Strange Times, Omar Coleman, LP

It's the core philosophy of astute curiosity that's established Omar Coleman as a rising star with iron-clad longevity in the national blues scene. Hailing from the West Side of Chicago, Coleman grew up entrenched in soul music and black music that defined the era in the mid-90s. Working as a barber by trade, Coleman recalls being bored at his shop on Michigan & Adams in Downtown Chicago and sauntering to the music shop down the street to pick up an instrument to pass the time. He landed on the harmonica thinking it would be easy to learn quickly and would fiddle around on it between cutting hair and usurping the shoeshine guy's chair when he went to shine shoes in the back. With many clients being musicians, Coleman would learn about Chicago being heralded as 'Home of the Blues' and was tipped off to legends such as Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, and more. Another world opened up.