The Best Blues Music Awards of 2022

The best blues music awards of 2022 will be announced soon. Stay tuned to find out who the winners are!

The Best Electric Blues Album

The electric blues is a type of blues music that is characterized by the use of electric guitars, drums, and keyboards. It is a style of blues that originated in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Electric blues bands typically use a 4/4 time signature, which gives the music a driving, pulsating feel.

Joe Bonamassa- A New Day Yesterday

On Joe Bonamassa’s A New Day Yesterday, the young blues-rock guitar star and his band turn in a set of absolutely smoking live performances recorded at various venues on their 2000 tour. Supported by a stellar band that includes keyboardist/singer Carolyn Wonderland, bassist Kevin McKendree, and drummer Anton Fig (who also served as the tour’s musical director), Bonamassa tears through a set of originals and covers with equal gusto, tossing off licks with the speed and facility of a true virtuoso but always keeping the focus on the song rather than on his prodigious technique. He also reveals himself to be an increasingly confident and assured singer, especially on the original material. Highlights include an inspired cover of J.B. Lenoir’s “Mojo Boogie” (which finds Bonamassa playing no less than three different guitars), a searing rendition of ZZ Top’s “Asking Around for You,” and two of his own originals, “Woke Up Dreaming” and “Miss You, Hate You.” This is an amazing document of one of the most exciting young talents in contemporary blues.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd- Ledbetter Heights

Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s debut album, Ledbetter Heights, was released in 1995 to critical acclaim. It features Shepherd’s signature blues-rock sound and showcases his talents as a guitarist and songwriter. The album includes the hit singles “Blue on Black” and “Born with a Broken Heart”, which are still among Shepherd’s most popular songs. Ledbetter Heights was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, and it won the Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Jonny Lang- Lie to Me

Jonny Lang is a blues musician who knows how to make an album that is both exciting and thought-provoking. Released in 1997, “Lie to Me” won the Best Blues Music Award in 1998. This album features Lang’s smooth vocals and amazing guitar skills. From start to finish, “Lie to Me” is a must-listen for any blues fan.

The Best Traditional Blues Album

The nominees for the best traditional blues album are: “Alligator Lips” by T-Model Ford, “Catfish Blues” by Robert Johnson, and “Cotton Field Blues” by Charley Patton. The winner of the best traditional blues album is T-Model Ford’s “Alligator Lips.”

B.B. King- Blues on the Bayou

Released in 1992, B. B. King’s Blues on the Bayou is one of the great blues albums. Recorded in Louisiana with some of the best musicians in the genre, this album features some of King’s best work. From the opening track, “The Thrill Is Gone”, to the closing track, “One Kind Favor”, this album is a must-have for any blues fan.

John Lee Hooker- The Healer

John Lee Hooker’s album The Healer is the best traditional blues album of 2022. The Healer was released on January 1, 2022 and features 11 tracks. All of the tracks on The Healer are performed by John Lee Hooker and were written by Hooker himself. The Healer was produced by Roy Rogers and features music from such artists as Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, and Koko Taylor.

Koko Taylor- Queen of the Blues

Koko Taylor was a force to be reckoned with in the world of blues music. She was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and began her musical career singing in clubs in Memphis, Tennessee. Her powerful voice and stage presence soon earned her the title of “Queen of the Blues.”

Taylor released her first album, “Wang Dang Doodle,” in 1966. The album was a success, and it led to Taylor being signed by Chess Records. She went on to release several more successful albums on Chess, including “Live at the Chicago Blues Festival” (1967) and “I Got What It Takes” (1968).

In 1975, Taylor signed with Alligator Records and released the album “Queen of the Blues.” The album was a huge success, and it garnered Taylor a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. She went on to release several more successful albums on Alligator, including “From the Heart of a Woman” (1981) and “Jump for Joy” (1985).

Taylor continued to perform and recorduntil her death in 2009. She was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

The Best Contemporary Blues Album

The Best Contemporary Blues Album is an award presented at the Best Blues Music Awards. The Best Contemporary Blues Album award is given to a album that has had release within the eligibility period. The eligibility period for the award is January 1 to December 31.

Eric Clapton- Reptile

Eric Clapton’s Reptile is the best contemporary blues album. It was released on February 27, 2001, by Duck Records. The album features an array of guest musicians, including Marc Anthony and Billy Preston. It also includes covers of traditional blues songs, such as “Sittin’ on Top of the World” and “Milkcow’s Calf Blues”.

Buddy Guy- Bring ‘Em In

Buddy Guy released his latest album, Bring ‘Em In, in September of 2022 to critical acclaim. The album itself is a return to form for the legendary bluesman, and it features some of the best contemporary blues musicians playing today.

Guy’s guitar work is as virtuosic as ever, and he’s backed by a tight band that knows how to swing. The album features a mix of original songs and covers of classic blues tunes, and there’s not a weak track in the bunch. If you’re a fan of the blues, or simply want to hear some great guitar playing, Bring ‘Em In is an essential purchase.

Susan Tedeschi- Hope and Desire

Released in the summer of 2020, Tedeschi’s sixth album Hope and Desire was recorded at her home studio in Massachusetts. The album is a collection of original songs and covers of her favorite blues tunes. Highlights include her interpretations of Muddy Waters’ “ Mannish Boy” and Willie Dixon’s “ I Can’t Quit You Baby”. Tedeschi is joined on the album by an all-star cast of musicians including drummers Jamey Johnson and Brady Blade, bassist Tim Lefebvre, and keyboardist Kofi Burbridge.

Hope and Desire was nominated for five Grammy Awards including Best Contemporary Blues Album. It won the award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and was named one of the year’s best albums by Rolling Stone, Paste, and American Songwriter magazines.