Duncan Street Baptized By The Blues 15 South Records

Duncan Street was formed in May of 2013, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, when Hambone Gallery owner Stan Street heard Dave Duncan playing his dobro on a park bench and invited the guitarist to that evening’s music event at the gallery. Street, a folk artist who also blows a mean harp, joined forces with Duncan that night and a new blues duo was born. After a year of writing songs and gigging, the pair has released their debut album, Baptized By The Blues (15 South Records).

Duncan, a Nashville resident who has had songs recorded by over 20 artists over his career, including three BMA-nominated tunes by Curtis Salgado, composed eight of the 11 tracks and plays acoustic and electric guitar and dobro . They include the opening track, “Watermelon, BBQ, & Beer,” which pays homage to three mainstays of many blues fans’ regular diet, the rambling shuffle “Color Me Blue,” “Sharpest Marble in the Drawer,” a self-effacing slow blues, a pair of spicy tunes in “Shakin’ The Bacon Down” and “Tater Salad Woman,” and the acoustic slide workout, “Go Right Back To Bed.”

Street sings three tracks, both of his compositions, “Come To Mississippi,” which bears serious consideration as state song, the autobiographical title track, and a joyous version of Muddy Waters’ classic, “I Be’s Trouble.” He also contributes some blistering harp work on all of the tracks, even blowing some saxophone on the closing tune, the Duncan/Fred Knobloch track, “The Blues Comes In All Colors.”

This is a highly enjoyable set of acoustic blues, highlighted by some impressive songwriting and exuberant performances Duncan Street. Baptized By The Blues sounds like a labor of love from two serious disciples of the blues, and is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

--- Graham Clarke
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