Fre. 8. nov. 21 – 22
| JW-Jones | Guitar / vocal |
| Jacob Clarke | Bass / vocal |
| Joel Oppong-Boateng | Drums / vocal |
MUD MORGANFIELD
I en alder af 70 år er Mud Morganfield nu lige så gammel som sin far, den legendariske bluesartist Muddy Waters, var, da han gik bort i 1983. Denne kendsgerning giver et nyt perspektiv på hans vedvarende mission: “at prøve at holde min fars musik i live i det 21. århundrede.”
Som Waters’ ældste søn har Morganfield båret denne arv siden 2008, hvor han udgav sit debutalbum, “Fall Waters Fall”. Mange lagde hurtigt mærke til hans smidige spil, glatte barytonstemme og slående lighed med sin far, som føltes som en genoplivning af Waters’ ånd. Sammenligningerne fortsatte med hans hyldestalbum fra 2014, “For Pops: A Tribute to Muddy Waters”, i samarbejde med mundharmonikaspilleren og The Fabulous Thunderbirds-frontmanden Kim Wilson. På dette album fortolker Morganfield nogle klassikere fra sin fars sangbog, herunder “I Just Want to Make Love to You” (skrevet af Willie Dixon og opført af Waters) og “Blow Wind Blow”, som også Eric Clapton har indspillet.
“Jeg har været heldig nok til at arve hans lunger, hans manerer og det hele; folk siger, de ser min far i mig. Jeg er bare lykkelig og stolt over at være søn af Muddy Waters,” delte Morganfield under en nylig telefonsamtale fra sit hjem nær Oak Park, hvor han tager sig af sine tre hunde (to pitbulls og en chihuahua, der “styrer huset”) og forbereder sig på at optræde lørdag på Evanstons SPACE-scene.
Han nævnte, at sættet vil indeholde en blanding af hans fars katalog og hans egne originale numre, herunder sange fra et endnu ikke navngivet album, som han arbejder på som opfølgning til sit album fra 2022, “Portrait”, udgivet af det lokale pladeselskab Delmark Records.
“Dette særlige album er sandsynligvis det første, hvor jeg virkelig har taget mig god tid, virkelig har krydset mine t’er og sat prikker over i’erne for at sikre, at jeg leverer det bedste, jeg kan, til verden,” sagde Morganfield om det kommende album, som han har indspillet i det anerkendte JoyRide Studios med et band, der inkluderer hans fars guitarist, Rick Kreher.
“Jeg prøver altid at inkludere noget på mine albums, som alle kan relatere til … for blueselskere, rhythm and blues, et strejf af funk hist og her, langsom traditionel blues. Dette album vil omfatte det hele,” tilføjede Morganfield. “Jeg ville ikke efterlade nogen sten uvendt.”
Morganfield blev opdraget af sin mor, Mildred Williams, og så ikke meget til sin far under opvæksten. Waters var en arbejdshest, der indspillede, samarbejdede og bragte sin særlige Chicago-blues ud til hele verden. I England lagde Mick Jagger og Charlie Watts mærke til ham og opkaldte deres nystartede band efter Waters’ hit “Rollin’ Stone”. (En fin fuld-cirkel-oplevelse opstod sidste sommer, da Morganfield og efterkommere af andre blueslegender, som Freddie Dixon, søn af Willie, og Little Walters datter, Marion Diaz Reacco, deltog i The Rolling Stones’ koncert på Soldier Field).
Trods sin fars fravær faldt det Morganfield naturligt at spille musik, ligesom hans halvbror Big Bill Morganfield, der også har haft en succesrig musikkarriere og i øjeblikket portrætterer den fiktive Mississippi-bluesmusiker Jesse Moffette i den nye Bob Dylan-biopic, “A Complete Unknown”.
“Jeg plejede at klappe på min pude og madras for at falde i søvn,” husker Morganfield. “Jeg har altid haft disse toner kørende i mit hoved — det var min vuggevise.” Før han som voksen begyndte at spille bas, startede Morganfield som trommeslager med et sæt trommer, som hans far gav ham — eller hvad som helst andet, han kunne finde derhjemme.
“Jeg fik så mange skideballer for at slå på min bedstemors møbler,” grinede han. “Jeg brækkede to grene af et træ og slog på dåser.”
Alligevel sagde Morganfield, at Waters “aldrig påtvang nogen det, han lavede. Han lod dig træffe dine egne beslutninger … og jeg løb og løb, indtil jeg ikke kunne mere. Jeg var nødt til at synge blues.” Han nævnte som årsag til ikke at følge i sin fars fodspor tidligere: “Det kunne du ikke … ikke mens far stadig var her. Det er nogle store sko at udfylde.”
I stedet arbejdede Morganfield som lastbilchauffør (ligesom hans far) og blev gradvist opslugt af South Side’s bluesklubber, før han brød igennem som 54-årig med sit første album. Han forklarede, at det var en tilbagevendende drøm, der fik ham til at fortsætte i familieforretningen.
