The
100 Years of Blues
of the title refers to the combined service of
Elvin Bishop
and
Charlie Musselwhite
, a fact that's fudged just a little.
Bishop
Musselwhite
both started playing blues in the early 1960s, which would give them well over 100 years of music when added together, but 120 Years of Blues doesn't quite have the same ring as
. All that time can be felt in the bones of this 2020 album, one that has its origins in
's 2017
Big Fun Trio
album. The pair felt a spark, so they decided to head on the road in 2019 supported by nothing more than pianist/guitarist
Bob Welsh
, a tour that spilled into the studio for 2020's
. The three musicians are occasionally accompanied by
Kid Andersen
here, but he, along with
Welsh
, feel like tasteful accents to
's growling guitar and
's lonesome harp. Given this title, it's no surprise that the duo don't broaden their vistas outside of the blues, but their earthy chemistry gives this record a considerable kick. The pair also make the wise decision to nod at the modern world, acting like cheerful cranks on "Old School" and offering a pointed political barb on "What the Hell?," where
sings "He is the president but wants to be the king/You know what I like about the guy? Not a goddamn thing." These moments add some levity to
, but the whole affair is a really good time, a record where its casual nature carries some weight, since it's a profound joy to hear two heavyweights relax into a deep groove. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine