We’ve talked here before about the Music Maker Relief Foundation (MMRF) and its good works in helping Southern musicians in need. 2019 is shaping up to be a particularly exciting year for the organization, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary with several new projects, including a graphic novel; a book and museum exhibit of tintype photography by MMRF president Tim Duffy; and a companion compilation CD all scheduled for release during the first half of the year.
Here’s a little preview from the CD, a cover by longtime MMRF supporter Taj Mahal of a Mississippi John Hurt tune called “Spike Driver Blues” that can also be heard on Mahal’s 2016 Labor of Love album:
Mahal at 2017 Heritage Music BluesFest
Entitled Blue Muse, the compilation will also include the low-key, previously unreleased 1995 jam between Eric Clapton and Duffy (“Mississippi Blues”) that we shared with you in this 2014 post on MMRF and that Clapton’s Where’s Eric fan club also featured in their recent post regarding the upcoming MMRF album, plus music from the likes of longtime MMRF artists such as John Dee Holeman, Guitar Gabriel, Algia Mae Hinton, Ironing Board Sam, and Captain Luke, as well as newer names to the organization like Robert Finley, Theotis Taylor, Sam Frazier Jr, and Carolina Chocolate Drops founding member Dom Flemons.
We’ll be sure to bring you more on this compilation as we draw nearer to its February release, but, in the meantime, enjoy this one from Taj (and go ahead and feel free to refresh your memory on that Clapton one too)!