Parchman Prison Prayer has unveiled their latest single, “Parchman Prison Blues,” following their widely acclaimed 2023 debut album, Parchman Prison Prayer: Some Mississippi Sunday Morning. The debut gained unexpected attention from both American and British media outlets.
On Super Bowl Sunday 2024, Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan, known for his work with artists like Tinariwen and the Zomba Prison Project, returned to Mississippi for a second recording session. This time, 12 incarcerated men participated, ranging in age from 23 to 74, with six newcomers joining the ensemble. Notably, no guards or chaplains were present during the session.
The song “Parchman Prison Blues” was recorded in a single take, entirely improvised. Six men gathered in a circle and conveyed their emotions through a wordless, raw expression of pain and longing. Four of them are serving life sentences, including a 66-year-old who has spent nearly his entire adult life behind bars.
The recording session was completed within a few hours, with all tracks captured live in one take, without overdubs. As with their first album, proceeds from the project will support the prison chaplain program.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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