duggup

With a dark Louisianna voice and a guitar that howls out the blues, Kenny Wayne Shepard is keeping alive a tradition that began in the depths of Africa, traveled to the new world and rooted itself into the muddy soul of America.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band – Blue on Black (Live DC 4/22/07)

His interpretation of the blues is not the scrubbed down, pitch corrected and normalised blues of the commercial world rather it is a authentic and heartfelt as he and his fellow musicians are.

In a genre populated largely by those of a more mature generation, it is fitting that the youthful Shepherd chose to record with some of the heralded musicians of that generation.

Shepard has produced a film and accompanying CD called TEN DAYS OUT: BLUES FROM THE BACKROADS that chronicals his musical journey around the US.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who ably walks the line between bandleader and accompanist, is joined by a stellar lineup of collaborators. His guests include some of the most renowned blues artists like B. B. King, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Hubert Sumlin and more. Partial proceeds of this project are being donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to helping impoverished blues artists.

Rightly or wrongly the expectations laid on this bluesman are heavy, but listen awhile and decide for yourself if he lives up to the sorbriquet of “prodigy” Meanwhile check out his MySpace website.

jools is a graphic designer who used to front a band on vocals and bass. All evidence of which have mercifully been obliterated or otherwise lost.
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