John-Alex Mason

John-Alex Mason doesn’t sound at all like a 35-year-old skinny, blond-haired dude. His deep and booming vocal delivery sounds like it’s coming from someone twice his age and weight. The Manitou Springs-based Mason reaches back into Delta music from the likes of Charlie Patton and Skip James, but puts a modern spin on it. The excellent groove-based cuts “Gone So Long” and “Riding On” feature rapping by Cody Burnside and first-rate drumming from Cedric Burnside, grandsons of the late R.L. Burnside. Mason, whose guitar playing is solid throughout, also gets help from folks like harmonica player and mandolinist Gary Hundt and violinist Lionel Young. And while the singer-songwriter’s bluesy originals can easily stand on their own, he kicks out some great covers, too, such as Fred McDowell’s “Write Me a Few of Your Lines.”