Luther Dickinson has real southern roots: he was born in Memphis, Tennessee the son of record producer Jim Dickinson, who, among many staggering credits, played on The Rolling Stones’ Wild Horses and produced Big Star album Third.
Luther has been playing in bands for years, most notably as the lead guitarist for the North Mississippi Allstars and The Black Crowes. His newest venture is Blues & Ballads (A Folksinger’s Songbook) Volumes I & II – a double album comprising 21 tracks, which are a mix of new song, Allstars’ cuts, standards, and tracks by Dickinson’s friends, mentors and heroes.
“Blues & Ballads celebrates the American oral tradition of blues and folk songs, not only being passed down and evolving but being transcribed (the original recording technique) and entered into the discipline of written sheet music and songbooks,” the 42-year-old musician wrote in a statement.
Dickinson took a minimal approach to the songs, most of which feature only his voice, guitar, drums and sparing uses of piano and fife, a shrill flute used in military bands. The album includes appearances by Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, Jim Lauderdale, Amy LaVere, Shardé Thomas, JJ Grey, Charles Hodges and Jimbo Mathus.