I read in a review about James Byfield that he is a national treasure. And he certainly is. Soul, folk, gospel, jazz, country music, blues and rock 'n' roll all merge in his music, which is labeled as "Americana." Personally, I’d link Byfield to someone like Ry Cooder, for instance. Reality stubbornly insists on acknowledging Byfield’s touch, just like Cooder’s, in some masterpieces of contemporary American music.
He left behind a successful career as a graphic designer and multimedia producer to fully dedicate himself to roots music, and in 2008 he created his alter ego, Blind Lemon Pledge, drawing on the legacy of country blues, Son House, and Blind Lemon Jefferson. His sharp instinct for experimentation has led him to use the er hu, a two-stringed Chinese violin, and to venture into other genres—from classical music to hard rock in a sort of liturgical celebration.
"Lemon Live!" is his eleventh album, and it masterfully summarizes all the music that has accompanied him throughout his career, presenting it to the audience with complete sincerity and deeply committed loyalty.