Stingray

Kenny Brown is definitely a bluesman. The man has served his apprenticeship with the best and usually hands out his guitar shingle with R.L. Burnside. But this outing finds him doing a great job of leading the band. Three songs come from Burnside (“Miss Maybelle,” the frantic shuffle “Goin’ Down South,” and “Shake ‘Em on Down”), while most of the rest are traditional, including the roaring “France Chance” and “Cocaine Bill,” where the bass does a perfect imitation of a cakewalk tuba. Brown lets his trademark slide sing throughout, with a wonderfully raw tone, while his voice carries the weight of years heavily — he doesn’t just sing the blues, he lives them. To hear him on the goodbye of “Fare Thee Well Blues” is to experience loneliness. With a tight band of Cedric Burnside and Takeeshi Imura, he can handle anything, put the grease on it, and take it down home. If you’re looking for the real deal, look no further. – Chris Nickson