Even more than they're played, the blues are felt. The music is born from within and manifests outward in the pull of melancholic strings, bone-chilling harmonics, and belly-aching words. Since the genre’s inception in the late 19th century, a handful of greats have mastered and molded this soul-deep sound. Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell – they often put to song tales of tumultuous relationships, socioeconomic hardships, and widespread racial injustice.
The life-worn works of those pre-war era bluesmen mentioned above are, today, the subject of Todd Albright’s latest project, Blues For Dexter Linwood. His fourth album sees the 12-string guitar player and fingerstyle savant re-interpreting some of their classics, as well as pulling from the catalogues of other blues icons like Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and more.
Albright has dedicated his career to the study of blues music and the talents of those who pioneered its sound, style, and traditions, so throughout the 11-track release, the guitarist’s love for and knowledge of the genre is undeniable. From the moment Blues For Dexter Linwood lurches awake with an intensified version of Blind Willie McTell’s “Drive Away Blues,” there’s no doubt Albright knows his stuff. He seems to understand the musical language of each standard, knowing just what to give where, how to translate that on his 12-string, and come away with a meticulous cover.
