Hillbillies and Holy Rollers
Jason D. Williams
Label: Rockabilly Records
Release Date: June 10, 2014
Review Date:  August 10, 2014

Let me just say from the git go that I absolutely LOVE the new CD, “Hillbillies and Holy Rollers”, and the amazing talent of Jason D. Williams.

Period.

Now, about that album.

This album is flippin’ amazing on all sorts of levels: musicianship, song quality, sound, vibe, you name it, it’s got it.

The boy’s got his “boogity woogity” down solid and sets the piano on fire with is possessed fingers. One might get the impression that he’s channeling a particular rock pianist. Perhaps he is via DNA. More about that in a moment.

As a boy born in the deep south, this album resurrects my fond memories of old time rock and roll and church services with amazing music being played during the “alter service”. The keys get treated in all manner of ways. Fast, slow, pounded or tickled, it’s all masterfully done but Williams.
Three Randomly chosen Boomerocity favorites are:

Folsom Prison is a nod to the late, great Johnny Cash with all the resplendent sounds that only Sun Studios can offer up. This song sounds like it was recorded in the mid-1950’s instead of 2014. One expects Scott Moore to chicken pluck a solo at any time during this tune.

Fingernails remind’s me of Elvis’ “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and Glenn D. Hardin’s piano mastery. Williams tears it up on this one and provoked me to slap the repeat button countless times (still am). This song alone is worth the price of the entire CD. Yeah, it’s that good.

My final random pick isn’t really random but intentional. I’ll Fly Away takes me back to the old fashion church services and the incredible music that served as their back drop. The stories I could tell . . .

I’m glad that I’ve finally been made aware of Jason D. Williams. I can assure you that I’m not going to forget about him and will be following his career from here on it.

Yeah, he’s that good.

Here's a sample of Jason D. Williams's style (this song is not on the album reviewed):