
A student of Johnny Woods and Mississippi Fred McDowell and sideman to R.L. Burnside, guitarist Kenny Brown alternates between acoustic and electric blues numbers on his solo debut. It’s a fine approach: Brown can burn up the fretboard on scorching tracks like “Shake ’Em On Down” and then cool it right down with a pretty fingerpicking ballad like “Lonesome Katy Blues.” Similarly, he quickly follows the sleepy, John Prine-like “Cocaine Bill” with the rowdy jump of “France Chance.” Charming and chaotic.