Come And Get It 2004
CD Liner Notes by Bob Margolin
"Out of the Blue" and "Old Soul" are the expressions that keep running through my mind as I listen to John Németh's Come and Get It. If you hear these songs on the radio for the first time, you'll presume you're listening to one of the '50s Rhythm and Blues legends. If you know a lot about music, it will drive you nuts that you can't identify the singer, because he must be one of the great ones. You hear vocalisms that remind you of Ray Charles or Junior Parker or Fats Domino, but it's not them.
So you'll stop whatever you're doing and wait 'til the DJ tells you who's singing. John WHO!?!
You'll do what it takes to find out who John Németh is, and you'll crack up when you find that he's a young, white man from Idaho and that this recording was made in the 21st Century. His demographics are ironic because this "Old Soul" has arrived "Out of the Blue," not from a potato. John Németh is a natural-born Bluesman, and he proves it with every note he sings, shaping each one with emotion, taste and inspiration. As with the best singers, every phrase delivered is just right, neither over-sung nor under-powered. The subtle inflections and references to masterful singers bring fresh surprises with repeated listening. John Németh makes it sound easy.
I remember hearing Muddy Waters for the first time on the radio and being knocked out by the human Heaven and Hell in his voice. I was amazed that the slide guitar on the song was just as powerful, so it made sense when I found out it was Muddy playing it. In the same way, John's expressive Blues harp playing answers his voice and fulfills his songs when he solos. As Muddy found a musical soul-mate in harp player Little Walter, John Németh has found one in celebrated contemporary Blues Guitarist Junior Watson. Junior stands out from the pack of today's finest Blues guitar players, always revealing the essence of a song and crafting the perfect stylistic touch and tone. In 2004, Junior was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for best Blues guitar player. The Blues World appreciates Junior, but nobody admires him more than other Blues guitar players. When he plays with John, they inspire each other, and one plus one equals way more than two.
John Németh, in addition to singing and playing so well, also found the fine players for this album, chose cover songs that showcase his depth, wrote original songs that stand proudly next to those covers, and arranged and produced this album. As with his vocal and harp performance, there's no evident explanation for how he's accomplished this, given his youth and today's musical climate. It's a gift from "Out of the Blue," from and "Old Soul," that he's passing on to us. Come and Get It.
- Bob Margolin, 2004