#7 Duke Robillard’s “Guitar Groove-A-Rama” (Dixiefrog DFGCD 8606) was eagerly anticipated new project by his fans and finally it’s here in all its deserved glory and is perhaps the most ambitious album in the career of this multi-award winning guitarist. “Guitar Groove-A-Rama” to this ears is a great tribute to all the masters of the past who inspired Duke during his long blues road. The album jumps out with the funky lead-off track “Do The Memphis Grind”, (with a nod to guitar greats James Burton and Steve Cropper) and never lets up. Along the way, Duke explores the grooves of Delta blues (Lil’ Son Jackson’s “Gambler’s Blues”), jazzy gospel of “Sunday Mornin’”, some Chicago blues by way of Sonny Boy Williamson’s “One Way Out”, the soul of Ray Charles (“I’ll Do Anything But Work”), the country blues of Bob Dylan (“Down Along The Cove”), even standard “Danny Boy” gets fresh treatment and sounds just fine! This album is full with bright spots, but its highlight definitely must be the 16 minute?!) tour-de-force “Blues-A-Rama” where Duke pays tribute to ten of his favourite guitar players from then and now with an amazing performance recorded live in the studio. The new CD features Duke Robillard in mostly a trio format (Mark Teixeira – drums and Jesse Williams or Marty Balou – bass) which accentuates the many nuances of his guitar work and also gives him a chance to play a number of vintage guitars in his vast collection, therefore the sound is authentic all the way and creates intimate atmosphere. Few guesting musicians and friends add flavour to this project (Doug James – baritone saxophone, Bruce Bears – Hammond organ and Al Basile – cornet). “Guitar Groove-A-Rama” is an excellent album and should be considered for every fine collection of recorded music!
the art is inside
