For the last quarter century, Andrew Duncanson has paid his dues and honed his craft as a blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. It’s on his current record California Trap where it has all come together. Duncanson has a big, soulful, memorable voice. “Honestly, it kind of took a while to find my own voice. I did a lot of trying to be like this guy or that guy for a long time and I think I like where I am now,” Duncanson said. The Champaign, Illinois native cites Bobby “Blue” Bland, Bobby Womack, Junior Wells, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Luther Allison, David Ruffin, Abraham Johnson, Tyrone Davis, Johnny Taylor, and Buddy Ace as vocal influences, but the result is uniquely his own.
California Trap is one of the top blues records of the year. It features the horn playing, arrangements, and co-production by Michael Peloquin. It has a STAX soul feel with horns, organ, female backup singers, blues guitar, and such. The album was released in March. By May, it was in the top 10 of the Living Blues radio chart. In July, Duncanson was nominated for Blues Blast Magazine awards for Best Contemporary Blues Album, Male Blues Artist, and Vocalist of the Year. The album features blues heavyweights and fellow 2025 Blues Blast nominees Kid Anderson (guitar, producer), Jerry Jemmott (bass), Jim Pugh (keys), and Derrick “D ‘mar” Martin (drums), among others. Anderson’s Greaseland studio in San Jose, California continues to churn out some of the finest blues albums of the 2000s. “I didn’t realize just how friendly he (Anderson) is and how much he makes you feel at home. That’s the thing for me that makes Greaseland special,” Duncanson said. “He’s kind of a musical genius. He can recall any record over the last hundred years probably and gives you advice on what you should do with your music. He eases everybody with his sense of humor and makes it a fun environment.”
Duncanson has had some regional and critical success, largely in the Midwest, with his bands The Kilborn Alley Blues Band and The Dig 3, and he tours through the States and Europe at an average of 130 shows per year. This album should make him more of a household name to blues fans and place him in bigger venues. Side A, which includes originals “Relearning to Climb”, “Naw Naw Naw”, “Hold Me Back”, and “Town Saint” is particularly strong. A song that Duncanson calls “a cover of a cover” is Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”. This slinky, horn-drenched version was suggested by Peloquin and is reminiscent of the one performed by Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. It packs a timely message.
Andrew Duncanson will continue to record and perform with Kilborn Alley and The Dig 3, but this current sound and a band he calls Take a Ride with Peloquin will be the one that starts to tour extensively next year and hit the festivals. Next stop, the Grammys?
Andrew Duncanson & Take A Ride featuring Michael Peloquin “Naw Naw Naw” live:
Andrew Duncanson feat. Michael Peloquin “Relearning To Climb”:
Andrew Duncanson feat. Michael Peloquin “This Land Is Your Land”:
The Dig 3 “Tell Me The Place”:
You can SEE Dave Popkin's entire interview with Andrew Duncanson below.
