WFHB Music - Bloomington Community Radio

Clapton, Eric – “Clapton” (Reprise) A

Wow…what fun Eric must be havin on this new CD. He brings in all his faves for a mellow disc, bristling with great musicians and mellow grooves. J.J. Cale, his rhythm mate of some years, sings and plays a few, Terry Evans and Willie Green Jr. put down those famous gospel backup vocals made mostly famous from Ry Cooder backups. Wynton Marsallis, Derek Trucks, Sheryl Crow…he just pulls them in from any genre at all to create what is truly an enjoyable album…populated with more mellow and slow (blues) grooves than usual…even some tasty arrangements of standards…(Rockin’ Chair/Autumn Leaves). Go Eric…with your bad self.

Earl, Ronnie – “Spread the Love” (Stony Plain) A

Ronnie Earl is in Love…with just about everything, but definitely his guitar. These 14 instrumentals voice his feelings with class. It’s tough to sell an all-instrumental disc, but Earl lets the feel flow through his fingers so passionately, he puts it over. The minimal but rock-steady backup of the Broadcasters are a perfect bed for his guitar’s tossin’ and turnin’. He just can’t seem to hit a wrong note. This is guitar church people.

Hill, Matt – “On the Floor” (Deep Fried Records/VizzTone) A-

This young kid knocked over guitarist Bob Margolin (Muddy Waters, etc.) by his sheer blastin’ performance energy. He was so struck he got together with Dave Gross and produced this CD…certain this kid is going places. Hill’s energy is immediately apparent from the first tune. His vocal delivery sports an Elvis twist here and there, with raw guitar and blues-rock testosterone leaking everywhere. (Check out the cool Elvis bass on #4.) Word has it Hill stops at nothing to get the crowd excited, and no stage is big enough to hold ’im…he’s certainly splashed quantities of that all over this recording. A little loose with the FCC language (#2, 3, 13), but the starkness of the instrumentation and his vocals are perfect to convey excitement. Would love to see this show (and send me some of the vitamins he’s takin’).

Neal, Kenny – “Hooked On Your Love” (Blind Pig) B+

Neal grew up in the middle of blues stars. His dad Raful was a famous Louisiana “swamp” blues player, friends with Slim Harpo (who gave Kenny a harp at age 3), and Buddy Guy (Kenny played bass for him at age 13). His solid southern blues tradition is in his bloodstream. With a family full of musical brothers, he’s played everywhere and skipped around on labels until hitting Blind Pig where he had great success with his easy feeling blues. This CD breathes with mid-tempo, laid-back blues, good vocals, tolerable harp, and fine guitar work with creole sauce on top.

Robillard, Duke – “Passport to the Blues” (Stony Plain) B+

Stony Plain has let Robillard put out a bundle of records in a great many styles—and Duke is great at all of them. He thinks of himself foremost as a blues artist playing other styles though, and here he gets back to a full disc of blues, all self-penned (but for two with Doc Pomus and one great Tom Waits cover). Duke is just a master at guitar—always in pocket. His vocals are less appealing and his songwriting less traditional blues, and more like Roomful of Blues fare (he even has old ROB compatriot on this disc as well). Nice to hear Duke throw it around again.

Wells, Junior & The Aces – “Live in Boston 1966” (Delmark) A

Who knows what kinda tricks Delmark’s Bob Koester has up his sleeve, but he sure has a bunch of old recordings of some great Chicago blues stars. This one is of a rare concert Junior Wells did in Boston with the Aces…the band best known for working with Little Walter, but professed by Junior Wells to have been his MOST FAVORITE backing group of his career. Louis and Dave Myers with Fred Below on drums. It doesn’t get better. This disc is a treat because you hear the “live” talk and crowd response of some of his great stuff and Junior is smack dab in the middle of his prime. I’m so glad Delmark has wide vaults. The Aces can’t be matched for urban Chicago blues, and Junior is such a character…we won’t see his kind soon again. I suspect this one will be a keeper like “Hoodoo Man Blues.” Tunes are peppered with stories.