J.P. Hamm, singer-guitarist for J.P. & the Chatfield Boys, names his top 5.
1. Billy Cobham, Spectrum
I’m a drummer at heart, so this record opened my mind to the cosmic rhythms of jazz fusion. It inspired me toward directions I had never imagined.
2. Martin Sexton, In the Journey
It was actually the first album of Martin’s I’d ever heard. The passion from his music and his life experiences hit home for me, reminding me that others have rough times too.
3. Kiss, Alive
When I was a kid, Alive literally made me pick up the drumsticks.
4. Hot Rize, So Long of a Journey
The Appalachian flavors and positive crowd interactions were infectious.
5. Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, The Hard Game of Love
Hard-driving banjo and mandolin, and the high, lonesome sounds on this album floor me.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2006.
