“Morganfield states ‘No rock-blues here … I sing about real things, real live people, real situations, things that people go through … so it’s Chicago blues at its best.' Everything in Morganfield's musical life traces directly back to his father … so listen up and get your groove on.” - Richard Ludmerer, Making A Scene
The eldest son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield, is deeply committed to continuing the Chicago blues tradition with his new music. This set of real, unvarnished blues recorded at JoyRide Studio with some of Chicago's heaviest hitters is the way his father himself proudly did it during the genre's hallowed heyday as he laid the bedrock foundation for the electric Chicago blues ensemble approach.
Mud composed eight of the 14 tracks on Portrait, and his rich, warm baritone carries the grooves throughout with backing from a who’s who of Windy City talent. Thirteen of the songs were recorded at under the supervision of Bob Corritore at Porcupine Productions in Chandler, Ariz., 11 years ago and 12 of them previously appeared Morganfield’s Son of the Seventh Son Severn CD in 2012.
- Marty Gunther, Blues Blast
The program on this terrific, 12-track album illustrates that Morganfield is much more than a gruff blues belter. “Cheatin’ Is Cheatin’” demonstrates his talents as a nuanced crooner, as well as his skills at conveying the vulnerability of a protagonist. On the album’s title cut, Morganfield sings, “The blues is my birthright,” and no one could disagree.
- Bobby Reed, Downbeat