“Jeg havde hele tiden den samme drøm om at prøve at tale med min far, men han sagde ikke noget; han blev bare ved med at spille og optræde, og det skubbede mig ligesom videre,” sagde Morganfield og anerkendte, at den Chicago-baserede bluesartist Mary Lane var “instrumental” i hans rejse.
Nu bemærkede han: “Jeg prøver bare at arbejde, indtil jeg ikke kan mere, ligesom alle de andre kunstnere. Som Buddy Guy.”
Selvom Morganfield erkender, at der i bluesen i virkeligheden ikke findes nogen pensionering.
“Ikke så længe du stadig kan holde den guitar og stå op og synge. Der er ingen exit-strategi for det her.”
🇬🇧 ENGLISH 🇬🇧
At 70, Mud Morganfield is now the same age as his father, the legendary blues artist Muddy Waters, who passed away in 1983. This fact provides new perspective on his ongoing mission: “to try to keep Dad’s music alive in the 21st century.”
As Waters’ eldest son, Morganfield has been carrying that mantle since 2008 when he released his debut album, “Fall Waters Fall.” Many quickly noticed his nimble playing, smooth baritone, and uncanny resemblance to his father, which felt like a second coming. The comparisons continued with his 2014 tribute album, “For Pops: A Tribute to Muddy Waters,” in collaboration with harmonica player and The Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson. In this album, Morganfield covers some classics from his dad’s songbook, including “I Just Want to Make Love to You” (written by Willie Dixon and performed by Waters) and “Blow Wind Blow,” which Eric Clapton also covered.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to inherit his lungs, mannerisms, and everything; people say they see Dad in me. I’m just over the moon and proud to be the son of Muddy Waters,” Morganfield shared during a recent phone call from his home near Oak Park, where he’s taking care of his three dogs (two pit bulls and a chihuahua who “runs the house”) and preparing to showcase his likeness Saturday at Evanston’s SPACE venue.
He mentioned that the set will feature a mix of his father’s catalog and his originals, including songs from an as-yet-unnamed album he is developing as a follow-up to his 2022 album “Portrait,” released by local label Delmark Records.
“This particular album is likely the first I’ve taken my time with, really dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s to ensure I offer the best I can to the world,” Morganfield remarked about the upcoming record, which he has been recording at the renowned JoyRide Studios with a band that includes his father’s guitarist, Rick Kreher.
“I always try to include something on my albums that everyone can relate to … for blues lovers, rhythm and blues, a touch of funk here and there, slow traditional blues. This album will encompass all of that,” Morganfield added. “I didn’t want to leave any stone unturned.”
Morganfield was raised by his mother, Mildred Williams, and didn’t see much of his father during childhood. Waters was a workhorse, recording, collaborating, and bringing his brand of Chicago blues worldwide to anyone who wanted to listen. In England, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts took notice. They named their fledgling band after Waters’ hit “Rollin’ Stone.” (A sweet full-circle moment occurred last summer when Morganfield and the descendants of other blues greats, like Freddie Dixon, son of Willie, and Little Walter’s daughter, Marion Diaz Reacco, attended the Brits’ show at Soldier Field).
Despite his father’s absence, playing music always came naturally to Morganfield and his half-brother Big Bill Morganfield, who has also enjoyed a successful music career and currently portrays fictional Mississippi blues player Jesse Moffette in the new Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.”
“I used to pat my pillow and mattress to fall asleep,” Morganfield recalls. “I’ve always had these notes running through my head — it was my lullaby.” Before taking up bass as an adult, Morganfield began as a drummer, using a kit his father gave him — or anything else he could find around the house.
“I got scolded so many times for beating on my grandmother’s furniture,” he laughed. “I’d break off two tree limbs and hit on cans.”
Still, Morganfield said that Waters “never imposed what he was doing on anyone. He let you make your own decisions … and I ran and ran until I couldn’t anymore. I had to sing the blues.” Citing a reason for avoiding following in his dad’s footsteps, he mentioned, “you couldn’t … not while Dad was still here. Those are some big shoes to fill.”
Instead, Morganfield worked as a truck driver (just as his dad had) and gradually immersed himself in South Side blues clubs before breaking out at 54 with his first album. He stated that it was a recurring dream that compelled him to continue in the family business.
“I kept having the same dream of trying to speak with my dad, but he wasn’t saying anything; he kept playing and performing, and that kind of pushed me,” Morganfield said, acknowledging that fellow Chicago blues artist Mary Lane was “instrumental” in his journey. Now, he remarked, “I’m just trying to work until I can’t anymore, like all the other artists. Like Buddy Guy.”
Although Morganfield realizes there is genuinely no retiring in the blues.
“Not while you can still hold up that guitar and stand up and sing. There’s no exit strategy for this.”