In Brief

* * * Johnnie Johnson, “Johnnie B. Bad,” Elektra Nonesuch. The piano man whose ‘50s trio launched Chuck Berry turns to equally estimable company on this solo romp: Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and the boys from NRBQ ladle up appropriately rowdy support. From blues dirges to rollicking New Orleans R&B;, Johnson’s ivory tickling remains as lively as it was four decades ago.

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