Submitted by Don Graham
Toronto based folk/roots veteran Johann Lowenberg has just released a new album, his 5th, and it’s arguably his best to date. “The Pirate in Me” is a 10 song collection of original tunes that are well crafted, tastefully produced and performed with a warm and personal authenticity.
Johann didn’t parachute into the folk genre but rather was there when the boom was booming which is where the honesty and authenticity comes from. Johann was born in Yorkville Village, which would become the folk music mecca of Canada mirroring New York City’s Greenwich Village, in the spring of 1950.
“Music was always around me, be it early Elvis recordings or my dad’s collection of jazz, swing and big band tunes.” Johann was a boy soprano performing with various youth choirs before his big debut as soloist, opening for the Vienna Boys Choir at Massey Hall in 1962. In 1964, “I had a front row seat for the Beatles and there was no looking back.” His dad took him to Ronnie Hawkin’s club on Yonge Street where he started to learn the ‘art of performing’ from the master himself.“I had a couple of guitar lessons with Bruce Cockburn over at the Folklore Center” says Johann, “and thought I was ready for the big time.” He was a regular visitor at the The Pad on Dupont Street near where I lived. This was a house where visiting folk artists would stay. “With the like of Peter, Paul and Mary, The Mamas and Papas and The Lovin’ Spoonful, I was on cloud nine. Gordon Lightfoot , who would become a good friend and mentor, was my idol and Murray McLauchlan my template.”
After watching some of the best singer/songwriters and finding out if he had a talent for it, he started writing his own songs in 1966. In the early 70’s, he became quite active in the coffee house circuit at Fat Alberts with Tony Hanik, Glen Hornblast and Sam Larkin. Around this time he started recording some of his own songs with Steve Hurej at Clare Burt Recording in 1976.“I remember this like it was yesterday”.
In the early 80’s, Johann worked with Dennis Hill at Great Shakes. From about 1986 on, he worked with Terry Clements at Studio North. “We had been friends since he first came to town to work with Lightfoot.” This resulted in some fine crafted tunes with Terry, Red Shea and Rick Haynes. Remastered versions of these songs were recently released. ‘How Time Flies’ 2020 and ‘Folk ‘n’ Blues 2022.
In 2012, Johann picked up his Gibson with pen in hand and forged out a new batch of material. “I was ready for round two” says Löwenberg and with co-producer Andreas Schuld, set out to record three marvelous themed albums. ‘Echoes Of The Road’’ 2016, “ Waltz of The Blues” 2018 and now the newly released “The Pirate in Me” 2024.
Check out the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU3L36dTt5HZ2DMJwqsSqZw
The opening track on The Pirate In Me , “Grab The Money and Run” sets the tone and mood for the album “ Sail away to the ocean blue the Caribbean sea, the world so new.” Which leads into the warn Calypso feel of “Life Is a Coconut” and the title track “The Pirate in Me.” The band, consisting of Chris Nordquist on drums, Rob Becker on bass, Mke Sanyshyn on mandolin and fiddle, Tom Keenlyslide on Pennywhistle, Geeta Das on horns and Gord Maxwell on background vocals and Johann Lowennberg on guitar truly captured the island feel the songs cry out for. The album was coproduced by Andreas Schuld who also played guitar on the tracks. Beautifully done. The rest of the album keeps up with marine based theme with songs like “ The Lobster Boat Song” “ Girls of The Bay” and “ Ukelele Girl”. The last two songs on the collection “ Every Now And Then” which is more earthy folk and the closing track “ From Now On” which is more of the big band jazz feel type song transport the listener back to dry land to end the adventure.
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5HZfHLga7EZvXMmDCbzqU4
This album holds a special place in Johann’s heart. “I started writing a lot of the songs on this album while sitting in my Mother’s hospital room in her last days so a lot of memories and thoughts of her come back when I listen to them.”
If you’ve never heard any of Johann Lowenberg’s music you owe it to yourself to give listen.
The album is available on https://johannlowenberg.bandcamp.com/album/the-pirate-in-me-3 and other streaming platforms.
Visit his website https://johannlowenberg.com/ for more.