The Soul of John Black’s third release, Black John (Eclecto Groove), features more of that infectious “country funk” sound that was so enthralling on their previous two releases. The man behind it all, John “JB” Bigham, has quite a background in music, playing guitar and writing songs for Miles Davis, playing guitar and keyboards for the funk/ska/rock band Fishbone for nearly a decade, and playing sessions with artists like Eminem, Dr. Dre’, Rosey, Nikki Costa, Everlast, and Bruce Hornsby. His approach to the blues encompasses many different styles and it gives the genre a fresh, new sound.

Take the title track, which opens the disc; a variation of the old “Stagger Lee” tune, it starts out tamely enough with acoustic guitar and handclaps, but quickly changes gears with electric guitar, piano, bass, and drums. You’ll be playing this one again and again. The first single, “Betty Jean,” is a funky soul number that serves as a tribute to Betty Davis, soul singer from the ’70s and former wife of Miles Davis. “Last Forever” is a prime example of Bigham’s country funk sound. It’s steeped in the blues, but with a definite late ’60s/early ’70s Family Stone vibe.

“Bottom Chick” mixes in reggae rhythm with an irresistible hook. “White Dress” is a sexy number, with blues lyrics that might have come from an old Muddy Waters single over a sparse arrangement, mainly Bigham singing over his Stella slide guitar. “I Knew A Lady” blends old school (circa Leadbelly) sensibilities with a Go Go beat and “Push Into The Night” sounds like a mid ’80s R&B/Funk track. Closing the discs is “Thinking About You,” a quiet, meditative ballad featuring Bigham and his guitar.

Bigham is a masterful composer. His songs are full of catchy hooks and imaginative lyrics (including, on “Last Forever,” the girl who was like a bad cell phone; she liked to roam). He gets plenty of help from Adam McDougal (keyboards), Shawn Davis (bass), Jake Najor, Oliver Charles, and Scott Seiver (drums), Davey Chegwidden (percussion), longtime collaborator Chris Thomas (synthesizers and backing vocals), Satnam Ramgotra (bowed cymbals), and the indispensable background vocal team of Kandace Linsey and Laura J. Jones.

Black John is a heady mix of soul, blues, funk, jazz, country, and anything else that fit Bigham’s palette at the time. It’s said that a musical genre cannot continue to be vital if it stands in one place. Well, The Soul of John Black is breathing new, reinvigorating life into soul and the blues, and both genres are the better for it.