Blues fans have been rewarded over the past few months with some outstanding new releases. It's been a lot of fun to listen to them. The state of the blues right now is fantastic with a lot of younger voices stepping up to the mic and producing high quality music. Let's look at a few new recordings for readers to be on the lookout for.
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - Hard Road (Red Zero Records): It had been several years since blues fans had heard a new studio release from Kingfish. Alligator Records did release the phenomenal live set from London in 2023, so that gave fans something to enjoy (and they did!), but two years is a lifetime in the music world. It turns out that Ingram and his manager decided to create their own record label, Red Zero, with the goal of not only showcasing his music, but also other up-and-coming blues artists (the label recently signed Dylan Triplett and Matthias Lattin). Hard Road is Red Zero's first release, and is a most personal musical statement for Ingram, with some excellent songs (written or co-written by him). There's plenty of his incredible guitar work, but some of it is balanced out with more of an R&B/hip hop musical setting. It's not an overwhelming change, just enough to blend in seamlessly with the blues. There are three sets of songs with different producers, but it works really well. I think this is the music that Ingram wants to play and that certainly helps the process. I've listened to this one quite a bit and, with the live set, this is probably my favorite Kingfish release yet because it goes beyond his previous efforts, branching out with satisfying results.
Garry Burnside - It's My Time Now (Strolling Bones Records), Kent Burnside - Hill Country Blood (Strolling Bones Records): Garry Burnside is R.L. Burnside's youngest son and Kent Burnside is R.L.'s grandson. Both have played extensively, Garry with Junior Kimbrough, the North Mississippi Allstars, nephew Cedric Burnside, Bobby Rush and Jessie Mae Hemphill, and Kent working with Jimbo Mathus and Buddy Guy in addition to leading his own band. Strolling Bones Records released these two albums simultaneously in mid-August, so you can't really help but compare them. Garry's release is more Hill Country-oriented (though both have plenty of that groove) and Kent's album incorporates a bit more of the rocking blues sound associated with Buddy Guy. Both artists pay tribute to their predecessors, Kent modifying a few lyrics here and there. I think the elder Burnside and Kimbrough would be proud of these efforts and I have had a hard time picking a favorite between the two, maybe leaning a bit toward Garry's effort because it’s a little grittier and the Hill Country groove is a little more prevalent in his release to these ears, but don't let that stop you from checking both of these fine releases out.
Yates McKendree - Need To Know (Qualified Records): 24-year-old McKendree is the son of session keyboardist Kevin McKendree and he released the superb Buchanan Lane back in 2023. He's skilled on both guitar and keyboards and has developed into a strong vocalist on this excellent sophomore effort. He has also become a great songwriter with some canny original tunes that sound like long lost blues classics and some cool reimagining of blues standards mixed in. There's a real New Orleans feel on several of the songs, and McKendree really shines both vocally and instrumentally. I'm pretty sure this release, like McKendree's debut, will make an appearance on my end-of-the-year favorites list. It should make yours as well.
North Mississippi Allstars - Still Shakin' (New West Records): NMA's last release, Set Sail, was only okay for me, though I loved the William Bell soul ballad, "Never Want To Be Kissed." It was a little too laid back for me and the songs weren't quiet as memorable, so I wasn't really sure about this latest release, waiting a while to purchase it. This is more of a return to form as the band locks into a groove and carries forth for most of the album. There are imaginative reworkings of many blues favorites from Robert Johnson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Furry Lewis, and others. NMA is slide guitarist Luther Dickinson, drummer Cody Dickinson, Rayfield "Ray Ray" Hollomand on pedal steel and bass, and Joey Williams on guitar, bass, and vocals. Guests include Duwayne Burnside, Panic keyboardist Jo Jo Hermann, Robert Kimbrough, and Grahame Lesh (son of Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh, to whom the album is dedicated. I saw these guys about ten years ago, not long after their World Boogie Is Coming album and have been a fan ever since. This album actually celebrates the 25 anniversary of their debut album and it shows that the band is still a force to be reckoned with.
Piper & The Hard Times - Good Company (Hard Times Records): This Nashville-based band enjoyed a banner year in 2024, winning the I.B.C. and releasing their debut album, Revelation several months later, which won the 2025 I.B.C. Best Independent Produced Album and the 2025 BMA Award for Best Emerging Artist Album. Their new release features a dozen original songs. Singer Al "Piper" Green is a robust vocalist who can handle blues, soul, or rock and The Hard Times is a rock-solid ensemble. The songs cover blues, soul, rock, funk, and roots and the album actually improves from their debut, which was one of my favorites of 2024. In June of this year, Green was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatments, but has continued to tour with the band across the country. A benefit concert was held in July and a GoFundMe page has been set up to offset his medical bills. He gives regular updates on the band's Facebook page, so follow that page and follow this band. You can thank me later.
Finally, a personal note.....in August, my wife discovered her cancer had recurred after a couple of months of health issues. We were sitting in the hospital, pondering our next move, when I got a call from Grady Champion. Grady had been faithfully checking on my wife ever since he found out she had cancer and when he found out about the recurrance, he showed up at the hospital to give her (and me) some words of encouragement and to let us know we were in his prayers. He had continued to check on her weekly and we are so appreciative. While visiting with us in the hospital, he played her his new song, "Plug In The Sunshine," and dedicated its release to her. We were both on Cloud Nine when he left and she even got to go home later that day. She is currently undergoing treatments and is doing well and I think her visit from Grady was the best medicine of all. Meanwhile, check out Grady's new song for yourself.
This is not all of the great new releases, by any means. We'll be checking out a few more in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
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