The North Mississippi Allstars Set Sail (CD)

In 1996, Luther (guitar, lowebow, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, electric washboard, vocals) formed the North Mississippi Allstars, originally as a loose collective of like-minded musicians who shared a local repertoire and regional style. Over the years, the lineup changed, and each album by the blues-rock jam band from Hernando, Mississippi featured a different combination of contributors. So does their new, now eleventh, Set Sail, the follow-up to 2019's Up & Rolling, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category in 2021.

On it, in fact, the brothers are joined for the first time by Jesse Williams on bass and vocals and singer Lamar Williams Jr. The album also features singer Sharisse Norman and several other musicians. Luther Dickinson on the lineup: "The chemistry we have with this lineup is strong. We are all second generation musicians and share a telepathic, relaxed ease in creating and performing. I believe music is a form of communication with our loved ones, and evoking that sentiment with members of a musical family can be inspiring. Lamar and I are kindred spirits. I've never had the pleasure of working with a vocal partner like Lamar. He has an unadulterated quality in his musicianship that captivates you and breaks your heart. At the same time, Jesse grew up listening to the music of his brothers and his father - just like we did."

Together, the North Mississippi Allstars and their guests with Set Sail continue the band's tradition of creating roots music with a remarkable variety of musical influences. They blend traditional and futuristic sound, elaborate lyrics and improvised music.

They presented the first listen of Set Sail with the album's title track, Set Sail Part 1 featuring Lamar Williams Jr. Luther describes it as follows: The water may rise but we shall set sail. Although the image of the flood is used to illustrate perseverance in difficult times, Set Sail is really about my respect for the first generation of American freedom rockers who are still with us and whose lives and music represent an open-minded and open-hearted freedom. Cody and I were fortunate to play music with Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, William Bell and the Blind Boys Of Alabama, and we strive to live up to their example. We need to prove to our elders that their struggle will continue and be passed on to the next generations. It is important that the younger generation knows that you have to fight for love and that this fight never ends. Progress can feel like one step forward and two steps back, but we must continue.