Search - Ronnie Earl :: Ronnie Earl & Friends

How To Create A Blues Fan...

Erik J. Fortmeyer | Brooklyn, NY USA | 01/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How? It truly is simple. BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!! If you are already into electric guitar blues with piano and harmonica, then you most likely already own this album or need to ASAP! If you are new to the blues genre or are looking for an ideal album to introduce someone to the blues, then this CD is IT!!! Ronnie Earl, blues guitarist extraordinaire, has absolutely outdone himself by assembling on short notice some of the best and brightest blues players alive today. He hoped to just jam together for a few days in Woodstock and create some recorded magic the way great musicians did on Delmark label recorded off-the-cuff jams late night during the 1960s. This album is proof that they succeeded beyond Ronnie's wildest dreams! James Cotton plays harmonica that will give you goosebumps the size of welts, Levon Helm gives class on how blues drumming should be done, Luther Johnson croons a few vocals while plunking his guitar brilliantly, David Maxwell tickles the piano keys with pure joy, Kim Wilson belts out vocals and harmonica, while Irma Thomas sings her soulful best on two songs that could kill with delight a weak-hearted listener! Jimmy Mouradian gets occasional help on bass from Michael "Mudcat" Ward while Paul Marrochello and Tim "Juice" O'Connor add rhythm guitar to an inspired update of "Viet Cong Blues" called "New Vietnam Blues" paying tribute to veterans. There is not a weak cut on this album with "Mighty Fine Boogie" being my personal favorite. Ronnie Earl had battled with depression the two years before recording this classic but, I'm sure the result has him now grinning from ear to ear!Like I said earlier, BUY THIS ALBUM!!! You will not regret it ever!"

Back to tradition

hannes | 10/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First I have to say, that I love all of Ronnies work, even his "elevator-music" jazz escapades. But with this record he goes back to traditional blues at its best. He plays - as usual - wonderful guitar and his sound is wonderful. But this record is a real 5 star record, maybe one best releases in this year, because of all the musicians on this record and their joy by playin the blues - Kim Wilson, Irma Thomas, James Cotton to name a few, play with Ronnie and you can feel the friendship between them.
If you love the early records of Ronnie, buy it and you'll play it over and over."

Ronnie's blues

Bergman Jonas | Sweden | 11/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ronnie Earl is one of the guitar greats of the last decades, producing some magnificent music with his band the Broadcasters. Since his days in Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl Horvath has surrounded himself with some fabulous sidemen: Kim Wilson,Sugar Ray Norcia,Darrell Nulisch,Jerry Portnoy,Michael Ward etc. His emotional playing has had a tremendous impact on his peers over the years. From the mid-nineties he explored instrumental blues and jazz, fuelled by the organ of Bruce Katz, and guests such as tenorman David Newman. He even brought such jazz staples as "Round Midnight" to new heights and his rendition of "Amazing grace" on the CD Healing Time is sheer excellence and some of the most beautiful music that can be heard. This CD brings him back to mostly vocal blues with singers Kim Wilson,Irma Thomas and Luther Johnson. This is the first straight blues CD since "Eye to Eye" with members from Muddy Waters late band. The result is some of the best Chicago blues in this decade where Ronnie gets to add his signature stingin guitar lines and licks to a genre that seldom is heard these days. Little Walter's "Last night" is played in an acoustic setting with Kim's vocals and harp producing an emotional anguish that really hits home. On "All your love" Luther Johnson is belting out the soul and James Cotton is doubling on harmonica with Kim on "Mighty Fine Boogie". This is old-school blues, with no hints of compromise! David Maxwell is pumping out piano lines and the rhythm section, including the Band's Levon Helm, makes sure the beat is on. As the follow up to last year's Healing Time, this CD is a welcome comeback for all fans of Ronnie's blues, and despite recent years battle with health it is great to hear his soulful guitar playing once again in this setting. May Ronnie be able to continue playing his healing music for a very long time."