Duke Robillard

Duke Robillard's World Full of Blues

2007-07-13

This two cd release features blues guitar master Duke Robillard taking a stylistic tour through the world of the blues. Joined by a who’s who of the East Coast blues scene including Doug James and Gordon “Sax” Beadle on sax, Al Basile on cornet, Sugar Ray Norcia on harmonica and Bruce Bears on keys Robillard has all the support he needs to take on everything from original jump blues, "Jump the Blues For You" and Motown, "Sweet Thing", to the songs of Bob Dylan, "Everything is Broken", James Cotton, "Slam Hammer", Buddy Johnson, "You Won’t Let Me Go", T Bone Walker, "Treat Me So Lowdown", Bo Diddley, "Who Do You Love", Tom Waits, "Low Side of the Road", Jimmy Reed, "Bright Lights, Big City" and Memphis Slim, "Steppin’ Out". Jazzy one minute, and deep down into the gutbucket blues the next, Robillard’s command of styles is simply astounding. As befitting someone of his talent, Robillard’s original tunes are informed by the classics without being overly derivative while his versions of the covers add a sparkle and sheen and interpretive twist to them that lifts them from their recycled roots. Fearless on guitar, Robillard also exhibits a rare humility amongst hot shot guitarists as he regularly shifts the spot light to his band mates when it serves the tune. Drop the needle, err, laser anywhere on these two discs and you’ll find top notch blues Smitty