An Evening With Riley Downing

As part of Jumpin Hot Club 37th anniversary exhibition

You may know the Missouri-based singer-songwriter Riley Downing from his work with acclaimed New Orleans combo The Deslondes. Maybe from his similarly rootsy and wide-ranging catalogue of songs with the Tumbleweeds indeed, Riley 's ability to set gripping, evocative narratives within soundscapes that weave together country, blues, folk, r&b, bluegrass, rock, soul and whatever else catches his ear is something that, once you hear it, is hard to shake free from. It goes for that voice too deep, dusty and drawling, it's an instrument that can stop you in your tracks with its character and expressiveness, as well as through Downing's knack for laying out complex emotions in plainspoken, direct language. We chose Riley especially for a JHot club debut at our 37th anniversary exhibition in GCT. His solo debut album Start It Over came out on New West Records last summer

Start It Over, Riley Downing's first solo outing, turns in a remarkably satisfying mix of Americana, rock, folk and R&B, all wrapped in a laid-back Louisiana vibe.-Americana Highways