GUESTS THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, PETER FRAMPTON, JOE WALSH, CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM AND JOE BONAMASSA
“This album is about where I’ve been, it’s about where I’m going, and the people I learned everything from. ...Muddy, Wolf, Walter, Sonny Boy, B.B., I could go on and on. Before they passed, they used to say, “Man, if you outlive me, just keep the Blues alive,” and I’m trying to keep that
promise. Now, I can’t kick my leg up high as I used to or jump off the stage like I did in my youth but I’m going to give you everything I got as long as I got it.” Buddy Guy
After announcing his retirement from the road at 87 years old no one would have expected Buddy Guy to release new music, but as the title implies, he “Ain’t Done With The Blues.” The legendary guitarist sounds as strong as ever on a set of equally strong new material that speaks to the power of blues music: still driving him at 89 years young. The 18 new tracks were produced and recorded by a superb team under the leadership of Tom Hambridge and the Damn Right Blues Band, along with a slew of special guests including Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Joe Bonamassa, Christone “Kingfish “ Ingram, and the Blind Boys of Alabama, who assist Buddy on his continuing mission to “keep the blues alive.”
The first of two acoustic vignettes, “Hooker Thing,” opens the set as a musical interview with Buddy revealing that a John Lee Hooker styled boogie is one of the first things he learned to play. The narrative continues with “Been There Done That,” one of a dozen songs written by Hambridge that speaks to where Buddy has been and where he’s going: the blazing track features his signature Stratocaster howl and greasy Hammond B3 from Chuck Leavell. Nashville studio aces Rob McNelley and Kevin McKendree handle the rhythm guitar and honkytonk piano on the inspirational Chicago shuffle “Blues Chase The Blues Away.” Kingfish joins Buddy for the fresh and funky tour around the crescent city “Where U At?” name checking some of NOLA’s famous locales. The classic twelve bar “Blues On Top,” finds Buddy working his renowned emotional range as an evocative storyteller.
The crew has a ball on the revival of Guitar Slim’s jump blues “I Got Sumpin’ For You,” from 1955 celebrating one of Buddy’s early influences. Joe Walsh rips slide guitar and trades barbs with Buddy during the bump and grinder “How Blues Is That.” Buddy offer sage advice on the majestic ballad “Dry Stick,” with his words of wisdom echoed by sweet lead guitar from Joe Bonamassa. Peter Frampton and Buddy toured together during Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus Tour of 2014; the pair are reunited here to testify to the benefits playing the blues on the rousing shuffle “It Keeps Me Young.” Buddy pleads his case on the piano driven “Love On A Budget,” and the Blind Boys of Alabama join him for the contemporary gospel number “Jesus Loves The Sinner,” bridging the gap between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Buddy, never one to mince words, speaks his mind on the state of the world during the horn driven “Upside Down.” He then gives us a sweet taste of the delta on acoustic sample number two “One From Lightnin’,” before unleashing powerful testimony to the ills of growing up in Jim Crow era America on the stirring “I Don’t Forget.” Earl King’s swamp pop prototype “Trick Bag,” and its herkie jerky rhythm is handled with dexterity and features the sublime tone of Buddy’s 1958 Strat.
Australian bass phenom, Tal Wilkenfeld, sits in on the Cajun flavored “Swamp Poker,” written by Hambridge about the infamous Louisiana card game. Buddy shows off why he is in both the Rock N Roll and Blues Hall Fame as he deftly handles the vocals of the soaring “Send Me Some Loving,” known for its blend of rhythm and blues and early rock and roll, first recorded by fellow Louisianan Little Richard in 1956. The album closes with an acoustic run down of the J.B. Lenoir standard “Talk To Your Daughter,” paying tribute to another Delta Blues man who made his mark on the Chicago Blues scene and left an indelible imprint for the next generation to follow, just as Buddy Guy is doing today. Rick J Bowen
Buddy Guy: Ain’t Done With The Blues Review
For more information: Betsie Brown Blind Raccoon betsie@blindraccoon.com
Betsie Brown Blind Raccoon betsie@blindraccoon.com
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten