Artist: Larry Mud Morganfield
Album: They Call Me Mud
Label: Severn Records
Release Date: 3.09.2018
Mud Morganfield is a guy that carries a truly remarkable name forward, always taking the genuinely exceptional work and blues heritage of his late father, McKinley Morganfield, aka Muddy Waters.It’s hard not to think there must be both a burden and a blessing in this extraordinary history, but, despite it all, Mud manages to pull off a balancing act that few could or would attempt, let alone achieve.
These days wannabe Muddy Waters are a dime a dozen. But with Mud Morganfield we have, in essence, the real deal.This ten-track album includes a few of Muddy’s numbers including “Howling Wolf” and “Can’t Get No Grinding,” but for the most part is a self-penned release that works well, featuring Mud’s strong voice, reminiscent at times of his late father while always keeping to the right side of initiative and originality. In many ways, apart from the old blues work included, the album has more of a soul feel, no bad thing given thebaggage that is inevitably hauled here.
Despite the weight carried, Morganfield manages to rise to the challenge with a mighty fine, driving delivery and an emotive spirit running through almost every track. Joined by many of Chicago’s finest sidemen, including Billy Branch and Studebaker John, and co-produced by one of Muddy’s old bandmembers, Mud covers ground with some stirring R&B, jazzy-funk undertones and soul-based music that shimmers with haunting echoes of an earlier era, the Chicago blues scene, but always remaining true to his own originality, initiative and spirit.
—Iain Patience
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