Ryan Lee Crosby – Ryan Lee Crosby at The Blue Front
Crossnote Records
8 tracks – 31 minutes
Ryan Lee Crosby was born in Massachusetts and now lives in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He started playing in bands at age 14 and as he grew older, became primarily interested in the blues. He has released several previous albums and has well been recognized by many for his unique guitar playing and what is called primitive style of music. He is schooled in traditional music referenced as the Bentonia style, which he learned from his mentor, blues legend Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. The form originated from Henry Stuckey and Jack Owens. Skip James is one of the best-known performers in the style. The style involves a fingerpicking minor key open guitar tuning called crossnote, and falsetto vocals. Holmes learned the musical style from Henry Stuckey.
Ryan first met Jimmy in 2019 after a fan saw a video of Crosby playing at Deep Blues Fest and suggested the connection. The 78-year-old Holmes runs The Blue Front juke joint in Bentonia, Mississippi just as his mother did before him. The Blue Front is the oldest remaining juke joint and located 30 miles northwest of Jackson, Mississippi. It has given an historic marker and is part of the Mississippi Blues Trail. The Bentonia Blues Festival was founded in 1972 by Jimmy’s mother and him. It presently continues with Jimmy’s oversight.
Ryan’s notes for the album cites, “To me, the relationship with Jimmy is the most important thing. It was truly transformative for me. It’s where the music starts and ends for me in many ways. I look to Jimmy for wisdom, context, inspiration, connection. Playing and singing with him has helped to both focus and open my playing at the same time. I see him as a teacher of what it means to be human. Everything about how I relate to the blues comes back to my interactions with him and my experiences at The Blue Front.
Ryan brought a vintage Tascam four track portable reel-to-reel tape machine to the Blue Front and recorded sessions on April 8, 2024. While he respectfully maintained the Bentonia style, he brings his own distinctive approach to the music by playing a 12-string guitar accompanying his vocals. Grant Smith adds percussion and plays a calabash; a drum made from a gourd which originated in West African music. Jay Scheffler plays harmonica and Jimmy joins on guitar and some vocals for the final four cuts of the album.
Tracks 1 and 4-8 are all traditional songs, although Ryan has revised some music and lyrics. The remaining three tracks are originals. “Going Away” opens the album establishing a solid blues vibe with Jay’s finely played harmonica blending with Ryan’s guitar before Ryan sings “I am going to catch that train and I’ll be moving on”. Ryan then proclaims “I’m Gonna Change” as he notes, “You know I love you and I don’t want to leave. That is why I’m going to change my ways”. On “I’ve Been Worried”, he picks up the pace somewhat as he proclaims, “I won’t be worried long… because the sun will come out and this will all be gone”. He warns that “Mistreating People” “gonna come back your way…I’m sorry for what I did and didn’t do”. Jay again offers some haunting, lingering harmonica through the song.
Jimmy joins Ryan as he declares “Hard Times” will bring you down”. You may be rich; you may be poor. Hard times will bring you down”. The blending of the two guitars on these cuts is outstanding. He proclaims, “I wish I was a “Catfish” wandering the deep blue sea and have all you pretty people fishing after me”. The final two songs were improvised while performing the songs. “Slow Down” warns “if you don’t change your ways, you’re gonna end up in an early grave”, which can be taken as a warning for all of his listeners but in the song is directed towards a particular woman. Jimmy adds some additional vocals citing “If I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody else.” On “Tell Me”, Jimmy takes the lead vocals and asks her “How long your good man gonna be gone? If you let me in, it won’t take me long”.
The album offers light, easy blues in a very appealing format. Ryan’s guitar and vocals catch the influence of the musical style but delivers it in a fashion that has a modern touch. When Jimmy joins in, he immediately slides into the music and complements the songs. It is noted that the session extended, and additional songs were recorded for an upcoming album, Bentonia Blues / Right Now, from Jimmy. Definitely something to look forward for its release.
