Rough and Tough

Rising to prominence during the 1960s folk revival, John Hammond steered clear of the electric trends of the era in favour of a raw, unadulterated approach. With just his battered acoustic guitar, rack-mounted harmonica and deeply expressive vocal delivery, he captures the grit of the genre's earliest pioneers.

Rough and Tough finds the blues titan in total command of his craft, tackling a handpicked selection of post-war Chicago standards alongside a pair of original tracks. From "Statesboro Blues" and Muddy Waters classics to a swinging rendition of "Chattanooga Choo Choo," Hammond breathes fresh vitality into every bar.

His virtuosity and instinctual groove earned this landmark solo set a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album in 2009. Engineered with Chesky's minimalist technique, it captures every string squeak, foot tap and vocal nuance with striking transparency.