Renowned blues guitarist and vocalist Bernard Allison is following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Luther Allison. Born on November 26, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois, he was immersed in the rich blues culture of Chicago and honed his craft from the musical legacy that surrounded him. With a distinctive style that seamlessly blends traditional blues with contemporary elements, Allison has claimed a singular niche in the contemporary blues scene.
Bernard’s father Luther Allison (1939-1997) was a legendary Chicago blues bandleader and guitarist, known and admired for his fiery performances and soulful vocals. Born in Arkansas, Luther migrated to Chicago in the 1950s, becoming part of the city’s vibrant blues scene. He gained prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, fusing traditional blues with contemporary influences. Luther’s electrifying stage presence earned him international acclaim and albums like Bad News Is Coming solidified his status as a blues icon. Luther was a five-time Blues Music Award winner.
Bernard Allison’s professional career took off in the late 1980s when he joined Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine as lead guitarist. Over the years, Bernard has released numerous critically acclaimed albums such as 
Keepin’ the Blues Alive and Chills & Thrills, showcasing his guitar skills and vocals. An electrifying performer, Allison’s live shows are celebrated for their energy and passion, solidifying his status as a dynamic force in the world of blues.
Ruf Records, celebrating their 30-year anniversary, have now released a two-CD set entitled Luther’s Blues by Bernard Allison, a collection of 20 songs originally by his father. The songs span a period of 30 years and include songs recorded in Paris, France in 1992 and all the way up to the album Highs & Lows which charted #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart in 2022, and was nominated for blues album of the year at the Blues Music Awards.
Given the sheer volume of material, there’s a wide range of moods. At one atmospheric edge there’s the elegant acoustic musings of Bernard’s version of “Castle” from Luther’s original all-acoustic sessions album Hand Me Down My Moonshine, and the heart-wrenching stage favorite of “Serious” And at the other edge there’s the big band swing of “Move From The Hood” from Luther’s album Blue Streak, released by Alligator Records in 1995, co-written by Luther with guitarist James Solberg, and the funkified “Too Many Women” from the 1985 album Here I Come. The latter offers both an abrupt ending and a superb lead guitar outro.
Bernard Allison carves a special place for himself between the Chicago blues of the late ’60s and the more modern funk of James Brown and the Talking Heads—check out the updated arrangement of “Midnight Creeper” to see what I mean. The song “Help” is clearly not a Beatles cover; it opens with a distant metal guitar riff and continues with a litany of John Winters’ fingerboard memories of Chuck Berry on steroids—Bernard has clearly been aware of how Metallica and Living Colour assault the audience with high energy, and here, he retaliates.
Bernard Allison has more range, chops and skills than almost any guitarist on the blues circuit today. Bernard’s take on his father’s catalog is reverential and powerful, the material stands the test of time, the playing is top-tier, any blues band would kill for his chops, vocals and band-leading skills. Whether you are a fan of his father’s music or not, Luther’s Blues by Bernard Allison opens a floodgate of great tunes, songs and is entirely contemporary. Your neighbors are not going to accuse you favoring just “vintage” blues when you crank these tunes as loud as you dare.
Highly recommended.