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Master Bluesman Is a Must SeeNov 04 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line If you appreciate excellent blues guitar work, then Duke Robillard will show you how a real pro does it.
To lay some background, I am 43, and have been to more concerts than just about anyone else I know, except for my wife. Hundreds of shows over 25 years, and rarely the same band more than once or twice. Jazz, blues, rock and roll, country. We've seen almost all the "brand name" guitartists over the years. We go to hole in the wall clubs to see the obscure. We just like good music by excellent musicians. Recently, we went to see Boz Scaggs (for the second time in two years. This tour was even better!). The warm up was Duke Robillard, along with a piano player named Bruce Katz. Just them two. I have only remotely heard the name Duke Robillard, and had never heard his music. That's my loss for 25 years..But it is always interesting to see a new artist take the stage. By the way, we were in row 1 of the excellent Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. Robillard is now 50 years old, with a distinguished touch of gray, slicked back in a '50s style that I see at a lot of street rod shows. With a large stage presence, he gives the aura of someone who has been there and done this hundreds, or rather, thousands of times. He has. At the same time, there is always that "let's see" attitude in the crowd, especially an old hippie-turned-professional-establishment crowd like this one. Ok, the music...from the first note, you realize that Duke is a craftsman with an axe. He's a swing blues specialist who ventures across the lines to jazz, r & b, and a touch of rock. He is also quite traditional in his approach, in that, while he does play unique licks, he does not venture into self-aggrandizement like some bluesmen. He focuses on the song, and works his instrument to enhance the song itself. What's more, he has the "three pack-a-day pipes" that it takes to sing the blues. I wish I could remember his set, but it did include "Honey Hush", and a tribute song to Albert Collins. Every song he played showed a different style of blues mastery. About halfway through his set, I mentioned to my wife that "This guy does not miss a note". Every riff line was crisp. You get the feeling that Duke approaches his work like a fine craftsman. Duke and Bruce had the crowd on it's feet, and he made a lot of new fans that night, ourselves included. Since then, I have checked out Duke on the web, and am glad to report that my opinion of his playing is widely and unanimously shared. He has won Handy awards for blues guitar playing, and is universally praised by critics for his ability to cross over genres, be modern and traditional at the same time, all while showing a master's proficiency. Front row seats to see this show was a real treat for us. It seems that his latest albums and tours have brought him newfound fame. Well deserved, and far too late, in a pop music world overrun with posers. I'll be picking up several of his CDs.  |
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