Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Blues

On “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Blues,” Jutz, along with co-writer, The SteelDrivers’ Tammy Rogers, wrangles observations from his own experience working on the road since he was nineteen years old. “Going on the road at nineteen was the perfect way to live at the time. No responsibilities but to make it to the next gig. Do what you know how to do and move on,” he remembers, pointing out that this way of life follows its own archetypal patterns. “That’s why it doesn’t matter where you are, you could be going up and down the Mississippi River in 1898 or the damn Autobahn in Germany in 1998. There’s always somebody waiting to play another game, frequently with a bottle of booze.” He notes that for some people, that charm never wears off. “It did for me. I got sick of the people I was with, sick of myself for sitting down at the table to play their game,” Jutz adds. “As it turned out, that part wasn’t over when I moved to Nashville. As it turned out, it was necessary, so better things could come.”

Musically, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Blues” takes most of its cues from Jutz’s 1898 Mississippi River vision of his existence. Acoustic instruments played live, together in a room, accompany Jutz’s sweet melody. Co-writer Rogers supports with her fiddle and backing vocals, while Mike Compton’s mandolin and Mark Fain’s bass keep a steady, rolling rhythm that’s accentuated by Finn Goodwin-Bain’s piano. The resulting recording feels at once timeless and fresh, channeling both ancient musical ideas and scientific processes for the benefit of anyone lucky enough to have a listen.

“Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Blues” is the first single from Jutz’s upcoming album, Ring-A-Bellin’, releasing independently on April 3rd