Blues Legend Charlie Musselwhite Unveils 'Mississippi Son'

At the venerable age of 78, Charlie Musselwhite, with his roots deeply entrenched in Mississippi soil and a lifetime of blues experience, has delivered a powerful statement in the form of his first solo album, Mississippi Son. Distinguished by a lifetime of dedication to the blues, his career that took off with his 1967 debut, Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite’s Southside Band, continues to flourish.

Musselwhite's latest creation, a minimalist yet soul-stirring array of 14 tracks, displays his multifaceted talents as both a harmonica virtuoso and a guitarist. The album is a treasure trove that spans original compositions and remarkable renditions of pieces by influential artists such as Yank Rachell, The Stanley Brothers, and Charley Patton. This project germinated in Clarksdale, Mississippi, to where Musselwhite relocated after environmental calamities nudged him away from California.

The fires in Northern California, growing more intense each year, prompted Charlie and his wife Henrietta to leave their home for a safer abode. As Musselwhite puts it, the grave situation, marked by evacuations and the piling ash reminiscent of snow, was a writing on the wall they could not ignore.

In the midst of the global pandemic, with mobility restricted, Musselwhite found solace and inspiration in the proximity of his friend Gary Vincent’s studio. Casual guitar strumming sessions soon turned into recorded tracks with the help of drummer Ricky Martin and upright bassist Barry Bays, culminating in the birth of Mississippi Son.

The album's pacing is deliberate, much like the flow of the Mississippi River itself, accentuated by Musselwhite's unhurried vocal delivery and his spontaneous guitar work and harmonica playing. Authentic blues pieces like “Blues Up the River” and Guy Clark’s somber “The Dark” channel the spirits of blues titans, including his friend John Lee Hooker, particularly through a cover of “Crawling King Snake” arranged as a laid-back shuffle.

Musselwhite is now looking forward to bringing the essence of Mississippi Son to life on tour, where he will grace audiences with his guitar, bass, and drum trio ensemble. While he is open to perform fan favorites and newer, unheard tracks, Musselwhite is also eager to showcase his often-overlooked guitar skills depending on how each live moment unfolds.

A youth spent in Mississippi listening to the work songs of local laborers laid the foundation for Musselwhite's love of the blues. Those melodies resonated with his emotions, magnetizing him towards the genre that would define his life. Musselwhite's journey continued in Memphis during his teenage years, where the blues seed planted in his heart grew into a fruitful five-decade-long career, with no sign of abatement.

Although Charlie Musselwhite's upcoming show at Freight & Salvage is sold out, fans still have the opportunity to attend the New Year's Eve Party featuring Musselwhite and Angela Strehli, ensuring that the blues will keep ringing well into the future.

blues, album, tour