Kenny Wayne Shepherd – the youngest blues star

Kenny Wayne Shepherd is a pretty unusual person. He stays one the youngest and most popular blues players of the present days. There are not so many people of this kind as blues exists for many and many decades already and most of musicians working in this genre have crossed the line of 50-60 age long time ago. His career is another example of American dream incarnation. Kenny has walked up the stage for the first time when he was only 13 years old, and issued his first disc at 18. By the age of 29 years Kenny Wayne Shepherd has sold millions of albums worldwide and received a quantity of honorable awards. His new album 10 Days Out (Blues From the Backroads) turned out to be a unique thing, a peculiar milestone in his entire career. Having a guitar and a portable studio packed in his car Shepherd went out traveling across the American cities and towns in search of the greatest blues performers of XX century. And though the album was released under Kenny’s name the fundamental role on this record was given to the aging pioneers of blues where Shepherd himself only accompanies their music revelations, respectfully letting them shine through again.

10 Days Out (Blues From the Backroads) – an album of historical significance

In the first place this album will be valuable for the devoted diehard blues fans. This is not just a collection of standard bluesy tunes; the album carries a historical character because many of those musicians who took part in this record has passed away before it was released. The album wasn’t recorded in a professional studio, most of the songs represented here were performed in domestic surroundings: in the kitchen, living room and even out on the porch. And each composition sounds like a swan song, full of sincere heart breaking energy. Just take a look at dribbling with bluesy melancholy Tears Come Rolling Down or Potato Patch. It is really interesting to hear a small acoustic instrumental Knoxville Rag performed by Etta Backer who is proving that years can’t be a drawback for music, during her record session she was 93 years old. Some songs were recorded during live shows, thus for example Shepherd plays along with B.B. King himself on The Thrill Is Gone. It is really hard to point out a song that stands above all the rest, each of them is a real blues jewel and any fan of this genre will certainly find something especially interesting here.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd pays homage

10 Days Out (Blues From the Backroads) became an important milestone in Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s discography. It is a separate piece among all his previous records, the one that can’t be referred to a usual set of songs issued to prove the artist’s talent, this is rather an album of social importance, a historical document for people to remember. When he accepted a liability of a chronicler he has demonstrated his love to blues music and respect to its old veterans. Moreover he is not going to put the income from sales into his pocket, the money will benefit the Music Maker Relief Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps the retired musicians. There are no analogues to this record, all the performers were caught in their everyday life, that’s why the material caries a spontaneous character, it can be compared with a momentary photo that depicts these people in the most usual for them surrounding.10 Days Out (Blues From the Backroads) is the truest and sincerest blues that can make many people overestimate a history of this legendary genre and feel the very essence of its beautiful weeping nature.

01.03.2007