Kenny Wayne Shepherd
10 Days Out,
Blues From The Backroads
Reprise – 49294
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available on amazon
You get a big bonus with this disc; it includes the 1 hour and 40 minute film ‘10 Days Out’. This film documents the making of this disc and more importantly it preserves on film some thoughts on the music they played, and some of the performances of those who helped popularize this music. In the time since this film was finished a number of these people have left us, and we are definitely the poorer for it. You not only get to meet the likes of some we have heard of such as B.B. King and Gatemouth Brown, but also some lesser known people such as Cootie Stark, Etta Baker, and Henry Townsend (proceeds from the film go to the Music Maker Relief Foundation, which provides much needed help to those who originators of this music who don’t have the money to help themselves (a little reminder not to burn). Some of the snippets of songs you wish were expanded, however we do get full songs on the segments with both the Muddy Waters Band and Howlin’ Wolf’s outfit, and they are excellent. It is a good broad view of the music on both the DVD and the CD.
Delta, to the Texas Swing of Gatemouth, and the Delta taken north to Chicago. Both of these discs provide a decent overall look at the Blues in many of its varieties that provide the foundation for today’s music (always remember you can sets of discs about each one as the PBS series showed us and still not be considered complete). The sound quality on both discs is very good and though many of the segments are recorded live there is good crisp audio for your aural pleasure
The CD portion is a good look at a large variety of this music. It provides the same variety and scope as the DVD, and the pacing and sequencing of the disc keeps it lively and moving along. Here we stay strictly with the music and it is alive and jumping. There is that live quality to the sound that makes it seem to jump from the speakers, particularly on the acoustic material. The quality and restraint in all ways was a big surprise considering what Kenny Wayne Shepherd had released prior to this disc. Maybe some rethinking of the quality this young man is capable of is in order.