Mr. Sipp

The Mississippi Blues Child
Malaco

Castro Coleman, better known to the world as Mr. Sipp, opens his sophomore release with the autobiographical song “TMBC,” or more simply when spelled out completely “The Mississippi Blues Child.” He explains how he rose from a lengthy and successful career in the field of gospel, while always having the hankering to perform the blues, though his peers at the time told him that was sinful, the devil’s music. He went to Memphis and won the International Blues Challenge making him a phenom quite quickly.

One thing that Mr Sipp does not tell you in the song that he related to me while interviewing him for the book Blues On Beale Street, Memoirs Of The International Blues Challenge, was that prior to participating in the IBC the first time, he only had three original blues songs in his repertoire and had to create another on the spur of the moment when he reached the finals. Witnessing him perform and knowing this fact makes your jaw drop at the talent level displayed.

Mr Sipp has an extreme knack for song writing and has the ability where he often reaches into his pocket to pull out guitar riffs that can rival masters like BB King or Little Milton very naturally. The numbers can make you want to move your feet and shake your butt as in “Sipp Slide.” And there are times he can pull you into a soft heartfelt slow blues with biting guitar like “Say The Word” where he questions whether his girl truly cares for him or not. Then there is pure Mississippi soul with “What Is Love,” and since this disc is being released on Malaco, a label renowned for carrying a number of the finest soul singers ever to emerge from the South, it is right at home and is smooth with a capital S. That soul continues deeply with “Tonight” while “Hold It In The Road” takes on more of a bouncy direction while still holding onto the Southern soul mannerism. For pure fun, check out “Jump The Broom,” where he wants his girl to marry him and the song is just filled with tasty slide work from guitarist Chris Gill. This is an exceptional selection in an album filled to the brim with great work.

As Mr Sipp will tell you himself when something is right, he has “knocked a hole in it!” Oh yeah, he certainly has with The Mississippi Blues Child. If you haven’t caught onto Mr Sipp yet, what is your delay? Pick this one up and join in on the fun. Knock a hole in it!!

Total Time: 65:35

TMBC / Jump The Broom / In The Fire / Hole In My Heart / Say The Word / Sipp Slide / Nobody’s Bisness / Jackpot / What Is Love / V.I.P. / Tonight / Hold It In The Road / Be Careful / Too Much Water