Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush: Young Fashioned Ways Review

Young Fashioned Ways, out March 21, 2025, from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush, is about as close to perfect as a blues record can get. Rush (91 years old) and Shepherd (47 years old) have indicated that they wanted the record to showcase their love for Muddy Waters, and they wanted to challenge each other to push their creative achievements in working on the album. They succeed.

Rush and Shepherd are backed on several tracks by a band of stellar musicians: Steve Potts on drums, Charles Hodges on keys and organ, Darryl “DJ” Pruitt on bass, Doug Wolverton on trumpet, and Charlie Di Puma on saxophone. Shepherd provides his signature guitar chops, which fit perfectly in with Rush, one of our great living legends, vocals. 

To summarize, perfect leads + perfect band = perfect record. To expand: Rush’s vocals remain smooth and bright, Shepherd’s guitar remains crunchy and full, and the band compliments them perfectly. Young Fashioned Ways is a celebration of the history, culture, and soul of the blues, and shows off the unparalleled talents of two giants from different generations in the scene. 

The 10 tracks on the album are a mix of originals and reimaginings of Rush classics, and there isn’t a single skip to be found. As I was assigning ratings to each track, I kept  thinking the same thing: I may like some of these tracks more or less than the others, but that has very little to do with structure, performance, or execution, it’s all personal preference on which masterpiece appeals more to the listener. 

The likely big hit off the record is “Who Was That,” which is featured in the recent film Flight Risk. It’s a rocking 12-bar tune with absolutely impeccable tone on the guitar and a killer harmonica part. That said, I think the most moving tracks are “40 Acres (How Long)” and “What She Said.” “40 Acres (How Long)” is a reimagined Rush tune in part about the weight of racism that feels at once mournful and hopeful, with fun organ work, a rousing opening guitar riff, and a real window into the history of the music and its players. “What She Said” closes the record. It’s an old school heartbreak my-woman-left-me blues tune, slower and more elemental, a perfect song.

Beyond the three tracks highlighted above, “G String” is a fun storytelling blues classic done well, “Young Fashioned Ways” (the title track) is a new take on a Muddy Waters tune on the virtues of partying and playing the blues, and “Make Love to You” is a smooth and seductive bedroom song with a killer stomp-clap rhythm. 

Neither of the legends producing this work have lost a step in their mastery of playing the blues and it’s a privilege to hear them work together. I have absolutely no critiques on updated classics from Bobby Rush that helped build the genre, and the originals on the record are all expertly crafted. Rush and Shepherd succeed entirely at what they set out to do with the album, it’s a must listen. The duo is planning an upcoming tour together to support the record, and judging from the album, the live act will be one for the history books.

The Review: 10/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– 40 Acres (How Long)
– G String
– What She Said
– Who Was That

The Big Hit

– Who Was That