
Take a high-octane blues cruise with Duke Robillard down a retro Americana highway. The journey kicks off with a solid shot of Chicago blues (“Built for Comfort,” “Look What You’ve Done”). Move on for a hit of KC jump blues (“Blue Coat Man”) and a taste of horn-heavy Basie-inflected swing with a twist of Texas power-blues (“Just Kiss Me”). Breeze through Memphis as Matt McCabe tickles the ivories and Robillard trades stinging guitar licks with an all-star horn section (“Boogie Uproar,” “You Got Money”). Pull into New Orleans for a plate of dark-roux gumbo and heaven-sent, piano-driven Fats Domino-inspired shuffles (“Are You Going My Way,” “Boogie Woogie Country Girl,” “My Plea”). Yeah, Duke—a Rhode Island native—sure does get around. His credentials include stints with the Roomful of Blues and the post-Jimmie Vaughan Fabulous Thunderbirds. He was one-half of a duo with jazz-guitar master Herb Ellis and a member in good standing with fellow blues guitar-summit axeslingers Jay Geils and Gary Beaudoin. More recently, he toured in Bob Dylan’s band. As a solo artist, this two-time Grammy-nominated guitarist’s 1987 Rounder Records release Swing is nothing short of revelatory. Roll with Me finds Robillard, who helped to spark the 80s jump blues and subsequent swing-kids revival, once again hitting full throttle.
By Greg Cahill
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