ALBUM REVIEW

Christopher Wyze & The Tellers - Naptown Blues

Christopher Wyze is a seasoned blues singer, songwriter, and harmonica player who proves it's never too late to start a brand new chapter. For decades, Christopher held down a forty-year career in advertising while singing blues covers on the weekends. But everything changed in his mid-sixties when he took a few deep, immersive trips down to Clarksdale, Mississippi. Soaking in the Delta air, he started turning his own poems into original, swampy roadhouse blues. Fronting his powerhouse band, Christopher Wyze & The Tellers, his story-rich, natural songwriting quickly caught the industry's attention, turning this late-bloomer into a breakout voice on the modern roots scene. 

Recording for Big Radio Records, Christopher and the band have been on a serious roll with a string of acclaimed releases. Their 2024 debut, Stuck in the Mud, was tracked at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals and cooked up the chart-topping hit "Back to Clarksdale." They backed that up with a raw live album that took home the 2025 Blues Blast Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. Their latest project, Naptown Blues, drops them right back home in Indiana to tip their hats to 1920s Indianapolis guitar-and-piano legends Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. Mixing heavy Delta grooves with easygoing Americana, Christopher keeps things grounded, literate, and completely authentic. 

Opening with Leroy Carr's, I'm Going Back to Tennessee Christopher Wyze is upfront on vocal accompanied by John Boyle III on electric guitar. An easy going shuffle, with Wyze spicing it up with harmonica this is a cool opener.  Classic blues track, How Long—How Long Blues is another timeless Leroy Carr staple. With only a simple guitar vamp, Wyze's vocals shine and his harmonica phrasing, leaves plenty of room for moaning guitar work by Boyle. 

Carr's, My Own Lonesome Blues has a solid groove with snappy guitar work by Boyle and solid, soulful harmonica work by Wyze.  Scrapper Blackwell's, Kokomo Blues is my favorite track on the release with  it's powerful melody and Wyze's best vocals on the release. Boyle really works the strings on this one and Wyze's harmonica work is aggressive. 

Carr's, You Got to Reap What You Sow is really anchored nicely by Gerry Murphy on bass and Boyle's shimmery electric guitar work contrasts nicely with his own single string lead work.   Another solid harmonica solo by Wyze balances his own lead vocal work for a strong best track.  Original track, Birthday in Jail completes the set with strong bones.  Boyle, who carries the structure on acoustic guitar, trades solos with Wyze on harmonica wrapping  this solid blues set. 

📋 Album Credits & Production Info
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• Album Title Naptown Blues
• Artist Christopher Wyze & The Tellers
• Record Label Big Radio Records
• Release Date October 2, 2026
• Personnel Christopher Wyze (Vocals, Harmonica), The Tellers (Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drums)
• Studio Production Produced by Jim Reilley; Recorded and mixed at Postal Recording in downtown Indianapolis, IN.

🎼 Track Listing & Personnel
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Featured Personnel & Masters: Celebrating the historic Indianapolis blues legacy of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell.

1. I'm Going Back to Tennessee
2. Naptown Blues
3. How Long—How Long Blues
4. The Truth About the Thing
5. My Own Lonesome Blues
6. Midnight Hour Blues
7. Kokomo Blues
8. Tired of Your Low Down Ways
9. You Got to Reap What You Sow
10. Prison Bound Blues
11. Birthday in Jail

📺 Session Video Performance
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Watch: Christopher Wyze & The Tellers play live performances from Naptown Blues

🎵 Discography & Purchase Options
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Album Title	Record Label	Accreditation	Year
Naptown Blues	Big Radio Records	Carr & Blackwell Historic Tribute LP	2026
Stuck in the Mud	Big Radio Records	Best New Artist Debut Award Album	2025