Rhiannon Giddens: Blues Breaker

on 14 June, 2017 at 08:03

Rhiannon Giddens has come out with a powerful second solo album, FREEDOM HIGHWAY, a collection of originals and time-honored protest songs, running the gamut of African American experience and history from joy to grief, in a variety of styles — gospel to stripped down folk to hip hop. Her amazing voice also glides effortlessly from style to style, singing on a porch to fronting a church choir, sweet talking, or scolding a lover. This one is called “Hey Bebe (bay-bay),” featuring her down home country banjo chops and some jazzy trombone as well. Really good stuff.