Growing up in Memphis, Calvin Newborn was exposed to the music that followed the Great Depression in the South. He learned it first hand. As a kid, he learned the mechanics of the guitar from B.B. King, a family friend. His "Newborn Blues" shows that influence quite clearly. Newborn's father was a drummer who led an orchestra in West Memphis, Arkansas. Later on, in 1950, he moved back across the river to downtown Memphis, where he grew musically. Sliding on his knees and dancing with his guitar held behind his head, Newborn created quite a sensation. A young Elvis Presley came in to watch (and learn). The rest is history.
"After Hours Blues" carries a true meaning along with it. Organ, bass, drums and Newborn's expressive guitar capture the spirit wholly. His concept of tone resonates as clearly and as lyrically as if he were singing. Few instrumental albums can boast such a claim. Newborn's guitar rises and falls with the natural phrases that ooze out of the music. "Blues and Beyond" extends that approach to a larger band, as the leader adds congas, horns and piano to his sound. His guitar remains the group's centerpiece, tossing out emotional statements one after the other. Newborn creates a lush scene that allows his expressive blues and jazz to grow to its full height. His timeless music represents both a nostalgic look back and a comfortable ease that comes from spending a lot of time reinterpreting the present.