Artist:     North Mississippi Allstars

Album:     Up and Rolling

Label:     New West Records

Release Date:     10.04.2019

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It’s not economically feasible to put much into the packaging of a CD in the age of streaming, but Up and Rolling, the new release from the North Mississippi Allstars, pleasantly bucks conventional wisdom. Included with the CD is a 24-page booklet of text and photos that tells the story of the rich musical traditions of the Mississippi Hill country.

The brothers Dickinson, Luther and Cody, have been in music their whole lives as sons of theh late producer Jim Dickinson, and at it professionally for more than 20 years, recording and touring with a rotating lineup of musicians as part of their North Mississippi Allstars ensemble. With photos from 1996 by Texas photographer Wyatt McSpadden, Luther tells the story of growing up with a musician and well-regarded producer and local legends like RL Burnside, Otha Turner and Junior Kimbrough. Playing on Otha Turner’s front porch and at county fairs, Luther showed early promise on guitar while Cody played drums in an old-time fife and drum band. The boys developed their own sound rooted in the swampy blues of their forefathers layered with Luther’s hard-rocking guitar. They began playing gigs at a local juke joint called The Antenna Club, and after the release of Shake Hands with Shorty in 2000, the North Mississippi Allstars took it on the road and haven’t slowed down since.

Second-generation players like Cedric Burnside and Otha’s granddaughter, Shade Thomas, have always been part of the NMA project. Up and Rolling also features Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, Duane Betts and the Jackson sisters, Tierinii and Takirya, of the band Southern Avenue out of Memphis. “Call That Gone” kicks things off with Cody’s drumbeat and Luther and Shade trading vocals. Shade’s fife adds a light, airy sound as Luther’s slide guitar revs things up into an all-out jam. The title track is a trippy, psychedelic throwback celebrating LSD and mushroom tea, followed by Mavis Staples joining for some gritty gospel on “What You Gonna Do?” Guitar lovers will appreciate Jason Isbell and Duane Betts sitting in with Luther on “Mean Old World” and Cedric Burnside’s raw blues on “Out on the Road.” The Jackson sisters’ vocals on “Living Free” lend a ‘60s Pop feel with lyrics to match before closing things out with a brief original recording of Otha Turner performing his “Bye Bye Baby.”

As fine a collection as Up and Rolling is, the North Mississippi Allstars have always been about playing live. Luther is one of the finest guitarists around, a major and magnetic talent who always seems to be having more fun than anyone else in the room. The band has been on tour since early November in support of the album. For photos and a review of their recent New York show, see North Mississippi Allstars Up and Rolling at Brooklyn Bowl.

—Lou Montesano