John Ellis, fresh sod and other early Thursday impressions from the New Orleans Times-Picayune

In the Southern Comfort Blues, the Music Maker Relief Foundation, a North Carolina organization dedicated to sustaining elderly blues musicians, showcased a trio of artists. Piedmont acoustic guitarist Boo Hanks just turned 80. He didn’t play his first professional gig until age 79; he worked most of his life as a farmer. “He says he likes this better than driving a tractor,” noted his guitarist.