Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Guy Davis Collaborate on ‘Fight On! True Blues Vol. 2’

masters have united once again to evoke ancestral spirits through a blend of traditional and original blues tunes on Fight On! True Blues Vol. 2, slated for release on April 17th via Yellow Dog Records, distributed by MVD Distribution. Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Guy Davis, who garnered praise for their initial True Blues collaboration in 2013, come together nearly three decades later for a profound follow-up.

This dynamic trio first crossed paths at the Chicago Blues Festival in 1996, setting the stage for a powerful continuation of their acclaimed True Blues project. Showcasing a mix of traditional tracks from luminaries such as Charley Patton, Rev. Gary Davis, and Virginia songsters, as well as original compositions, the album reflects the trio’s unwavering commitment to preserving the legacy of African American blues music.

Alvin Youngblood Hart recollects a photo from the Chicago Blues Festival in 1996, where they were heralded as the ‘New Saviors Of The Blues,’ setting the wheels in motion for what was destined to become the True Blues collaboration. Corey Harris emphasizes the thematic tie of the album, highlighting the trio’s shared mission to uphold their cultural heritage through contemporary interpretations of traditional Black lifeways.

Titled “Fight On! True Blues Vol. 2”, Guy Davis elaborates on the album’s essence, portraying their collective effort to safeguard the endangered music form. They seamlessly weave blues classics with freshly composed pieces, forging a seamless connection to the ancestral spirit that informs their artistry.

Recorded in Virginia, Mississippi, and New York, the album features soul-stirring performances such as “Fight On” by Corey Harris, a reimagined rendition of Elizabeth Cotten’s “Shake Sugaree” by Guy Davis, and Alvin Youngblood Hart’s rendition of the first Charley Patton song he ever learned, “Screamin’ and Hollerin’.” Additionally, the original compositions on the album draw inspiration from personal experiences, with Corey Harris crafting “What’s That I Smell?” reminiscing about his time in New Orleans, and Guy Davis reflecting on life on the road in “See Me When You Can.”

Raw, heartfelt, and distinctly contemporary, Fight On! True Blues Vol. 2 is a testament to the enduring vitality of African American blues music, celebrating the bond of shared music and friendship that has deepened over countless tours and conversations. From Corey Harris’s adaptation of Jimmy Strother’s “Fight On” to Alvin Youngblood Hart’s tribute to Henry Townsend in “If The Blues Was Money,” each track elucidates the cultural richness and deeply personal connection that underpins the blues tradition.

With an array of instruments and vocal styles on display, from Harris’s Piedmont-style guitar to Davis’s Harmony Stella 12-String, True Blues Vol. 2 offers a multifaceted exploration of the genre’s roots and evolution. Guy Davis’s “Deep Sea Diver” and Alvin Youngblood Hart’s rendition of “Highway 61” further showcase the trio’s diverse influences and masterful storytelling abilities.

In essence, Fight On! True Blues Vol. 2 stands as a testament to the enduring power of blues music, reinvigorating ancestral sounds for a contemporary audience and reaffirming the cultural significance of this timeless art form.