“Nothin’ But the Blues,” an original 1977 recording featuring Theresa Needham, is a perfect opening to Terry Blade’s first full studio album since his award-winning 2023 release, Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper. The Chicago-based singer/songwriter continues his mission of educating the public about folk and blessings with Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues, while creating a memorable musical canvas to explore.
“Nothing But The Blues,” with its swampy harmonica and gutsy acoustic guitar, introduces us to the Southside Chicago world of MacLaurin by using her own words. You can almost see her in her blues club back in the ’70s.
“Gettin’ Tired of You” finds Blades in full blues flight, with his nuanced and powerful vocals and traditionally inspired lyrics. Blades successfully incorporates his passion for traditional Chicago blues with his passion for history, leaning on the story of noted crime boss Madame Stephanie St. Clair.
“Tell ’Em” continues Terry Blade’s unique talent of incorporating his vivid imagery with traditional blues music and instrumentation. Neil Cross’s music is stark and effective, while Blade’s lyrics touch on the inspiration, desperation, and fear expressed by many in the Black community after the great migration and are still present today.
Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues features an alternate take on Blade’s 2023 single “Won’t Be Around” titled “Be Around No More (Original Version)” featuring Bobby Cole’s emotive finger-picked acoustic guitar and touches of keyboards. Blade’s vocals are equally raw and urgent. The result is a song that effectively contrasts with the originally released version while losing none of its impact.
Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s blues classic “That’s Alright” is also effectively reimagined here. Blade’s arrangement is dark and heartfelt, bringing out a nuisance that the Elvis Presley version never had. This update effectively captures the spirit of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s 1946 version and strips away the Memphis sheen for a uniquely Chicago feel.
The album-closing “Fallen Sons” touches on the ongoing issue of gun violence in Chicago. Antonio Di Giovanna composed the music, which utilizes traditional blues instruments, banjo, acoustic guitar, and brushes, which sympathetically support Blade’s multitracked vocals. The song is an effective prayer for the end of violence and a call to remember the fallen.
Terry Blade has again combined unique musicality with Black history. The musical interludes throughout Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues are equally impactful in telling the story of Chicago blues while including some of our blues legends’ stories.
The result is a modern-day blues masterpiece that is as musically potent as it is culturally significant.
- Terry Blade – ‘Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues’ (2025) - March 4, 2025
- Dennis Mitcheltree and Johannes Wallmann – ‘Holding Space’ (2025) - February 15, 2025
- Fernando Perdomo – ‘Waves 2’ (2025) - February 12, 2025
