Rogue Johnsen - NEXT! (2026) Hi-Res

Rogue Jonsen learned to play the keyboards from Charles Brown. He toured nationally with Archie Bell and The Drells, W.C. Clark and Lavelle White, played professionally with Bo Diddley and Catfish Hunter, and recorded with Clark on his Heart of Gold album. In 2016, he released two albums that he recorded as a solo effort plus one additional album, Way Back that he recorded as the Rogue Johnsen Project. The Project released a fourth album, Home, in 2024. Now that group released an EP, Next” in February 2026 with seven songs. Rogue followed that release with a full album, The same, with ten songs six weeks later. Both are being reviewed here.

Next features Rogue Johnsen on keyboards and keyboard bass. He is accompanied by Mike Dutton on guitar and Joe Wells on drums on a solely instrumental album reminiscent of Booker T. and The MG’s. The album opens with the funky “Chicken Feet” with Mike’s guitar expanding the sound behind Rogue’s organ. “Sunday Papers” is a slow laidback cruise along a lazy day perhaps relaxing while reading the newspaper. “Baby Girl” is a feel good, smooth appreciation presumably of his daughter.

“Sour Grapes” definitely touches on Booker T. in a mid-Tempo song not too far stretched from Booker’s “Green Onion’s”. He has a quiet “Midnight Prayer” before coming back to life with a “Lo-Fi Funk”. The album closes with the jazzy “Cool Papa”.