Solo performer: Robert Lockwood, Jr. (vocals, acoustic guitar).
Recorded at Suma Recording Studios, Painesville, Ohio on December 20 & 21, 1999. Includes liner notes by Bill Wasserzeiher.
DELTA CROSSROADS was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.
For Delta Crossroads, Robert Lockwood Jr., a former student of Robert Johnson, returns to his Delta blues roots. This 16-track album features Lockwood with only his 12-string acoustic guitar. It is rather strange hearing old Delta blues sung by one of its originals on a modern recording. All of the notes from the guitar are clear. Plus, his voice isn't scuffed up by the scratches and pop of the vinyl recording. Lockwood plays a mix of Robert Johnson tunes, a few of his own, and some blues standards including "C.C. Rider." With its high production quality and Lockwood's unique and possibly near-extinct style of singing, Delta Crossroads is a strong testament to the endurance of a Delta blues original. ~ Curtis Zimmermann
Professional Reviews
Q (1/01, p.112) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...A master class....He learnt guitar at Robert Johnson's knee, but developed his own jazz-inflected brilliance on 12-string, its subtle ebb and flow balancing harsh, dark lyrics and a rough old voice..."
JazzTimes (11/00, p.69) - "...A rich tribute and a must for Delta fanatics..."