2026 – Blind Pig Records
Release Date : May 29, 2026
By Phillip
Smith; May 26,
2026
Amani Burnham, the twenty-year-old Ethiopian-born blues-rocking
song-writer/guitar slinger who was raised in Connecticut and took to
social media in 2023 to begin wowing a fanbase which now contains nearly a quarter
of a million followers, is now rolling out his debut album Roots & Wings.
To put it bluntly, the record absolutely
rocks. His ferocity behind the guitar is
rivaled only by his confidently cool voice.
Burnham whose major influences include Eric Clapton,
Jeff Beck, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jimi Hendrix
definitely reflects more of the later on this album, and it sounds great. With Burnham on vocals and guitars of
this blues-rock power-trio, he is joined by Ray Hangen on drums, and Matt
Raymond on bass.
Burnham kicks the door in with the appropriately titled “Fastlane”. This instrumental, with its humongous SRV, vibe absolutely cooks. Lyrically and musically, title-track “Roots & Wings” hits like a lost Hendrix track. From the opening riff, I am immediately pulled in to the song. Other tracks heavily inspired by Hendrix include “Sideways Thru Time” and “Lovers Till They Die”. With a baseline that sinks right into my chest, “The Last Thing I Remember” strikes with gobsmacking force. This one begs to be heard at a loud volume so it can be felt while listening. A slow-simmered performance of Elmore James’ “Bleeding Heart” brings this twelve-track album to close as the only cover. Burnham plays it to perfection.
Burnham has a magical way of invoking the blues-rock masters of the Sixties and Seventies into his original songs. I’m looking very much forward to hearing what is next for this amazing young artist.
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| Photo by J.B. Lawrence |
For more information about Amani Burnham, visit his website at https://www.amaniburnham.com/