R. Crumb Draws the Blues #[nn]

"Patton" presents a vivid, grounded portrait of the legendary bluesman Charley Patton, tracing his journey from early encounters with the music in the early 1900s to his rise as a towering figure in the Delta blues scene, all rendered in the stark, expressive style that defines R. Crumb’s work.

In "The Old Songs Are the Best Songs," a wry, irreverent take on classic tunes brings unexpected life to familiar lyrics, reimagining "On the Street Where You Live," "My Guy," "Purple Haze," and "When You Go a Courtin'" with a touch of Crumb’s signature wit and offbeat charm. The story unfolds through a series of playful, surreal vignettes, each twisting the original songs into something delightfully strange and oddly heartfelt.

In "Jelly Roll Morton's Voodoo Curse," the legendary pianist’s own words weave a haunting tale of fame, ambition, and the mysterious forces that may have shadowed his rise and fall. Through vivid, expressive art, the story explores the darker currents beneath Morton’s flamboyant persona, leaving the weight of his past—and its unseen toll—lingering in the air.