Guitarist Robben Ford has been in a plethora of musical environments, ranging from his own band The Yellowjackets to touring with Miles Davis to even recording stints with George Harrison and Joni Mitchell. He’s got a loyal following in LA, and this disc shows why. Besides a touch on the guitar that is never far away from bluesy rock, he’s blessed with a remarkably clear and accessible voice, which works irresistibly well on this collection of blue-based tunes with a stellar group of sidemen. The mix of Ford’s guitar and vocals with a percolating team of Stephen Baxter/tb, Larry Goldings/B3, Dave Piltch/b and Harvey Mason/dr swirl together to create a perfect blues plate, serving up sumptuous portions that range from Crescent City tappers like Allen Toussaint’s “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky” and “Fair Child” to Earl King’s cruising in the Chevy “Trick Bag.” The get back to basics feel sounds completely uncontrived, with Baxter’s ‘bone and Ford’s strings being perfect foils for each other, and Golding’s Hammond wrapping it all together in a secret sauce of sound. A take of Bob Dylan’s “Most Likely You Go Your Way…” has Ford bringing out furtive grooves that have previously been undiscovered, while his gospel instrumental “On That Morning” captures the meditation of a church spiritual like the guy grew up in the pews. Through it all, every song captures a different shade of indigo, creating a perfect mood for feeling the roots of American music.
Mascot Label