Latest release on the celebrated Malaco Records label is a wonderful tribute to the legendary ZZ Hill from Grammy winning soul/blues singer and multi-instrumentalist GRADY CHAMPION.
The 12 track LP is called ‘Steppin’ In: A Tribute to ZZ Hill’ and Grady explains: “I’ve always been particularly inspired by Z.Z.’s efforts in the 70s and early 80s to restore blues music to modern black consciousness” and on ‘Steppin”, he continues that crusade with inspired yet respectful versions of a dozen of Hill’s best loved songs. Here there are tales of love and lust, bad times and good times, lock changing, bad-mouthing, love triangles, making love at the dark end of the street and of course cheating in the next room. And guess what…. Hill’s celebrated ‘Cheating In The Next Room’ is one of the album highlights –a perfect snapshot of southern soul-blues that’s as relevant now as it ever was. Amongst other highlights are the brassy, Bobby Bland-flavoured ‘Three Into Two Won’t Go’ and the semi-autobiographical ‘I’m a Blues Man’.
The album is out now.
