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Get Away with Eden Brent
What happens when a Delta-bred blues pianist finds herself in a London studio? If you’re Eden Brent, you make the record of a lifetime. Her newest album, Getaway Blues, was laid down in London, mixed up in Memphis, and made in Mississippi — her first collection of new studio material since 2014’s Jigsaw Heart.
Tracked over two short days at the funky Fish Factory Studio, the nine-song set pairs Eden with top British session pros, including in-demand guitarist Rob Updegraff (Jamie Cullum, Zigaboo Modeliste). Her husband, British jazz trombonist and arranger Bob Dowell, produced the album and co-wrote most of it; Grammy-winning engineer Matt Ross-Spang gave it a sharp, intimate Memphis mix to match the down-to-earth sessions. “I like music that can be made even if the power goes out!” Eden says — a quip that could double as the album’s manifesto.
Highlights include the hook-heavy boogie-woogie of the opening title track, the gorgeous country-soul ballad “You on My Mind,” the double-entendre blast of “Gas Pumping Man,” and the Mose Allison-worthy “Watch the World Go By.” Decades into a career shaped by her late mentor Abie “Boogaloo” Ames — the Greenville, Mississippi piano master Eden shared stages with for nearly twenty years — she’s setting her own standard now.
“The first half of my life I was trying to figure out who I was going to be when I grew up,” Eden says. “With this album, I just wanted to be myself. I know who I am, and I’m happy with the woman I turned out to be.”
Here are a few of the raves rolling in so far:
“Refined blues, heartfelt and passionate… has true soul and in spots is outright sensual. Eden Brent is on fire.” —Living Blues
“When she starts to sing, she just totally owns us… intoxicating and sultry and wonderful.” —Michael Doherty’s Music Log
“A brilliant album packed with boogie-woogie piano blues that is all but impossible to walk away from…” —American Songwriter
“A direct, unadorned treasure… mixes songs laced with familiar double-entendre messages and intimate ballads that will leave you yearning for more.” —Blues Blast
Stream, buy, or just hit play above — and let us know what you think!
Ghost Hymns nominated for Acoustic Album of the Year
Blues Music Magazine dubbed it “a musical journey for the ages.” Americana Highways lauded the album’s “celestial patina… that’s almost not of this earth.” And Living Blues asked “how many synonyms can we find for ‘beautiful’?”
Now we’re thrilled to learn that William Lee Ellis’ Ghost Hymns has been nominated for Acoustic Album of the Year in the 2024 Blues Music Awards. Congratulations for the well-deserved recognition!
The Blues Music Awards (formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards) are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. And best of all, you can vote in the awards process! Visit The Blues Foundation to join, and then visit the membership portal to vote once you are a member. Voting is open now through February 28.
The Blues Foundation will present the 45th Blues Music Awards on May 9th at the Renasant Convention Center in downtown Memphis, TN. Stay tuned!
The Return of William Lee Ellis
In the years since his last Yellow Dog Records album — acclaimed outing, God’s Tattoos — William Lee Ellis earned a PhD in ethnomusicology and is a professor at a New England college. His musical yearnings never left, however, resulting in this new album. Backed by talented friends in current home state Vermont and abroad, the former Memphis-based songwriter and fleet fingerpicker calls on global players with ties to Madagascar, Ghana, Kenya, Scotland, and elsewhere.
The album’s originals and arrangements draw on a diverse palette from blues, spirituals, and country to Ghanaian high life, Chinese yueqin, and Malagasy guitar. Played on an array of instruments from fretless banjo and slide guitar to Ghanaian percussion and Chinese yueqin, the original tunes of Ghost Hymns offer an expansive view of tradition, visiting blues, gospel, high life, and more in a singular journey.
Godson of bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe and son of onetime Blue Grass Boy and banjoist/composer Tony Ellis, Ellis fils began life living and breathing roots music. Conservatory training followed as did immersion in the fabled fingerpickers of country blues and street gospel — notably Rev. Gary Davis — leading to three renowned releases in the early aughts. Ghost Hymns is a welcome comeback.