mic sessions, experiences that remain vivid memories.

Bobby T's distinctive drumming style, so integral to Johnny's music, has graced all seven of our ZOHO releases. This album, in many ways, is a continuation of that powerful rhythmic legacy. We've always admired Johnny's ability to take classic Texas and New Orleans R&B from the pre-rock and roll era and make it his own. Bobby and I wanted to honor that spirit and the energy of albums like Raisin' Cain and White Hot and Blue, which Bobby so powerfully defined with his drumming.

Rather than simply re-recording tracks from those iconic albums, we chose a different path. We sought out songs that resonated with the style and form of Johnny's repertoire, songs that we felt he, and his fans, would recognize and appreciate in our interpretations. Just as Johnny produced Muddy Waters' Grammy-winning Hard Again in 1977, a title with such clever double meaning, we wanted a title that spoke to Bobby's enduring talent and energy.

The album tracks, carefully selected, include gems from Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Freddy Fender, and other early R&B artists whose music paved the way for rock and roll.

Jay Willie

Track Listing

• Still Raisin' Cane
• Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
• Boogie for Drums and Guitar
• It's Too Late
• Sugar In My Tea (Cream In My Coffee)
• Positively 4th Street
• I'm Lost Without You
• Stranger
• Jesus Gonna Be Here