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Anthony "Big A" Sherrod
Right On Time
Nola Blue Records |
I
first heard of Anthony “Big A” Sherrod when I watched the
2012 documentary We Juke Up In Here: Mississippi’s Juke Joint
Culture at the Crossroads (he’s on the cover of the DVD).
The Clarksdale native was a product of the late Johnnie
Billington’s Delta Blues Education Program, which produced many
of the region’s current young artists. He has been a regular
performer at Red’s Lounge in Clarksdale for many years, playing
with Big Jack Johnson, Super Chikan, Big George Brock, Wesley
Jefferson, Bilbo Walker, and many others in addition to leading
his own band.
Sherrod’s debut studio effort,
Right On Time, was originally released in 2016 and features
the singer/guitarist backed by the late Big Jack Johnson’s band,
The Cornlickers (Bobby Gentilo – guitar, Tony Ryder – bass, Dale
Wise – drums). The album was critically acclaimed and won
Living Blues Magazine’s Best Debut Blues Album award in
2016. It suffered from limited distribution at the time, so few
blues fans got to hear it. In 2022, Sherrod signed with Nola
Blue Records and the label reissued the album (remastered by
Gentilo, who also produced the original) in anticipation of
releasing a new album in the future.
The opener, “Rumblin’ Stumblin’,” is
a stirring, no-nonsense boogie with dynamite guitar and tough
rhythm support. “Find Me Another Woman” is a powerful shuffle
with great vocals and guitar, and the title track, another brisk
shuffle, is equally effective.
“Cold Feeling” is a superb slow
blues with emotional vocals and sizzling guitar work from
Sherrod, and the instrumental “Shuffle In Big A” is nearly seven
minutes of blues guitar heaven that could have easily gone
longer.
“Get Your Money” is a gritty track
that seamlessly blends blues, rock, and soul, while “Tried and
Tried” is a fine southern soul ballad that serves as a wonderful
showcase for Sherrod’s vocals. “Train” is a second cousin of
sorts to “Mystery Train” which the band and Sherrod tackles with
fervor.
“Someday” is another excellent blues
and soul ballad with crisp guitar work. A rousing version of
“Talk To Your Daughter” brings this outstanding disc to a lively
conclusion.
It's been quite a search to track
down Right On Time, but it was well worth it. Anthony
“Big A” Sherrod is definitely one to watch on the blues scene,
and this impressive disc will definitely make listeners eager to
hear his upcoming follow-up.
--- Graham Clarke
