For more than six decades, Roomful of Blues have been swinging, stomping, and soul-shaking their way across the globe, and with Steppin’ Out! they’re proving the party is nowhere near over. The Rhode Island institution’s 20th album marks the recording debut of powerhouse vocalist D.D. Bastos, the first female singer in the band’s storied history. Her full-throttle delivery and emotive phrasing bring a fresh spark to the group’s celebrated “little big band” sound, anchored by guitarist and bandleader Chris Vachon and longtime horn maestro Rich Lataille, who’s been shaping the Roomful tone since 1970.

Produced by Vachon, Steppin’ Out! serves up 14 high-voltage tracks that vault from jump blues to swing to early rock ‘n’ roll, all with the kind of precision and fire only Roomful can deliver. Bastos’ passion is palpable on cuts like “You Were Wrong,” a Z.Z. Hill number she first heard from Magic Sam, and the blistering opener “Satisfied” from Billy “The Kid” Emerson. The setlist is a treasure trove of deep cuts by Big Mama Thornton, Big Maybelle, Etta James, Buddy and Ella Johnson, Jimmy McCracklin, Tiny Bradshaw, and Smiley Lewis — songs resurrected with grit, grace, and a horn section that can still lift a roof.

Since their 1967 beginnings as Chicago blues devotees, Roomful of Blues have grown into one of the world’s premier jump and swing outfits, racking up five Grammy nominations, seven Blues Music Awards, and a touring history that spans 22 countries. Along the way, they’ve shared stages with legends from B.B. King to Carlos Santana and drawn praise from DownBeat, USA Today, and The New Yorker for their unshakable groove and exuberant performances.

On Steppin’ Out!, Bastos meets the band’s legacy head-on, delivering every line with conviction while honoring the tradition built by generations of Roomful players. With Vachon’s searing guitar, Lataille’s saxophone mastery, and a rhythm section that swings with unrelenting drive, the album captures the essence of what has kept Roomful at the top of their game for nearly 60 years; joy, energy, and music that refuses to sit still. This is Roomful of Blues in full flight, still raising the bar, still filling dance floors, and still stepping out like nobody else can.