LIVE in CLARKSDALE - Press and Reviews

...classic blues grooves with confidence and swag... well rehearsed unit...knows how to function as one.
...a blues super highway...well oiled and slick... identifiable fingerprint that straddles the line between classic blues and the modern approach.
How Long, How Long Blues...a perfect choice for this record and the band did a wonderful job with it.
Money Spent Blues...solos are tasteful and the groove is as solid as they come.
...vocal is uniquely Christopher Wyze's with an unmistakable and memorable delivery.
...anything more than what is needed is simply too much...a rare commodity that this band seems to possess quite naturally.
(on Stuck in the Mud)...presence of the harmonica...is a welcome addition...adding just enough to the mix to get that vibe, but never overstaying its welcome.
It all sits gracefully within the pocket. The spotlight is seamlessly passed from the vocals to the soloists throughout the entirety of this well produced set...mix is rock solid, a great listen.
If you prefer your blues a little on the dirty side this record will be a good fit for your collection.
Read the full review

(the band) got back together in Clarksdale for this live recording (and DVD videos)
...an interesting show...and Clarksdale tour video (with) Wyze taking us on a tour
“Three Hours from Memphis”a rocking blues, opens
- Nice guitar, pretty soloing...keyboards...well done...vocals...clean and clear
“Hard Work Don’t Pay”...some pretty slide to savor and (Mark) Yacovone... shine(s) on organ.
(On) “Stuck In The Mud”...Wyze blow(s) dirty harp...(John Boyle) continues to shine on guitar.
“How Long, How Long Blues” is a tribute to Scrapper Blackwell in this Leroy Carr classic.
- Nice piano licks abound along with the guitar soloing (as) Wyze croons
The band is tight...Wyze’s vocals are deep, gritty...
- ...the songs all tell a story.
Wyze and company are devoted to their craft and work hard at doing authentic blues.
Read the full review

...already penciled in on my list as one of the best albums of 2025.
...a real blues gem of an album.
Everything has a great live feel to it and the concert sound is superb.
Wyze's expressive vocal and neat harmonica stand out front
The cover of (the band's debut album) "Stuck in the Mud" portrayed a tractor stuck fast in the mud, but this time, the motor's running smoothly.
The ten tracks were recorded on the Juke Joint Chapel Stage where folks like Charlie Musselwhite, Cedric Burnside and others have performed...
...takes you to the very heart of the Delta; small, not too polished, but clearly alive from the blues played there.
"Stuck" in the Mud...it's pure Delta magic, as is "Hard Work Don't Pay"
...Wyze's introduction..."You folks down here in the Delta might think we don;t have the blues up in Indiana, but I can assure we do," is right on the money.
Read the full review

The band released their debut album, Stuck in the Mud in 2024, to huge acclaim
I was very excited to receive the next installment in this band’s journey
Recorded at a Juke-Joint...(the) Shack Up Inn, in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
...you immediately get a feel for the ambiance within the audience.
A juke joint, in Clarksdale, what’s not to like?
"Hard Work Don’t Pay," and "Cotton Ain’t King" are two of the best descriptions of how life used to be in and around the Delta
"How Long, How Long Blues," is a tune I have not heard in many a year...but is still as vibrant and valid today.
The album concludes with the other cover, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, performed here by messers Wyze and Yacovone on keyboards.
A brilliant way to end a gig, intimate, but still as telling as always.
Read the entire review here

...the essence of blues in its purest and most visceral form.
...not only celebrates music but also the cultural legacy of the cradle of the blues.
Wyze’s harmonica and raspy voice blend with John Boyle’s guitar and Mark Yacovone’s keyboards...
...emotionally charged lyrics and impeccable instrumentation...a sound that is both modern and faithful to blues traditions.
...release includes a (film) documentary titled “Wyze in Clarksdale,”...an intimate look at the city...(and) additional context to the live performance.
...enhances the listener’s experience...underscores the band’s commitment to preserving and promoting the blues.
Musically, Live in Clarksdale captivates with its authenticity and energy...
Recommended Tracks: Three Hours from Memphis, Back to Clarksdale, Money Spent Blues, How Long Blues, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.
Read the entire review here

...a fresh yet deeply rooted voice in contemporary blues, combining masterful storytelling with a powerful blend of Americana, blues, and classic country influences
Christopher Wyze & the Tellers burst onto the global blues scene with their 2024 debut album
... quickly earned critical acclaim and chart success, including a top 40 Blues Album of the Year nod from RMR
Wyze draws his musical inspiration deeply from the Mississippi Delta's blues heritage, sharing stories of struggle, hope, and perseverance with a voice that blends country-style crooning with authentic blues emotion.
The Tellers comprise talented musicians with connections to notable acts.
...they captured the energy of their live performance at Clarksdale’s Juke Joint Chapel on the album... showcasing their gritty, soulful sound in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Read the full review here.

This is a must have for all those Wyze fans.
Christopher Wyze was awarded a “One To Watch” songwriter award by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
This is the live follow-up to his debut studio recording “Stuck In The Mud”
...recorded at The Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
This live album is accompanied by two videos. The first is the live recording session at Clarksdale’s iconic Shack Up Inn...
while the other is a historic documentary on the history of the blues.
Read the full review here.

Live in Clarksdale confirms qualities we highly regard of Christopher Wyze & the Tellers once again!
... blends rock and roll, Americana, and country styles, merging with Wyze's distinctive deep voice and storytelling style.
...stomping opener, “Three Hours from Memphis”...a fictional tale of a musician seeking fame, inspired by his own hopes and dreams
...infectious mid-tempo “Good Friend Gone”... excellent slide guitar by Boyle tells another story of his early life and a friend who fell into bad company
...showcase(s) his rich imagination, from the quirky “Money Spent Blues” and “Looking for My Baby”...to “Hard Work Don’t Pay,” a harmonica-heavy track.
(Wyze's) songs flow through themes of experiences, humanity, and hope, without shying away from darker corners.
Read the full review here.

...brainchild of singer-songwriter Christopher Wyze and producer Ralph Carter – musicians who had met 10 years earlier in Clarksdale at a blues gathering
lyrics are catchy and tells a story.
A lot...went into this project (DVD, CD, elaborate CD package and recorded live at the Chapel at the Shake Up Inn in Clarksdale)
...best of the CD...“Stuck In The Mud”, “How Long, How Long Blues” and “Cotton Ain’t King”.
...my favorite is “Three Hours From Memphis″...could cross genres...
I will give this a 9 on Blues content