Duke Robillard’s Jumpin’ Blues Revue: Stomp! The Blues Tonight

Duke Robillard's Jumpin' Blues Revue
Stomp! The Blues Tonight
Stony Plain

Duke Robillard is probably best known to casual observers of contemporary blues for his guitar work in Roomful of Blues or for his presence on the southern leg of Tom Waits’ Orphans tour or as a strand in a twisty skein of reverb on Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind. On this pleasant jump blues survey, he offers up a generous serving of both standards — courtesy of Roy Milton, Wynonie Harris, and Lowell Fulson, among others — and originals. As with Robillard’s work in Roomful of Blues, the horns are central here, and it goes without saying that Robillard plays great guitar — he has a meaty tone, stunning dexterity, and a smooth delivery — but he could use a vocalist who can complete the picture.

RATING 6 / 10