Christopher Wyze & The Tellers’ third album titled “Naptown Blues”, is a sincere tribute to the historical roots of Indianapolis blues. With this work released by Big Radio Records, the band has decided to look back to past times to take a firm step in their discography, paying tribute to Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, two of the great blues pioneers, who were popular in that area in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Th album was recorded at Postal Recording studios, located very close of the exact place where that historic duo played their first sessions in 1928.

Throughout eleven songs, “Napton Blues” stands out for a deliberate instrumental bareness, totally foregoing drums and percussion, to give prominence to John Boyle III’s acoustic guitar, Gerry Murphy’s double bass and Wyze’s harmonica. This minimalist setup does not seek to imitate past low fidelity with studio devices, but rather to capture the acoustic purity, tempo and warmth of the most traditional genre in a clean, elegant and natural way.

Christopher Wyze’s deep, raw voice shines with authority in songs like the melancholic “I’m Going Back To Tennessee” or the energetic homonymous piece that gives tittle to the album. Besides recreating some essential classics from Carr’s and Blackwell’s catalogue, the album refreshes the repertoire with songs like “Birthday In Jail,” a bright contemporary cover signed by Wyze himself inspired by an old Christmas melody. The result is a timeless album of acoustic blues, a musical goldsmithing that dazzlingly connects the past century heritage with the artistic sensibility of the present. The only thing that can be put on it is the absence of a piano.