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Blues Underground Network |
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Lightnin' Malcolm
"Renegade"
It is not often that you read
"he had a musical epiphany" in the bio of a Blues Artist, but
then again, Lightnin' Malcolm is far from your typical Blues Artist.
Lightnin' Malcolm was hooked on music from a young age courtesy of "an
old raggedy guitar w/ a couple of strings and cassette of Muddy Waters his
life and the music world would change forever". After traveling the
world where he spread his love for the blues everywhere he could, before
finally settling into the North Mississippi, and that is where he
apparently had that musical epiphany. Now one can't blame him for having
that reaction, after all it was the area in which it's Hill Country Blues
were made famous by the likes of Fred McDowell, R.L. Burnside, Junior
Kimbrough, and Jessie Mae Hemphill, to name a few. Lightnin' Malcolm has
learned the tradition of playing Hill Country Blues well, as you will
certainly agree to, after listening to his new release "Renegade".
"Renegade" consists of 13 Tracks, of
which 12 are all new original songs written and produced by Lightnin'
Malcolm. "Renegade" is mainly a duo collaboration with Lightnin' Malcolm
in addition to Vocals, also playing Guitar, Drums (Track 9), and Bass
(Track 1), and Cameron Kimbrough playing Drums. Having this recording done
mostly in a duo manner allowed most of this Album to come across in a raw
North Mississippi Hill country tradition. Adding to this
authenticity was also the fact that "Renegade" was recorded Live, in
Clarksdale. In addition to the duo performances on "Renegade", there is
also a Horn section featured on some of the Tracks, which featured Jim
Spake (Baritone Sax), David McKnight (Tenor Sax), and Nahshon Benford
(Trumpet). Other Special Guests on "Renegade" included Nadirah Shakoor
(Vocals Track 8), J. Grubbz (Rap Track 10), Rosalind Wilcox (Tambourine
Track 9), Dave Hererro (Drum Programming Track 1), and Lucero (Horns
Tracks 5, 8, 10).
Teaming up with grandsons of Legendary
Blues artists is getting to be a habit for Lightnin' Malcolm,
this time with Cameron Kimbrough, the grandson of blues legend
(Junior Kimbrough). Previously Lightnin' Malcolm joined forces with Cedric
Burnside, the grandson of R.L. Burnside, and together they released the
critically acclaimed Album, "2 Man Wrecking Crew".
"Renegade" see's Lightnin' Malcolm
stretching the envelope of Hill Country Blues, which like any good
creative Artist, can only be expected, and in doing so he shows us the
uniqueness that has become his musical trademark. "Renegade" blends well
with the other styles Lightnin' Malcolm has chosen to add to it, and
although different in character from straight Hill Country Blues, the
other little treasures on this Album add more to the over all feeling of
belonging on this piece of masterful work, rather it be the Reggae groove
of Track 8, Precious Jewel (featuring Nadirah Shakoor) or the Rap and
Horns Infused Track 10, North Mississippi (featuring J Grubbz).
As Lightnin' Malcolm continues on his
Musical Journey, he shows us with the release of "Renegade", that he
already has a lot of it already figured out, and that he is certainly on
the right track. With "Renegade", Lightnin' Malcolm, Cameron Kimbrough,
and the supporting cast have managed to put together a very
fine collection of very fine music.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues
Underground Network)
Blues Underground Network Review
Pending
Additional Info
Tracklist
1.Ain't Even Worried
2.Stop Fightin' Over Me 3.Renegade 4.So Many Women 5.Guilty Man 6.My Lyin' Ass 7.Last Nite I Held An Angel 8.Precious Jewel (featuring Nadirah Shakoor) 9.Come Go With Me 10.North Mississippi (featuring J Grubbz) 11.Foxfire Ranch 12.Tell You Girl 13.You Better Recognize
Listen To Samples Here...
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