PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts Project presents the iconic blues of The Cedric Burnside Project on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m., at Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill.
The Cedric Burnside Project has been hailed as the next generation of Mississippi Hill Country blues, and rightfully so, as it is composed of Cedric Burnside - the grandson of renowned blues artist R.L. Burnside - and Trenton Ayers, son of renowned blues artist Junior Kimbrough.
Cedric Burnside (drums and guitar) spent his early years playing drums with his grandfather R.L., and has since played and recorded with such artists as The North Mississippi Allstars, Widespread Panic, Jimmy Buffett, T Model Ford, Honey Boy Edwards, Hubert Sumlin, Junior Kimbrough, Kenny Brown, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and others. He has developed a relentless, highly rhythmic, charged style that takes the blues to another level.
This four-time winner of the prestigious Blues Music Drummer of the Year award is widely regarded as one of the best drummers in the world and has begun to make a name for himself as a traditional blues guitarist as well.
In 2006, he was featured in Craig Brewer's critically acclaimed feature film “Black Snake Moan,” playing drums alongside Samuel L. Jackson. The film is a loose tribute to R.L. Burnside and gives many nods to the late bluesman.
Trenton Ayers (bass guitar and guitar) is the son of legendary blues guitarist Earl “Little Joe” Ayers, a.k.a Junior Kimbrough, whose world-renowned Mississippi juke joint was featured in the film “Deep Blues” and became a magnet for such luminaries as U2's Bono, the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, and actor Morgan Freeman.