Ever since the 1990 death of Stevie Ray Vaughan, blues rock has been in a state of limbo, as an unending succession of quick-fingered Strat masters with growling voices and a dubious claim on any mojo have competed to take his place. Mississippi-based guitarist Kenny Brown doesn’t even try to compete. Instead, the long-time R.L. Burnside sideman is happy to let his guitar — be it the sweet, reedy voice of a resonator ( " All I Want " ) or the grit of an overdriven electric ( " France Chance " ) — speak in his own voice. It’s a sensibility that also rubs off on his vocal delivery, a laconic, hound-dog drawl that slides comfortably into the mid-tempo grind of " If Down Was Up " and plays foil to the more upbeat, electric-slide-guitar-driven " Miss Maybelle. " The latter is also a great showcase for bassist Takeeshi Imura and drummer Cedric Burnside (R.L.’s son), who grace the lion’s share of the album. Brown goes it alone on the acoustic " You Don’t Know My Mind, " the frightening confession of a spouse-abusing sociopath. Stingray is low-down and dirty, and that’s exactly how the real blues is meant to be played.