Although mainstream radio and television outlets have mostly ignored the musical tide, the fact that so many well-known artists have released blues-centric releases in 2010 seems to be part of a larger search by artists to find something infinitely more real than the fabricated stuff that often passes for music nowadays.
Indeed, a wide-range of artists not typically associated with blues including Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the Steve Miller Band, John Mellencamp and even Cindi Lauper have released collections celebrating the genre, while blues greats (Walter Trout, Otis Taylor, Jimmie Vaughan) have added gems to their retrospective discographies.
Although I have not had time to listen to every blues-centric release (yet), I wanted to highlight many that have caught my attention and are worth pursuing for those who love the genre as much as I do.
Artist: Joe Bonamassa
Album: Black Rock
Singer-guitarist Joe Bonamassa long ago proved he is one of the world’s most talented electric guitar players. And as the New York native proved on 2009’s The Ballad of John Henry, he now has the vocal and songwriting talents to match his incredible skills playing a six-string. Bonamassa may never reach the kind of global success of John Mayer (both were born in 1977), but there is little doubt who is the greater talent. Black Rock was released a mere year after John Henry and is every bit its equal. Although the heavy blues of “I Know a Place” with his voice soaring above the sonic roar and the Cream-styled British blues rock of “When the Fire Hits the Sea” will fuel air guitar lovers, discerning listeners will hear his burgeoning musicianship in the original folk-rock gem “Quarryman’s Lament” and an outstanding cover of Leonard Cohen’s elegiac “Bird on a Wire.”
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Artist: John Mellencamp
Album: No Better Than This
For most of August, No Better Than This has been just that in my musical world. John Mellencamp’s latest album boasts 13 songs recorded in a mere 13 days, but is a masterpiece and has received loads of play in my car stereo, at home and in the office. Produced by T Bone Burnett, the Rounder Records release was recorded in three historic locations in the South: Savannah’s First African Baptist Church, Sun Studio in Memphis (used by Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley in the 1950s) and Room 414 of San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel where Robert Johnson recorded seminal blues tracks in the 1930s. The mix of folk and blues with tinges of gospel and country is magical, especially on the infectious “Save Some Time to Dream,” gentle “Thinking About You” and probing “No One Cares About Me.”
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Artist: Otis Taylor
Album: Clovis People, Vol. 3
Listening to Otis Taylor’s Clovis People, Vol. 3 (released by Telarc International/Concord Music Group on May 11, 2010) is to experience something that both celebrates and redefines blues. While there is plenty of tradition in Taylor’s authentic style, there are clearly shades of other sonic genres that serve his stories-minded songs on this stunning disc.
Known as “trance blues,” Taylor’s sound is built with a mix of in-the-pocket blues rhythms, as well as the work of pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell, cornetist Ron Miles and lead guitarist Gary Moore layered around his involving vocals.
“Lee and Arnez” is among my favorite songs on the album, with Taylor’s vocals delivered quietly and the guitar breaks taking a similarly-effective melancholy path before the song builds to a dramatic musical finish.
Other songs – take “It’s Done Happened Again” – recall the naked poetry and improvisational jams of the Doors. Real world-mired pain and loss come to life in the authentic “Rain So Hard,” while the tonic of love emerges in the elegant “She’s Ice in the Desert.”
Those unfamiliar with Taylor’s “trance blues” may well start here, and then explore his earlier works.
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Artist: Walter Trout
Album: Common Ground
It’s hard to believe Common Ground is Walter Trout’s 20th album. There is never any hint of weariness and “been there, done that” in evidence across the exceptional 12-song collection. Like Joe Bonamassa, Trout’s guitar playing is both technically breathtaking and expressive. Additionally, Trout has a baritone that is powerful and emotive.
On Common Ground, Trout displays all his talents: raucous blues rock (“May Be a Fool,” “Loaded Gun”), slow burners (the confessional “Open Book,” beautiful “Song for my Guitar”) and soul-styled blues (“Common Ground”).
Another great album from one of America’s blues-rock heroes.
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Artist: Jimmie Vaughan
Album: Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites
Jimmie Vaughan’s first solo release (Shout! Factory released the 13-song disc on July 6) in nine years proved to be well worth the wait. Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites features the singer-guitarist-harmonica ace at the top of his game, delivering some of his favorite material from blues and country music greats. Upbeat guitar-driven material (“The Pleasure’s All Mine,” “How Can You Be So Mean”), ballads (“Wheel of Fortune”) and a laid-back harmonica-anchored gem (Jimmy Reed’s “Come Love”) all benefit from Vaughan’s magical touch. He is joined by a strong line-up of players, including bassist Ronnie James, drummer George Rains and vocalist Lou Ann Barton. Vaughan’s own rockabilly-tinged instrumental “Comin’ & Goin’” is among the disc’s highlights.
Produced by Vaughan and recorded in his hometown of Austin, Texas, Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites is a sonic stew sure to please just about every blues fan.
Vaughan headlines an excellent bill that includes opener Shawn Jones at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010.
For more information, visit www.jimmievaughan.com.
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Various Artists
Albums: This Is The Blues: Volume Three and This Is The Blues: Volume Four
If you don’t know much about the blues, Eagle Rock Entertainment’s This Is The Blues collections (the first two volumes were released in June, while volumes three and four were issued in July 2010) are a darn good place to start.
Volume Three kicks off with a raw sparse number (“Crawlin’ King Snake”) from the Peter Green Splinter Group that provides the perfect introduction to the genre. Elsewhere on that disc, and Volume Four, there is a strong mix of traditional acoustic-minded selections and blistering electric guitar-anchored workouts.
Highlights on Volume Three include the hard-charging “If You Be My Baby” (with Dave Peverett, Rod Price, Southside Johnny and others joining forces) and the classic slow electric blues of “Little Red Rooster” (courtesy of Savoy Brown).
Volume Four kicks off with an outstanding track featuring one-time Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, who offers up a quick-on-its-feet John Lee Hooker-penned “This is Hip.” In fact, legendary material from not only John Lee Hooker, but the aforementioned Peter Green, Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker and Willie Dixon are covered by Taylor, Jeff Beck, Gary Brooker, Jack Bruce and others.
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