His long-awaited new album honors 20 years of blues mastery
Twenty-six Billboard chart-topper Joe Bonamassa has released Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, his new studio album, available now via his own J&R Adventures. In celebration of this landmark release, which marks 20 years since his first independent album, Bonamassa has unveiled the project’s latest single “Is It Safe To Go Home,” a standout from the album, crafted by producer Josh Smith.
“I wrote ‘Is It Safe To Go Home’ specifically for this project and for Joe,” Smith recalls. “I can’t believe what he did with it. The vocal and solo are some of his best work (in fact, he hits the highest vocal note he ever has on record), and it’s just an absolutely epic performance and arrangement.”
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 revisits and pays homage to Bonamassa’s musical roots, offering listeners a fresh take on classic blues tracks that have shaped his journey. The album boasts two new originals and eight covers, honoring legendary names in blues, from Bobby “Blue” Bland to Albert King. Both Vol. 2 and Blues Deluxe Remastered are available on 180-gram vinyl, with the former as a gorgeous translucent blue color for collectors.
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 is Bonamassa’s heartfelt tribute to the roots of his musical journey, breathing fresh life into classic tracks and encapsulating the blues genre’s evolution. Out October 6th via J&R Adventures, the album features two new originals and eight new covers spanning some of the most important names in the blues – from Bobby “Blue” Bland to Albert King. Also available for pre-order is the Platinum Edition Box Set (limited to 500 units worldwide), which includes the CD and vinyl versions for both Vol. 2 and Blues Deluxe Remastered along with exclusive items.
Featuring Reese Wynans on keys, Calvin Turner on bass, Lamar Carter on drums, Kirk Fletcher on guitar, and Smith on guitar, additional highlights from the project include Bobby Parker’s “It’s Hard But It’s Fair,” and “Is It Safe To Go Home,” a new track written for Bonamassa by Josh Smith.
Following an extensive summer run that included his debut appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, which was recorded for his next live concert film, the hardest-working bluesman in show business will begin his US fall tour on October 23rd at The Cannon Center in Memphis, TN, before crisscrossing the country and capping the year at the guitar-shaped Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL on December 2nd.
Bonamassa’s spring 2024 tour will include performances in historic venues like the Count Basie Center For The Arts in Red Bank, NJ on February 23rd and the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, FL on March 7th, before culminating with the sold out Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea IX, set for March 18-24, departing from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico. The festival line-up includes Grace Potter, The Marshall Tucker Band, John Oates, Jimmy Vivino, King King, and a special performance by Black Country Communion, Bonamassa’s supergroup with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath), Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol). KTBA at Sea is one of the largest fundraisers for Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, aiding in its mission to promote music education by providing grants and resources to schools and musicians in need.
