“Why?’ is a powerful reflection on love, loss, and regret, combining the intense emotion of the blues with the explosive energy of a seven-piece band playing at full force.”
JFK Blue are returning with *“Why?”*, a strong blues-rock song that expresses the complex feelings associated with both finding love and losing it. Although the track was first released at the end of 2019 and was starting to build up popularity before the arrival of Covid disrupted so many creative projects, it is now being reissued as part of the band’s forthcoming second album with renewed energy and a greater sense of meaning.
The track lasts for almost seven minutes and shows off the extent and ambition of JFK Blue’s music. It is not a restrained kind of blues rock but rather a full-bodied, big-band style, propelled by strong instrumentation, emotional storytelling, and the synergy between the seven musicians. The song deals with regret, reflection, and the lasting effect of a relationship that has changed everything. Stef Allsebrook, who is both a singer-songwriter and the lead guitarist, has established a reputation for his organic method of songwriting. The band’s music is the result of genuine collaboration, seven musicians contributing their individual viewpoints and influences to the session. As part of their creative process each instrument plays an important role, which gives rise to a sound that is both carefully crafted and at the same time naturally alive.
The recording took place at Bonafide Studios in Muswell Hill, North London, with Brian Bogdanovich acting as both producer and engineer, and *“Why?”* reflects the band’s dedication to authenticity. The song includes intense guitar playing, soulful Hammond organ, expressive lines on the tenor and baritone saxophones, and a rhythm section which pushes the song ahead with intensity and purpose. The present-day JFK Blue line-up consists of Stef Allsebrook playing lead guitar and singing vocals, Stas Melian on lead guitar, Leslie Fleischman on bass, Dave Ferguson on Hammond organ, electric piano and synthesizers, Omid Amiri on tenor and alto saxophone, Jos Henrit on drums and percussion, and Lottie Beattie on baritone saxophone and vocals. At its core, the song *”Why?”* is concerned with a universal experience — that of looking back on a love which once meant everything and attempting to work out where things went wrong. JFK Blue turn this act of personal reflection into an honest and intense blues-rock anthem through their strong arrangement and emotional performance. With their new album due any time now, *“Why?”* is adding another chapter to the story of a group that remains committed to live musicianship, storytelling, and a genuinely wide-ranging sound.
English