Christopher Wyze & The Tellers "Live In Clarksdale" Album Review

Artist: Christopher Wyze & The Tellers

Album: Live In Clarksdale

Released: 2025

Artist Website: https://christopherwyzeandthetellers.com/home

On the heels of the band's debut recording Stuck In The Mud, Christopher Wyze & The Tellers took the stage on 10/1/24 to record a ten song set at the Juke Joint Chapel in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The physical product comes with a 50 minute DVD of all things Clarksdale, a documentary produced by frontman and mastermind of the project Christopher Wyze. The live set features eight originals and two classic covers for fans of the blues to dig their teeth into.

The band rolls through the classic blues grooves with confidence and swag. It is clearly a well rehearsed unit that knows how to function as one. There is no overplaying and all the musicians stay in their own lane, creating a blues super highway that is well oiled and slick. The band definitely has an identifiable fingerprint that straddles the line between classic blues and the modern approach to the music.

They cover the standard How Long, How Long Blues with patience, doing it justice with each eight bar pass. This is a song that has been recorded by just about everyone and somehow always feels fresh, 100 years later. Leroy Carr, the composer, is far from a household name, but his song is a timeless classic that has captured something extraordinary in its simplicity, like all great blues. It was a perfect choice for this record and the band did a wonderful job with it.

For fans of the rolling 12 bar shuffle, Money Spent Blues will quench the thirst. Having listened to the record a handful of times it is interesting how little the band shuffled in this live set. This cut being the only mid tempo Jimmy Rogers influenced lump. The solos are tasteful and the groove is as solid as they come. The vocal is uniquely Christopher Wyze's with an unmistakable and memorable delivery. The band clearly understands that anything more than what is needed is simply too much. One would think restraint is an easy task when listening to this cut, but restraint is a rare commodity that this band seems to possess quite naturally.

A live set from this band would be incomplete without the title track from their debut record Stuck In The Mud. This outfit is quite comfortable in the straight 4/4 grooves that seem to elude many blues bands. The presence of the harmonica on this Walking Blues inspired piece is a welcome addition. The harp is truly garnish and not the main course in this recording, adding just enough to the mix to get that vibe, but never overstaying its welcome.

Christopher Wyze & The Tellers feel quite comfortable in their skin and approach to the blues. There is nothing here that feels like they are trying to be something they're not. It all sits gracefully within the pocket. The spotlight is seamlessly passed from the vocals to the soloists throughout the entirety of this well produced set. The mix is rock solid, making for a great listen. If you prefer your blues a little on the dirty side this record will be a good fit for your collection.