Search - Robben Ford :: Truth

Hey, it ain't Zeppelin, but...

Ear Candy Junkie | out there | 11/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I gave this record 4 stars, because it isn't quite the tour-de-force that you find on "Tiger Walk"(instrumental with the "Expensive Winos") or "Blue Moon" (return to roots-my current favorite).



The fact is that Robben has a diverse set of influences, (as do I). Miles didn't hire the man for no reason.



"Truth" is exactly what I expected. The soulful playing, top-notch recording, and back-up musicians don't wane, and he has consistently been able to look forward, driving progressive blues, and still tip his hat to those that inspire him, with choice covers ("Badge" and "Money" from "Keep on Running", Otis Redding and Paul Simon here). His homage to BB King here is absolutely heart-felt.



I firmly believe that Robben Ford is as good a "traditional" guitarist as there is in the marketplace today, and he makes the effort on his solo projects to keep himself reliable, fresh, and entertaining for his followers, while working to expand and revive the blues, and, further, open the ears of all that choose to harken. He incessantly eschews chops for a melody and a theme, but his note choice at any moment will make your head turn.



If you care to hear him get down deeper, check out Jing Chi, with Vinnie Colaiuta (Zappa, Sting, Holdsworth) and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets). Three feet required.

"

Enthralling.

Micki Zackary | Bombay, India | 04/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Blues guitarist, Robben Ford (Yellowjackets), has a new album on Concord Records titled "Truth".

The blues will never die is an axiom proven over and over again, but it does change shape.

Robben Ford's latest release presents blues as they are today: in a powerful setting only a master veteran like Ford could envision.

"The blues have always been socio-political", says Ford.

In the opening song "Lateral Climb", he addresses the 9 to 5 grind, credit card debt, and the political frustrations we all experience.

"Peace on My Mind" was inspired by Willie Dixon's "It Don't Make Sense, You Can't Make Peace", which Ford describes as an anti-war song without being too preachy.

"If you're pointing the finger, no one wants to hear it. It's a portrait rather than a sermon. The truths I describe are self evident"

In this set, Ford also incorporates playful tunes, like "You're Gonna Need a Friend", co-written by his wife and singer Anne Kerry Ford.

In it, Ford subverts blues clichés, such as the evil lady who bedevils her victim.

Other tracks on the album include a funky cover of Paul Simon's "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor", which features guest vocals by Susan Tedeschi, as well as loyal version of Otis Redding's early B-Side, "Nobody's Fault But Mine".

This is an album from a jazz electric guitarist that has a splash of soul, a pinch of R & B and a dash of jazz.

All of these genres mixed together form a musical brew that will enthrall listeners, and Ford's emotive lyrics will put the poignant feeling over the top.

My favoutite tracks are : "Riley B. King", which has bluesier guitar work with a slow pace, "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man Floor" (on which Susan Tedeschi, with her soulful voice literally saves a cover of Paul Simon's song ) and "River Of Soul".

I'm loving it.

You will like it for sure!"

Not just the blues

J. Faser | Surprise, AZ USA | 09/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Robben Ford's guitar playing has always been infused with the blues. But "Truth" isn't really a blues album. Maybe that's why I like it so much. It ties together elements from a wide sampling of his previous works but still sounds natural and intuitive, as opposed to needlessly revisited (some of Gary Moore's recent efforts fall into the latter category, and it pains me to say it because I'm a big fan of his).



Ford's use of volume swells and the dreamlike melody that weaves through "Peace on My Mind" may indeed borrow from the "Jing Chi" track "Going Nowhere" (2001), but "Peace" brings with it an entirely different message. "You're Gonna Need a Friend," with its soulful backing vocals, brings to mind the overall vibe and production of the album "Supernatural" (1999). And although one might find the lyrics to "Riley B. King" a pinch too simple and a dash too sweet, Ford's guitar speaks straight to the heart, with an openness and clarity reminiscent of 1997's "Tiger Walk" (an all-instrumental album that showcased Ford's fretwork, and which may have been a thinly disguised nod to critics less appreciative of his vocal talents).



Other highlights from "Truth" include the opening track "Lateral Climb," a reckless shuffle with a low-down groove that sets the tone for a working-class "trudge-along" with an underlying theme of political unrest and corporate greed: "The sun heats up, another working day ... coffee, keys and I'm on my way...." (The musical tension that builds in the first guitar solo pretty much sums up my daily commute.) Susan Tesdeschi's gritty guest vocal on "One Man's Ceiling is Another Man's Floor" is well worth turning up the volume and waking the neighbors. The album closes with the moody "Moonchild Blues," a tune familiar to anyone who's seen/heard the DVD "New Morning - The Paris Concert." (It's too bad the DVD performance of "Moonchild," recorded live in 2001, didn't make it onto this CD as a bonus track).



It may come as no surprise that I'm a longtime fan of Robben Ford's music. To hear him play the guitar is like talking to an old, dear friend. "Truth" was worth waiting for."