Jontavious Willis was 14 when he first heard a song by Muddy Waters. Now barely in his 30s, his dynamic vocals, masterful fingerpicking and infectious Southern charm blends a reverence for the past with a fresh, contemporary energy. Growing up steeped in the gospel church culture of rural Georgia, and drawing from the Delta, Piedmont, Texas and gospel blues traditions, his passion and skill has motivated legends Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo to mentor the young (by blues standards) prodigy. Mahal has said of Willis, "That's my wonderboy, the wunderkind. Jontavious is a great new voice of the 21st century in acoustic blues.”

As a young Black man in the 21st century, Willis connects with the music of his great-great grandfather’s era by recognizing that the purpose of the blues is storytelling and the problems of the Jim Crow era still persist today.

True to the alchemic ability of the blues to turn sorrow into humour and joy, Willis is both electrifying and intimate live, moving effortlessly between driving, dance‑worthy rhythms and quieter, emotionally resonant moments. “Back in the day,” he says “there were thousands of popular blues dances that went with the music. I want to see that come back.”

- Shereen Samuels