Blues For Evangeline Reviews

“He plays with very good fluidity and taste,and some nice slide. His vocals are pleasantly lacking in fake black-isms that are the bane of ‘white bluesmen’. Even better, he sings the meaning of the words and understands that the story of the lyrics is vital”.

Bruce Iglauer- Alligator Records

From out of nowhere comes a stunning,13-track set by a daytime bus-driver and superb musician,John Maxwell,entitled,”Blues For Evangeline.”
Playing six-string vintage acoustic guitar,Maxwell just stuns with his virtuosity in playing old-time blues with some authentic ragtime thrown in,and makes for pure listening enjoyment.
Relying on original material, as well as songs by legends,(Leroy Carr,Mississippi John Hurt,Sonny Boy Williamson,etc.) Maxwell’s dexterous finger work,marvelous slide,and heartfelt,deep-baritone vocals prove him to be a major talent on the Bay Area roots scene.
There’s a great quote on his website,”You have to play for a long time before you sound like yourself.”John Maxwell is indeed his own self,and has,with “Blues For Evangeline,”arrived. Slowly I Turn Music-2014

Joseph Jordan- Golden Gate Blues Society

If North Bay blues man John Maxwell doesn’t hook you with the opening slide guitar riff of “St. James Infirmary,” he’ll hook you with his deep baritone voice. If he doesn’t manage to hook you at all as he strums his way through the Louis Armstrong classic, odds are you’re simply immune to the blues.

David Emery-Marin Independent Journal

“On “Blues For Evangeline”.his debut recording,Maxwell shows his incredible proficiency…so accomplished,so authentic in it’s interpretation of an American blues tradition,that he probably won’t be Marin’s best kept secret for long”.

Paul Liberatore- Marin Independent Journal