American Blues Scene: “The combination nearly flawless”

Shemekia Copeland is indeed America’s child. She was born in Harlem, New York and her first professional gig was at the famed Cotton Club. Her father was Texas bluesman and Blues Hall of Famer, Johnny Copeland. She was crowned new Queen of the Blues in Chicago. Former releases from Copeland were produced by legendary figures from New Orleans (Dr. John) and Memphis (Steve Cropper).

Her latest offering, America’s Child, via Alligator Records sees Copeland expand her Americanness even further as she adds Americana music to her customarily electric blues repertoire. Furthermore, she addresses the intricacies and difficulties of being American in 2018. Particularly those of an American of color. (…) 

The trend of artists mixing genres has long had its place in blues music and continues today. What Shemekia Copeland does on America’s Child is braid blues, folk, Americana, roots and soul, then bend them like a willow in the wind. At times the music is as attention-grabbing as a lash, and at others as soft as a cradleboard. The combination is nearly flawless. We predict big things from this record, and highly recommend it be in your collection. 

By JD Nash. Read the full story, “Shemekia Copeland is ‘America’s Child’,” on American Blues Scene.