Louisiana Red – Driftin’

Many musicians play the blues. Louisiana Red lives it. As one reviewer put it, "Red's blues are about as down to earth as the humus itself." When he performs, he falls into a trance-like state and his whole life pours out in an intense demonstration of what being a blues musician is all about.

This album, Red's third for Earwig, reunites the band from his second Earwig album, Millennium Blues: Willie Kent, Handy Award winner, on bass; Dave Jefferson, formerly of the Albert King band, on drums; Allen Batts, of the early Albert Collins' Ice Breakers band, on electric piano; Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on harmonica, and Brian Bisesi, currently with Luther Johnson's band, rhythm guitar.

"Half this CD is down home, acoustic country blues. Red plays music so raw and personal you'd swear you were walking through some clapboard shantytown in the Deep South listening to Red playing on his porch. The remainder of the cuts use a band and its sound is best described the the term popularized by John Fogerty, chooglin' blues...Louisiana Red with this album solidifies his reputation as a consummate storyteller in song." -- Blues Connection of Central New York "Red is on top of his game with a fine mix of raw electric and unplugged blues that will make you take notice--this is the real thing. Each and every song is an autobiographical glimpse into a truly great man."   -    Twin Cities Blues News

Track Listing:
1. Driftin' - 5:44   2. Hard Hard Time - 5:47   3. Bring Me Some Water - 5:29   4. Leaving Grandma - 3:22   5. In the Garden - 1:58   6. The Day I Met B.B. King - 5:05   7. Keep Your Hands on the Plow - 4:06   8. Teddy Bear/Cootie in the Gum Stump - 3:37   9. Getting Weaker Day by Day - 5:35   10. I Met Lightnin' Hopkins - 2:21   11. Chankity Chank Chank - 5:24   12. Baby, You Gonna Miss Me - 2:39   13. Powder Room Blues - 3:55   14. Train Station Blues - 3:08   15. He Will See You Through - 2:10

Personnel:
Louisiana Red (vocals, guitar) , Willie ' Big Eyes' Smith (harmonica) , Brian Bisesi (guitar) , Allen Batts (piano) , Willie Kent (bass)

Reviews:

1. AllMusic - Scott Yanow
Louisiana Red is a versatile performer capable of playing standard electric blues, interacting with his guitar à la Muddy Waters ("Hard Hard Time" is a good example), paying tribute to both B.B. King and Lightnin' Hopkins, or singing a religious hymn ("He Will See You Through"). Whether playing solo or performing as part of a fine blues quintet that includes Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on harmonica, Louisiana Red shows on this CD that he is one of the more significant blues stylists of the early 21st century, performing in each setting and idiom with equal sincerity and skill. Well worth exploring.