Blues Roadhouse

Various Artists — ‘‘Jus’ Blues 25th Anniversary Legends Collection” — Jus’ Blues Records

The Jus’ Blues Music Foundation has been around for 25 years, without much of the national fanfare of larger blues organizations.

That’s a shame, since the nonprofit Jus’ Blues organization has dedicated itself thusly: “Our mission is to nurture the soul of the blues while preserving the legacy of the originators of traditional blues music.”

That’s a heady and worthwhile goal, as the blues originators have been rapidly passing into those primeval mists where recognition can be just another memory, and their music often criminally unheard.

So for its 25th anniversary, Jus’ Blues has released this vital new album of somewhat lesser known but still vital artists. Their work here is just an abbreviated version of the soul and blues talent that digs deep into the rich history of the blues, and that has helped it become nothing less than America’s classical music.

The lineup here includes: Latimore (new version of “Let’s Straighten It Out”), Bobby Rush (new version of “Garbage Man”), Lucky Peterson (previously unreleased track), Trudy Lynn (previously unreleased track), Jimmy Burns, Benny Turner, Diunna Greenleaf, Theodis Ealey, Mr. Sipp ” The Mississippi Blues Child “ (only on the vinyl LP), Zakiya Hooker (John Lee Hooker’s daughter) and Teeny Tucker.

It’s a tremendous lineup: There’s a heady mix of blues and soul by a group of artists who’ve been there and done that, and who are still doing it quite well. Diunna Greenleaf opens with her original “Sunny Day Friends.” an upbeat R&B swinger, followed by the hypnotic deep blues of Jimmy Burns’ “Stranded in Clarksdale,” with a wicked-sounding, stripped-down quartet. “Bluesman’s Journey” is Zakiya Hookers’s tribute to her legendary father, John Lee Hooker.

“Who Sang It First” by Benny Turner looks back at the musical roots of his music, with a nod to those “who sang it first.” Trudy Lynn delivers another R&B fueled track, “Turning the Same Ole Corners,” and the indefatigable Bobby Rush with just his harp revises his classic “Garbage Man.” Ageless veteran Theodis Ealey effortlessly lets us know the “Blues is Calling My Name,” in an easy rocking cut.

“Ain’t That the Blues” is a soulful Teeny Tucker contribution, followed by Lattimore’s slow burner, “Let’s Straighten It Out.” If you wind up with the vinyl album, to be released later, you’ll get the funky “Hold It In the Road” by Mr. Sipp. The closer adds a little more chunky funk to the gospel-themed “See My Way God” from Lucky Peterson.

This 25th anniversary collection was created by recording a song by some of those to be honored at this year’s Jus’ Blues Music Awards & Conference, July 31 in Biloxi, Miss. (where the vinyl LP version will be released).

This scintillating collection is a thoroughly enjoyable sampler of the thoughtful work done at Jus’ Blues to preserve the contributions of some of the originators. It’s great history, and it’s great music.

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Here’s the Jus’ Blues kind of music:

Tracks & credits:

Sunny Day Friends (Written by Diunna Greenleaf)
Vocals – Diuanna Greenleaf
Guitar – Anson Tunderburgh
Bass – Johnny Bradley
Keys – John Street – B-3 Organ
Drums – Wes Starr
Horns – Ron Jones

Stranded In Clarksdale (Written by Jimmy Burns)
Vocals – Jimmy Burns
Guitar – Jimmy Burns
Bass – Ron Lasken
Keys – Roosevelt Purifoy
Drums – Greg Haar

Bluesman’s Journey (Written by Zakiya Hooker, Reginald Estes, Christopher James, Ollan Christopher Bell)
Vocals – Zikaya Hooker
Guitar- Bobby Young
Bass – Ollan Christopher Bell
Keys – Janice Maxie – Piano / Keyboards
Drums – Marlon Green

Who Sang It First (Written by James George and Benny Turner)
Bass – Benny TurnerVocals – Benny Turner
Guitar – Will McFarlane
Guitar – Jack Miele
Wurlitzer – Clayton Ivy
Organ – Joe Krown
Drums – Justin Holder
Background Vocals – Tiffany Pollack and Kassie Netherland Miele

Turning the Same ole’ Corners (Written by Trudy Lynn)
Vocals – Trudy Lynn
Background Vocals – Trudy Lynn, Versai Sain, Charlie Brown
Guitar – Lead guitar & B-3 organ – Lucky Peterson
Bass – Frankie Floyd
Keys – Haran Griffin
Drums – George Mullin

Garbage Man (Written by Bobby Rush)
Vocals – Bobby Rush
Harmonica – Bobby Rush
Bobby Rus – Vocals
Bobby Rus – Harmonica

Blues Is Calling My Name (Written by Larry Griffith)
Vocals – Theodis Ealey
Guitar – Lead guitar – Theodis Ealey
Rhythm guitar – Victor Hodge
Bass – Lebron “Porky” Scott
Keys – David Savage
Drums – Lavell Parker
Horns – Sultan Mohammad – Tenor Sax, Abdul Ra’ool – Trumpet, Lloyd Oby – Trombone

Ain’t That The Blues (Written by Teeny Tucker and Robert Hughes)
Vocals – Teeny Tucker
Guitar – Robert Hughes
Bass – Robert Blackburn
Keys – Linda Dachtyl
Drums – Darrell Jumper
Background singers – Mary Ashley, and Paula Brown

Let’ Straighten It Out (Written by Benny Latimore)
Vocals – Latimore
Bass – George Chocolate Perry
Keys – Latimore
Drums – George Chocolate Perry

See My Way God (Written by Lucky Peterson)
Vocals – Lucky Peterson