This week’s show is a journey through the living, breathing continuum of the blues — from its earliest recorded ghosts to one of its most vital modern storytellers. We begin with a remarkable moment in music history: the sudden appearance online of what appears to be a previously unheard test pressing of Robert Johnson’s Cross Road Blues. This version, reportedly transferred from an original wax cutting, reveals a rawness and immediacy that feels almost impossible after nearly a century. It’s Johnson not as legend, but as a man singing and playing his guitar in a hotel room, in front of a microphone, long before the legend will become folklore. Discoveries like this remind us how fragile the lineage is — and how powerful it remains.

From there, we move into the heart of the program: a deep dive into One Mississippi, the brand‑new album from Eric Bibb. I’ve been interviewing Eric since the mid‑90s, and our latest conversation is one of the most insightful we’ve shared. This album marks a new era for him — creatively, personally, and professionally. Recorded with producer Glen Scott in Sweden, One Mississippi blends Bibb’s signature warmth with a renewed sense of freedom and purpose. It’s an album about history, humanity, and the stories that connect us, delivered with the clarity of an artist who knows exactly what he wants to say.

We’ll explore the making of the record, the musicians who shaped it, the themes that run through it, and the evolution of Bibb’s sound as he steps into full independence. Along the way, we’ll feature standout new releases from across the blues and roots landscape, showcasing artists who continue to push the tradition forward.

Like Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials, Mike Finnigan, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Laura Chavez, Kim Wilson,  Selwyn Birchwood and Parlour Greens

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.