Johnny Harper, stalwart Bay Area guitarist, singer, and songwriter, has a brand new CD, Light of a New Day, with his band, Carnival. The CD release concert is November 11 at Bjornson Hall in Oakland’s Fruitvale district. In advance of the concert, Harper will perform in the KPFA studio with pianist John R. Burr and backup singers Sue McCracklin and Maureen Smith. Tony Ferro will engineer the live radio concert.
Long known for his music in the New Orleans R&B dance band Hot Links, as well as his guitar work with Maria Muldaur, Barbara Dane, Ernie K-Doe, Katie Webster, and many others, Harper last appeared on The Hear and Now in 2014, with his full Carnival band, playing the music of The Band. The rootsy new, self-produced album features Harper’s original material and songs by Allen Toussaint and Woody Guthrie.