Son of the Seventh Son

As the son of the late, great Muddy Waters, Larry “Mud” Morganfield brings high expectations to his own career as a blues artist. He more than fulfills them on Son of the Seventh Son, an album brimming with the sort of swagger and sly charm that made his dad a legend. Morganfield claims his heritage without strain, applying his rich baritone voice to a mixed set of originals and covers fleshed out by an A-list roster of Chicago blues veterans. The title track radiates a moody, erotic mojo, giving Mud plenty of room to strut as producer Bob Corritore honks away on harmonica. “Love to Flirt” and “Leave Me Alone” cook nicely in an upbeat shuffle vein, while “Midnight Lover” turns the heat down to a seductive simmer. Morganfield tempers his style with a little earthy humor (“Short Dress Woman”) and recounts his hard times with a survivor’s spirit (“Blues in My Shoes"). His rendition of his father’s tune “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had” is both reverent and personal, underscored by Billy Flynn’s stinging slide guitar work. Overall, Mud does right by his legacy on this confident, compelling set.