Search - Duke Robillard :: Guitar Groove-A-Rama

Perhaps his most ambitious album in a career that spans almost 40 years, Guitar Groove-A-Rama jumps out of the gate with the funky lead-off track, "Do the Memphis Grind," (with a tip of the hat 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"), jazz/gospel ("Sunday Mornin'"), Chicago blues (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") and even Irish folk ("Danny Boy"). In an album filled with highlights, the best may be the 16-minute tour-de-force "Blues-A-Rama," wherein Duke pays tribute to 10 guitar influences with an amazing performance recorded live in the studio."When I came up with the idea of Guitar Groove-A-Rama, I wanted to make an album of tunes that showcased all the sounds and influences that make up my style, or styles," says Robillard in the CD liner notes. "Of course, the blues is at the root of nearly everything here, but I also wanted to show some of my other influences that moved me as a young guitarist. Guitar Groove-A-Rama is a culmination of my lifelong love affair with guitars and roots music, but I really wanted to make this album for my fans," he adds. The new CD features Duke Robillard in mostly a trio format, which accentuates the many nuances of his guitar work, and also gives him a chance to play a number of the guitars in his vast collection. In addition to Robillard on guitar and vocals, the band lineup includes Mark Teixeira on drums/percussion, with Jesse Williams and Marty Ballou on bass. Guests include Doug James on baritone sax, Bruce Bears on Hammond organ and Al Basile on cornet. It was recorded at his studio, Duke's Mood Room, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.A founder of the seminal blues group, Roomful of Blues, Duke Robillard is a four-time winner of the prestigious "Best Guitarist" Blues Award presented by the Blues Foundation. His last CD for Stony Plain was the critically acclaimed The Duke Meets the Earl, which paired him with fellow guitarist Ronnie Earl. His recent DVDs have included his own A Special Evening with Duke Robillard and Friends, as well as New Guitar Summit: Live at the Stoneham Theatre, in which he was joined by fellow guitarists Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin.