Press
“Duncanson has one of the most distinctive and powerful voices in modern blues.”
— DownBeat
“A commanding, soulful performance from one of today’s most compelling blues vocalists.”
— Living Blues
“California Trap is a beautifully crafted record, rich in texture and groove.”
— Blues Music Magazine
“The horn arrangements are superb, adding depth and sophistication throughout.”
— Blues Blast Magazine
“A deeply satisfying set of originals delivered with conviction and style.”
— Blues Matters!
“Authentic, confident, and thoroughly engaging.”
— Rock and Blues Muse
“Duncanson’s vocal expressions are some of the best out there right now. Period.”
— Curts Blues
Press Kit
“For the last quarter century, Andrew Duncanson has paid his dues and honed his craft as a blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. It’s on his current record California Trap where it has all come together.
Duncanson has a big, soulful, memorable voice. “Honestly, it kind of took a while to find my own voice. I did a lot of trying to be like this guy or that guy for a long time and I think I like where I am now,” Duncanson said. The Champaign, Illinois native cites Bobby “Blue” Bland, Bobby Womack, Junior Wells, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Luther Allison, David Ruffin, Abraham Johnson, Tyrone Davis, Johnny Taylor, and Buddy Ace as vocal influences, but the result is uniquely his own.
California Trap is one of the top blues records of the year. It features the horn playing, arrangements, and co-production by Michael Peloquin. It has a STAX soul feel with horns, organ, female backup singers, blues guitar, and such. The album was released in March. By May, it was in the top 10 of the Living Blues radio chart. In July, Duncanson was nominated for Blues Blast Magazine awards for Best Contemporary Blues Album, Male Blues Artist, and Vocalist of the Year. The album features blues heavyweights and fellow 2025 Blues Blast nominees Kid Anderson (guitar, producer), Jerry Jemmott (bass), Jim Pugh (keys), and Derrick “D ‘mar” Martin (drums), among others. Anderson’s Greaseland studio in San Jose, California continues to churn out some of the finest blues albums of the 2000s. “I didn’t realize just how friendly he (Anderson) is and how much he makes you feel at home. That’s the thing for me that makes Greaseland special,” Duncanson said. “He’s kind of a musical genius. He can recall any record over the last hundred years probably and gives you advice on what you should do with your music. He eases everybody with his sense of humor and makes it a fun environment.”
Andrew Duncanson will continue to record and perform with Kilborn Alley and The Dig 3, but this current sound and Take a Ride with Peloquin will be the one that starts to tour extensively next year and hit the festivals. Next stop, the Grammys?”
Dave Popkin, WBGO
October 2025
READ THE INTERVIEW
Short Bio
Andrew Duncanson & Take A Ride featuring Michael Peloquin is an exciting horn-infused contemporary blues band that blends soul, blues, funk and roots rock—accentuating the best of all genres into a higher gear and their own signature sound. Take A Ride is dedicated to original songwriting, keeping the soul tradition at the forefront with Andrew’s butter-smooth meets gravel road vocals and a powerful horn section leading the way.
Full Bio
Great soul and R&B music has traditionally been rich with passionate singers and horn sections, but both have been disappearing into the musical mists of time for at least the past half-century. But then there is Andrew Duncanson—belting out his songs and taking notes in juke joints from California to the European continent for more than twenty years and reaching deep into that primeval source, adding his own deeply soulful voice to the music. When it comes to songwriting, he takes pride in having well over 100 of his songs recorded. Add veteran arranger, saxophone and harmonica player Michael Peloquin and his soulful/sassy horn charts to the mix and you have a dynamic duo leading the helm of this compelling band of talented musicians called Take A Ride.
In 2019, Andrew and Michael both wound up on the bill of a pretty big event—the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, where Andrew was performing with guitarist Mike Welch & The Connection and Michael was with Tommy Castro & The Painkillers. During the cruise, the two Champaign, IL natives reconnected. Their conversations led to plans of making a record with renowned producer, Kid Andersen (Charlie Musselwhite, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats). In 2022, Andrew followed up with Michael by phone to turn the idea into reality and “California Trap,” co-produced by Peloquin and Anderson was recorded at Greaseland Studios in California. This was Andrew’s debut solo album and the first studio album with Michael Peloquin. “California Trap” was released in 2025 to critical acclaim and remains in the top 50 on the radio charts. The album will be re-released on vinyl, along with two new bonus tracks from Take A Ride in late Spring of 2026.
MEET THE BAND
