Brad “Guitar” Wilson – The Californian
Cali Bee Music Inc. – 2025
14 tracks: 57 minutes
The Californian is the latest musical album from veteran guitar slinger Brad “Guitar” Wilson. According to the album’s one-pager, this is his eighth album, following the success of Wilson’s last two albums: Buckle Up! (reviewed by Blues Blast Magazine in March of 2024) and Lovers Before Sunrise released in 2023.
Much like those earlier albums, The Californian mixes classic covers with Wilson’s originals, including a song initially recorded for a move soundtrack. The one-pager goes on to state that Wilson, originally from Carmel, California, earned the “Guitar” nickname by punching out a fistful of tough hard-rocking blues for (many) years. He has toured frequently with Seventies powerhouse group Chicago and opened for Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, .38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Tommy Castro.
In addition, as his online bio explains, Wilson “has taken his songwriting talents to the big screen” with the song “Teaser” (featured on this album) for director John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998) and music for Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars (2001), plus scores for TV shows such as The Young and the Restless and Passions.
On this album, Wilson handles all guitars and sings lead vocals. His style is self-described as “a soulful contemporary sound, tapping into all his sources of inspiration.”
Joining Wilson on The Californian are drummers Toto Poznantek and Tony Braunagel (a 2024 BMA winner); bassists Hal Cragin, Brian Beal, and Fabrizo Erba; keyboardists Chris Rhyne (Santana keyboard player), Luca Catalfamo, and Frankie Virens; harmonicas by Marieke de Vaan (aka “Marie K”), along with backing vocals from Leanna Baxter, Francis Buckley, and Galen Keith.
The album’s tracks were recorded at several studios in California—Musicians Institute Studios in Hollywood (Francis Buckley, engineer), Summit Studio in Bakersfield (Pariecee McGriff, engineer), and at Visalia California (engineered by Brian Beal)—and at ICP Studios in Brussels, Belgium (Michel Dierickx, engineer) and, finally, at Studio Bonanza Hedikhuizen in The Netherlands with Jory de Kort and Dick Bon engineering.
The Californian kicks off with “Say You Wanna Dance,” an upbeat and rockin’ tune with terrific guitar and keyboard interplay. That rockin’ vibe continues with “Monterey,” featuring some great backing vocals. “Back Roads” keeps the party going with gritty driving backbeat and groovin’ keyboards. “Summertime Blues,” Eddie Cochran’s 1958 mega-hit, is given a traditional-sounding flourish by Wilson and his session mates.
Another well-known cover song, Willie Dixon’s “Groaning the Blues,” resonates with that down-home Delta blues-infused feeling, highlighted with Wilson’s intricate guitar solos. “It Hurts Me Too,” first recorded by Tampa Red (in 1940) and popularized by Elmore James in the early 60s, has a great intro and strong finish.
“I Work Alone” sounds almost Dead-like with a hypnotic vibe, acoustic guitar accompaniment, and fading electric guitar runs. “Goin’ Home” is a personal ballad with some of Wilson’s strongest vocals. “Teaser,” that soundtrack song mentioned earlier, is a terrific number with a groovin’ and movin’ beat.
The Californian gives Brad “Guitar” Wilson’s fans and followers exactly what they want—contemporary rockin’ blues, terrific renditions of past hits, solid performances by talented musicians, and Wilson’s signature style and flair.
