Morgan Freeman says he feels a responsibility to “keep the blues alive” as he previews his new album, Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience, and the project is available on streaming services.
Freeman described the music as rooted in his Mississippi upbringing and framed the album as a journey through the blues; the 12-track record appears on Spotify with orchestral arrangements and credited guests. The project pairs Freeman’s narration with performances by established blues artists and a symphony orchestra, according to the album listing.
Recorded between studios including Royal Studios and Abbey Road, the collection traces nearly a century of blues standards and newer material. Spotify’s album page lists songs such as “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” and a Taj Mahal performance of “Death Letter Blues,” and credits the Chineke! Orchestra and Ground Zero Blues Club Band.
In a press statement reproduced by a music blog, Freeman said, “I heard the blues for the first time on my grandmother’s porch in the Mississippi Delta, and it has never left me,” linking the project to Juneteenth and the music’s origins.
“I heard the blues for the first time on my grandmother’s porch in the Mississippi Delta, and it has never left me.”
Morgan Freeman, quoted in Chad Kiser
The Blues Magazine reported the album as a celebration of Mississippi Delta blues and noted a September release date on Decca in one story, while the album’s streaming page lists an August 14, 2026 release and full track credits; outlets vary on exact street dates but agree on the project’s scope and collaborators.
Freeman has promoted the Symphonic Blues Experience as both an educational and musical undertaking that brings blues standards into a symphonic setting, and producers have said the live touring showcase was adapted into this recorded format.
Sources
- AP News — noted Freeman’s statement that he feels a responsibility to keep blues music alive and referenced the Symphonic Blues Experience.
- The Blues Magazine — reported the album as a celebration of Mississippi Delta blues and listed Decca as a label in coverage.
- Spotify — album page listing 12 tracks, contributors including Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ and the Chineke! Orchestra, and an August 14, 2026 release date.
- Chad Kiser — reproduced Freeman’s statement about hearing the blues on his grandmother’s porch and described the album’s Juneteenth single and collaborators.
