Artist Joe Bonamassa

The “young bluesmaster” tag has been so overused that it’s easy to ignore, but Joe Bonamassa’s approach is fresh enough to warrant a listen. He began playing out at age 8, eventually spending time with the aptly named Bloodline, a group featuring the progeny of, among others, The Doors’ Robby Krieger and Miles Davis. After Bloodline split, Bonamassa recorded an album of blues classics and participated in the Blues In The Schools program, teaching students about the history of the blues. This past spring marked the release of his 12th solo record, Dust Bowl. His 13th, Driving Towards The Daylight, is due to be released in May.

Updated 04/25/2012