To the uninitiated, drummer Cedric Burnside and guitarist Lightnin’ Malcolm would seem to be trapped in a perfect storm of musical cynicism. Guitar/drum duos are nearly as prevalent as more conventional trios and quartets have been in the past, and the history of the Blues has been thoroughly examined and translated over the past half century. So what do Burnside and Malcolm bring that sets them apart from their similarly toned and themed brethren?
Plenty. Burnside’s DNA stands out first. As the grandson of Blues legend R.L. Burnside and son of renowned drummer Calvin Jackson, he’s blessed by blood steeped in Blues heritage. Then there’s Malcolm’s musical upbringing: learning guitar at 10, sitting in at Mississippi honky tonks at 12, finding Junior Kimbrough’s Holly Springs juke joint as a teenager and soaking in the area’s specific North Mississippi hill country Blues traditions.
The pair came together when Malcolm took temporary residence with the elder Burnside a few years back and he and Cedric jammed occasionally, simply because of their proximity. Two years ago, Burnside and Malcolm hit the studio and emerged with the indie released Juke Joint Duo. Last year they signed with Delta Groove when label head Randy Chartkoff witnessed their impromptu jam at the third annual Delta Groove Blues Revue in Clarksdale. Within days, he had signed the duo, hooked them up with producer David Z and begun plans for recording.
The resulting album, 2 Man Wrecking Crew, is rife with authentic hill-country Blues but is every bit as informed by Jimi Hendrix’s incendiary Rock elements, heartbeat Funk rhythms, slinky Soul and Hip Hop cadences. By upholding musical traditions from 100 years (and more) ago while simultaneously updating and energizing them, Burnside and Malcolm have made themselves more than relevant: They’ve made themselves essential.
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This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2009.