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John’s new CD, Tengo Ranchito (May 2007) offers listeners a mix of folk, blues and country textures with 13 originals and one cover. Featuring acoustic guitars, fiddle, Dobro, and harmony vocals and backed by ace musicians Alice Stuart, Jeff Simmons (Frank Zappa), Chris Leighton (Bill Frisell, Laura Love), Jon Parry (Hank Williams Jr., Danny Barnes) and Orville Johnson these tunes come alive. From honky-tonk piano to blues inflected slide guitars, to the Appalachian sounds of Dobro & fiddle on “Light On the Shore”, the arrangements underscore the stories without overwhelming them. Accordion and nylon string guitar add texture to “Sail Away” and Hammond B-3 organ backs several cuts including the classic “Satisfied Mind”.

Other CD’s by Nelson include Soliloquy, a record of tasteful instrumental guitar music inspired by weekly visits at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. In 2003 his song Lindsey was selected for the NW Harvest benefit CD: A Night Of Song For World Harmony. This live concert and recording featured 17 rising Northwest singer-songwriters. A duo record, Coast Bound Train, was released in 2005 with guitarist/songwriter Max Schwennsen, an alumni of The Atlanta Rhythm Section and Doug Kershaw’s band.

John Nelson is also an engineer/producer of note, having worked with many artists including blues great Guitar Shorty, jazz bassist Gary Peacock, Gypsy musicians Inti Illimani, Grammy nominated African master King Sunny Ade and folk musician Brian Bowers.

Tengo Ranchito Reviews...

Wow, what a good record. Old hand John Nelson sounds great, the playing is crisp, and the songs are endlessly engaging. It's nearly Country Rock, with the addition of drums and some brushes across a Tele and an Epi archtop on several tunes. The one cover, "Satisfied Mind", and the lead off "Small Town Girl" rock pretty well too, but while the whole record maintains a good groove, Nelson usually gets the job done acoustically. The title cut is an intricate story, and the next song, "Light On The Shore" is hushed and hopeful. It just gets better from there - one dreamy mix of marvelous musicianship mated to thoughtfully wrought stories after another. And whereas Nelson's last outing, a duet with Max Paul Schwennsen, was an exuberantly rough record of tub-thumpin' and fishin' harmonies, Tengo Ranchito is spankin' clean and Nelson works hard to get things just so. Oh, Boy does he!

- Tom Petersen Victory Music (November 2007)

Only weeks ago we received an email from John Nelson with the question of whether his 'Tengo Ranchito 'we could review. For me he was unknown and I first went web 'surfing' to see what information could be obtained. Usually John Nelson is playing acoustic guitar on this album but he did call on Jane Milford (BG vocals), Chris Leighton (drums), Jeff Simmons (Piano) and Bella Trio (violin). After the first listen to this album was my initial reaction ... wow. A mix of Neil Young and Bob Dylan and for me there may be Eagles in a pinch. Country and Folk are mixed together with beautiful poetic texts and these are all from the pen of John himself. Certainly not in a loud 'Barrel House' presentation, let alone at a festival where beautiful immediately goes into the fog. No, John Nelson you should you listen to in a club where there is respect for song writers like him or by the fireplace with a glass of wine. 14 Tracks are equally beautiful and harmonious with the singing of Jane, this is certainly a feast for the ear. From the magnificent 'Tengo Ranchito' to the wonderful instrumental 'Wysteria' to the dreamy 'Horses With Wings' piece by piece poetry. The need for some luck anyway in a small corner that is full with mega successful and others less to do with all these people are just as John Nelson who live for their music and truly enjoy with their guitar in hand and take away equal time with their music. Beautiful!
(Belgium)