James Armstrong: Got it Goin’ On

On Got It Goin’ On, the gifted California-based guitarist-singer James Armstrong demonstrates the kind of flexibility that allows him to easily and convincingly shift gears from slow blues (“Another Blues,” “Lucky Guy,” “Love Will Make You Do Wrong”) to urban funk (“2 Sides”) to N’awlins grooves (“Mr. B’s”) to rousing roadhouse shuffles (“Beat Up by Love,” “Likes Her Lovin’,” “I’ll Learn Some Time”). Armstrong is a soulful storyteller and solid player with a capacity for injecting his solos with exhilarating, dramatic statement-and he demonstrates some serious slide chops on the title track. This third album proves that Armstrong has fully recovered his confidence and abilities following a traumatic stabbing attack in 1997. While he may not have regained all of his finger strength or speed in his fretting hand, his big heart is still very much intact.

Originally Published December 1, 2000