December 9th, 2025
Bluesman on the Move: Christopher Dean Brings New Sounds and Old Soul to Cecil TV
Musician Christopher Dean returned to the Cecil TV studio on December 8, 2025, to talk with host Rob Chirnside about his newest album—his eighth since 2000—and the musical journey that continues to shape his sound. Firmly rooted in early American blues, Dean embraces a style that branches into folk, R&B, jazz, and country, though he still proudly calls himself a “blues man.”
Dean discussed the ebb and flow of the blues’ popularity and how today’s listeners often miss the deep history behind the genre. He noted that musicians once bragged about blues influences to gain credibility, while modern audiences sometimes overlook its foundational role. His new album includes both covers and originals, including the tongue-in-cheek track “Thank You for Letting Me Know,” which some reviewers initially misunderstood due to its heavy sarcasm.
A seasoned traveler on the music circuit, Dean performs extensively along the East Coast—from Maine to the Florida Keys—and has even played iconic venues like Ground Zero Blues Club in Mississippi. He says keeping a wide rotation of venues prevents burnout and keeps each performance feeling like a fresh audition. Locally, he’ll perform at McGregor’s this Saturday night and again on New Year’s Eve with his full band.
Dean also reflected on the contrasts among the music scenes he’s experienced in New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, and Maryland, praising Maryland—and especially his home in Havre de Grace—for its welcoming community and supportive musicians.
A highlight of the conversation was Dean’s story about his father, a 1940s crooner with a Sinatra-like look who performed on New Jersey radio. That legacy influences Dean’s own stage presence and style, something he contrasts with today’s more casual approach among younger performers.
Dean closed by describing the production of the new album, crafted at Pimpin Beats, a hip-hop-leaning studio where a younger producer introduced him to modern recording approaches. The result, he said, is his “absolute best” work yet—critically well-received even if selling physical CDs today, he joked, makes them “good coasters.”
