Chicago is a city where skyscrapers disappear into the sky, and the scent of hot espresso lingers in the streets, framing the morning hustle. When, in the first half of the 20th century, musicians from the South flocked to Chicago in search of a better life, they brought with them a sound that changed the music world. Thus, the famous Chicago Blues was born – more electric, bold, with a rasp in the voice and a mesmerizing guitar sound that would later inspire rock and roll, soul, and R&B.
This spirit of great music lives on today, and Terry Blade is one of those musicians who knows how to convey it. Terry Blade is a name to remember, especially if you want to capture the magic of the blues. He is a singer-songwriter and musician from Chicago whose music seduces listeners with tender folk, rich R&B, and sometimes intoxicating Motown. Inspired by greats like Tracy Chapman, Ben Harper, and Isaac Hayes, Terry doesn’t try to imitate – instead, he takes their “spirit” and transforms it into something entirely his own.
The new album by Terry Blade, “Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues,” is a musical story told through melodies, voice, and atmosphere. In it, he effortlessly shifts genre dynamics while remaining himself – stylish, charismatic, and insanely talented. Blues is a mood, the DNA of American culture, and Blade delivers it in a way that makes you want to order a whiskey (double, no ice) and settle into a dark bar on the outskirts of Chicago.
“Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues” is a well-thought-out, masterfully staged audio spectacle, where music coexists with archival recordings, memories, and voices from the past. It is a history lesson and a brilliant, emotional, and impossibly atmospheric experience. Well then, let’s press play and listen to Chicago blues.
The album opens with the track “Nothin’ But the Blues (feat. Theresa Needham): Original 1977 Recording” – excerpts from an interview with Theresa McLaurin Needham, aka the “Godmother of the Chicago Blues,” recorded on May 25, 1977. Ms. Needham was the owner of the famous blues club Theresa’s Tavern, located at 48th and Indiana Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
Then Blade takes the initiative into his own hands and performs the song “Getting Tired of You” – where the past and present “collide.” In the melody and rhythm, you can feel the vibrations of B.B. King and Lead Belly, but layered over them is a new breath, a fresh delivery, a sound that takes the shape of emotional memories. And if you’ve never been a fan of the blues, “Getting Tired of You” might just be the track that sparks your love affair with it. Terry Blade doesn’t just perform the blues, he explores it. That’s why the album brings rare interview recordings with Chicago musicians from the ’70s back to life. For example, in the track “Ain’t Been Through No Changes,” you can hear the voice of Muddy Waters Jr. – an important detail that transports you to the era of the greats.
My clear favorite from the release is “Tell ‘Em “- the sensual groove of the guitar and Terry’s sultry vocals merge into a unified synthesis of melodies, creating a feeling of awe. Every song on the album is outstanding, and the smooth narrative transitions between them make listening feel like one complete story. A special highlight is” Be Around No More” – blues at its core, yet with astonishing depth. This track carries an effortless freedom in its performance, like a wind of change where the contours of the future can already be sensed – rhythmic, soulful R&B. Pure magic of sound.
No less mesmerizing is “That’s Alright.” In Terry Blade’s performance, it sounds the way it was meant to – filled with sincerity and gratitude for tradition. Many first heard it in Elvis’s 1954 version. But if you give this interpretation a chance, you will feel a living connection to history – a deep respect for Arthur Crudup, whose influence once remained in the shadows. Here, there is authenticity. There is emotion. There is the very essence of the Blues.
The final track, “Fallen Sons (Original Version), ” is Terry’s poignant tribute to blues traditions. A song about the pain of lost lives, it reflects the harsh reality of South Chicago, where the echo of gunshots has become part of everyday life. Inspired by the little-known history of Black American cowboys, Terry weaves their legacy into a modern tragedy. In his interpretation, a duel is not a contest of speed and accuracy but a symbol of the never-ending cycle of violence that still dictates the laws of Chicago’s streets today. This song is the unreleased original version of what became the 2023 single “Black Cowboys”, featuring an a cappella intro and a faster-tempo musical arrangement.
The album “Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues” is a great choice for those who already love the blues and for those who are just beginning to explore this genre. And if you’re not yet following Terry Blade on every imaginable and unimaginable social media platform, fix that right now. Because such talent is a rarity, and it shouldn’t be missed.
Published in partnership with SubmitHub
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