Hey there. Okay, the election’s over.
Time to get on with our lives.
Let’s stop all the chatter and pull up our kornacki khakis and get to work. We got some stuff to do. (Me too.)
This week: I’m shining a Spotlight on one of the freshest faces in the Blues genre. How fresh you ask? Well, he’s so fresh he’s barely been unwrapped.
And then in Short Licks, there’s some Wintery awards, an uber-expensive collector’s item, and some real Christmas music. (Too soon?)
Spotlight – Cristone “Kingfish” Ingram
Photo by Rory Doyle, CC BY SA 4.0
Someone Needs to Check This Guy’s ID
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is supposed to be a youngster – just 21 years old. And yet his debut album, “Kingfish,” plays like something from a seasoned vet.
You see the album hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award. And Christone snapped up 5 Blues Music Awards at the 2020 BMA ceremony.
I mean … how’s that possible?
Precocious Child
Well, Christone is young alright, but he’s already checked a lot of boxes on the Bluesman checklist.
He was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. So he’s a natural-born, bona fide, Delta Blues citizen.
He started playing the guitar at a very early age too – just like so many top Bluesmen have done.
And then there’s the fact that he studied in the Arts and Education program at the Delta Blues Museum with Bill “Howl -N- Mad” Perry and Richard “Daddy Rich” Crisman. That gives him a true Blues pedigree.
So by age 12 he was playing his first gigs. At 14 he performed at the White House as part of the Delta Blues Museum Band. And by the time he was 17 he was headlining at local clubs.
Holy cow!
The Proof’s in the Pudding
Mozart was quoted as saying “the music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” And Christone’s artistry flows from his respect for that silence.
He doesn’t fill it up with notes just because he can. Rather he gracefully builds lines and rhythms that accentuate it. The result is guitar work that’s authentic, sincere, and a real pleasure to listen to.
It’s a great accomplishment for any musician. But for a 21 year-old? Whoa!
Oh, and did I mention that he’s got a great voice and co-wrote 8 of the songs on his album?
So Now What?
Right now Christone’s Blues is the on the more traditional side of the genre. But his style is evolving. He’s capable of hitting all the edges – from Country Blues to Blues Rock.
And he’s putting butts in seats too.
He has one headlining tour under his belt (and a second one cut short by Covid). Plus, he’s shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Eric Gales, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and more.
I’d say he’s definitely going places except that it looks like he’s already arrived.
The Outro
It feels like somewhere in this young man’s body lives the soul of a much older, seasoned Bluesman.
But that soul isn’t resting on its laurels. No Sir. Christone’s determined to develop his own style and explore every inch of his talent. Or as he puts it, “I have a lot to say, so please stay tuned.”
So pay attention folks. Think of it as a musical investment. One with a phenomenal growth potential. Because there’s a good chance “Kingfish” might be a star for a very long time.
Here’s a short playlist of just a few of Christone’s tunes and a video of his recent NPR Tiny Desk concert.
Cristone “Kingfish” Ingram NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
Short Licks
Photo by Alexandre St-Louis on Unsplash
Sugaring Season
The Blues is an American invention and one of our best exports. So it’s no wonder that our Canadian neighbors support and promote their own Blues artists with their own awards – The Maple Blues Awards. If you explore the music of the nominees on their list you can often find a real gem or two. (Leave it to our Canuck friends to do this in the dead of Winter.)
Canada’s Maple Blues Award Nominees
The Godfather of British Blues
John Mayall’s early years (1965-1974) have been captured on a deluxe, 35 CD, limited-edition boxset. It includes every album he made during that time and previously unreleased material. Of course it features musicians like Clapton, Green, Fleetwood and other icons that did their bit with the Bluesbreakers. It’s available in February 2021 but I’m giving you a heads-up now because you might want to start saving up your dough – it will set you back nearly $450 bucks. (£275 pounds if you want to get all British-Bluesy on me.)
Pre-order John Mayall – The First Generation 1965-1974
Paging Doctor Ticketmaster
“News that pharmaceutical company Pfizer’s early results on a new COVID-19 vaccine showed a 90% efficacy rate on an initial clinical trial has given concert professionals hope that the business can start mounting a return in 2021.” And Ticketmaster is working on a safety plan to that end. Essentially you’ll need to prove you had a proper vaccination or a negative test result before they’ll sell you a ticket. (Great idea, I’m ready, count me in.)
How Ticketmaster Plans to Check Your Vaccine Status for Concerts
Ouch and Double Ouch
Guitar Center (which is really Guitar Center, Music & Arts, AND Musician’s Friend) is filing for bankruptcy. The pandemic’s rippling effect has worked its way from live music, through recording, and now down to musical instruments and gear. Without retail sales, GC can’t stay afloat. I hope, I hope, I hope they can reorganize out of this and recover. (Cause I sure would miss browsing around the Hollywood store.)
Guitar Center to File for Chapter 11
Christmas á la Bleu
If ever there was a Christmas designed for the Blues it’s 2020’s. So, instead of hooking up all those traditional carols this year, why not try something new? Here’s just the thing – “A Gulf Coast Christmas.” 16 tunes from various Gulf Coast Records artists that will blues you up big time. (The perfect soundtrack for your Zoom Christmas morning with family.)
I’ll Leave You With…
“Hard Times, Bad Decisions” by Lisa Mann
(This tune fits right in with 2020)
Thanks for reading,
Jon
Jon Beres
I’m one part Blues Fan and one part Digital Native (with a dash of Curmudgeon.) I’m also the publisher of AlltheWayBlue.com. If you love the Blues, I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine - cheers!
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