Jeff Norwood, the foot stompin’ South Carolina blues master who was an icon in both the Mississippi Delta and the deep south, has passed away unexpectedly. Norwood was scheduled to play the recent Juke Joint Festival, but declined at the last minute citing health concerns.
Norwood’s skill was impeccable — his style was delta slide and stomp combined with a down-home Piedmont influence and slapped hard with up-jumped-the-devil excitement. A regular at blues festivals such as King Biscuit, as well as the International Blues Challenge, Norwood’s personality was infectious and enjoyable.
Norwood’s latest, “PushPillin” was produced by Jimbo Mathis and received widespread airplay and acclaim. He had recently made an EP available through the Appalachia Burning label.
