ELVIN BISHOP & CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE'S 100 YEARS OF BLUES NAMED BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR IN DOWNBEAT READERS POLL

Bishop’s soulful, fuzzed-up, blues-rooted picking and Musselwhite’s rich, hard-edged smokin’ harp style [are] exquisite. They mine the chemistry and down-home vibe to cook up a blues menu that’s as comfortable as a big ol’ plate of biscuits and gravy.
—Living Blues

Two old friends celebrate a century of entwined tradition and innovation. Exquisite harmonica-guitar duets like Muddy Waters and Little Walter, or Johnny Shines and Shakey Horton. Mature, masterly, endlessly rewarding. Four Stars.
—MOJO

Iconic jazz music publication DownBeat, in its 86th Annual Readers Poll, has named 100 Years Of Blues, from blues guitar hero Elvin Bishop and harmonica ace Charlie Musselwhite, as the Blues Album Of The Year. The full list of DownBeat Readers Poll winners can be found here.

The DownBeat honor adds to the list of awards 100 Years Of Blues has already received. In addition to winning two Blues Music Awards -- for both Album Of The Year and Traditional Album Of The Year -- 100 Years Of Blues was just nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. MOJO magazine selected the album as the #3 Best Blues Album Of The Year. Blues Music Magazine says 100 Years Of Blues is "relaxed, good-natured, fresh and intense. A most enjoyable set by two beloved veteran virtuosos of the blues."

100 Years Of Blues is front-porch, down-home music with Bishop and Musselwhite trading licks and vocals on 12 rootsy, spirited songs, mixing nine originals with three reimagined classics. The two history-making musicians – both Blues Hall Of Famers – are blues legends with over 100 years of professional musicianship between them. Although they’ve known each other since the early 1960s and recorded as guests with John Lee Hooker (and other friends), this is the first time that they ever teamed up to make a full record. According to Musselwhite, “This is us sitting down to play the music that we love and resonating together effortlessly because we’re 'coming from the same place’...on many levels.”

100 Years Of Blues is blues at its deepest, warmest and most engaging. “It all fell together so quickly and easily,” says Bishop. “We each brought about half the songs and recorded them all in one or two takes.” As for his cohorts, Bishop says, “Charlie is the real deal. He didn’t learn his licks off of records; he lived them. He’s always himself. And Bob Welsh (who plays guitar and piano on the album) is so versatile. When you play with people who are real good, it ups your game too. I just did the best job I could.” Of Bishop, Musselwhite says, “Elvin is always a joy to play music with. We see things pretty much the same. Musically it’s like fallin’ off a log. It’s so easy and it just makes sense.”