EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to No Depression’s newest column — Best of the Blues. Each month we’ve asked long-time No Depression contributor, Grant Britt, to round up some of his favorite new blues records for your listening pleasure.
February is a great month for blues lovers. You'll need a big set of ears to soak up two great collections of blues royalty, one honoring B.B, King's legacy with B.B. King's Blues Summit 100 featuring an outstanding cast, and the other letting Zydeco King Clifton Chenier's collected works speak for themselves with Clifton Chenier: King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco. Alligator records celebrates the raucous return of Lil' Ed Williams and his Blues Imperials after a 10 year absence from recording with his release Slideways, his bandmates of 40 years still with him. Chicago bluesmen Omar Coleman and Igor Prado throw down hard on Old, New, Funky, and Blue, touching all those bases for a home run. Once again, thanks for listening, and please pass it on.
Various Artists — B.B. King's Blues Summit 100, February 6
February is Black history month, so it's fitting that a tribute to B.B King leads off this month's blues releases. King, who passed away in May 2015, would have turned 100 last September. He is honored by Joe Bonamassa with a 32-track, two-CD featuring blues royalty paying tribute to the King. Bonamassa organized and produced the project, leaking small batches of the project back in September. Although he recruited and organized the artists, Bonamassa was not heavy-handed, telling Glide magazine that he played a small role in every song, letting his touring band and the artists carry the weight.
