Chris Bergson “East River Blues”

Combining extraordinary kindness with astonishing vocal and guitar talent, Chris Bergson is already back with a new release just a few months after the outstanding success of Comforts of Home, recorded under the full band’s name. With only seven tracks and a total running time of 35 minutes, East River Blues is a delightful companion piece to that masterpiece, this time released under the New Yorker’s own name.

Four of the seven tracks nevertheless stretch well beyond the five-minute mark, giving the music all the space it needs to unfold naturally. The result is a collection of first-rate compositions, deeply inhabited covers, remarkable performances from every musician involved, and the sheer pleasure of hearing each musical idea explored with patience and intelligence.

Borrowed from Muddy Waters, Mean Disposition opens the album as a deep, slow blues, its opening turnaround immediately setting the tone, soon reinforced by the careful yet warm entrance of a rhythm section sitting perfectly behind the beat. The mood is established from the very first bars.

With Little Girl Blue, popularized by Nina Simone long after its composition in 1935, the listener is immersed in soothing jazz, thanks to Chris Bergson‘s clear and precise playing on a beautifully airy Gibson ES-335, supported by the supple pulse of the double bass and impeccable brushwork on the drums.

The title track carries the listener even further with its graceful, lively tempo, where the saxophone mirrors the guitar theme without ever flattening it. The musical connection between Jay Collins, former sideman for Gregg Allman, and Chris Bergson proves both exquisite and perfectly judged. The freedom the guitarist then allows himself confirms jazz at its purest: within a framework that is both disciplined and free, his solo unfolds with effortless elegance.

The favor is immediately returned with a silky, full-bodied saxophone solo. During the following chorus, both instruments answer each other at close range, building the tension even further before reuniting to bring the theme to a masterful conclusion. The spirit of Grant Green hovers over this magnificent performance.

Inspired by Wes Montgomery, the instrumental Sad Strains appears midway through the album, offering a warm tone and lyrical playing throughout. Larry Grenadier, who also performs alongside John Scofield, delivers a wonderful double bass solo, subtly punctuated by Herlin Riley‘s cymbals and snare. Written during Chris Bergson’s school years and long a favorite of his recently departed father, the piece forms the perfect bridge toward the album’s three shorter closing tracks.

Kindless Villain provides the album’s turning point with an irresistible shuffle and lyrics packed with biting humor, co-written with Kate Ross, Chris Bergson‘s wife. “Kind-faced villain, your lies don’t fool me. (…) Kind-faced woman, betrayal is all you know. (…) You play doctor, but you’ve never even set foot in medical school. (…)”.

Not every note of the solo is picked with the right hand. Bergson‘s formidable picking strength, contrasting with the finesse of his phrasing, displays astonishing power and precision. A track that should be required listening for every student of swing.

The tempo settles once again with What Would I Do, where elegant saxophone and guitar lines unfold over a restrained rhythmic landscape, constantly sustained by shimmering cymbal work and an exceptionally warm bass sound.

The album closes beautifully with the instrumental Driftin’, once again showcasing the wonderful chemistry between saxophone and guitar in the service of an irresistibly swinging groove.

East River Blues is a magnificent album that perfectly brings together its author’s two lifelong passions. Blues and jazz are elevated with elegance, restraint and impeccable taste, capturing the joy of an ideal musical encounter. Celebrating three decades of devotion to the styles that have shaped his career in New York, the city that never sleeps, Chris Bergson delivers a record that will both delight longtime fans and reassure them that his remarkable consistency remains intact. Now having recently joined the ranks of prolific fiftysomethings, he continues to inspire admiration. And if this album leaves you wanting more because of its brief running time, simply return to Comforts of Home and let the journey continue…

Technical information

ARTIST: Chris Bergson
ALBUM: East River Blues
LABEL: Continental Record Service (CRS)
RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2026

MUSICIANS:

• Chris Bergson (guitar, vocals)
• Larry Grenadier (double bass)
• Herlin Riley (drums)
• Jay Collins (tenor saxophone, tracks 3, 6 and 7)

TRACKLIST: 1/ Mean Disposition, 2/ Little Girl Blue, 3/ East River Blues, 4/ Sad Strains, 5/ Kindless Villain, 6/ What Would I Do, 7/ Driftin’.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: chrisbergson.com