Roll With Me
Stony Plain, 2024
9/10
The blues artist Duke Robillard has an impressive resume that includes multiple Grammy nominations, and this album a long time in the making finds him surrounded by an excellent cast for the 12 timeless tracks.
The frisky “Bluecoat Man” opens the listen with Robillard’s soulful pipes amid Mark Teixeira’s lively drums and Doug James’ animated sax, and “Just Kiss Me” follows with Al Basile’s well timed cornet that suits the powerful pipes and Carl Querfurth’s rich trombone.
In the middle, the dance floor mood of “Boogie Uproar” welcomes Rich Lataille’s exciting sax prowess and Matt McCabe’s finger acrobatics on piano, while “Look What You Done” bop and shakes via Brad Hallen’s bouncy bass and Chris Cote’s impressive vocals.
Landing close to the end, “You Got Money”, the album’s best, is a rhythmic and rich delivery that benefits from Doug Woolverton’s skilled trumpet and Mark Early’s strategic sax, and “Don’t You Want To Roll With Me” exits with Marty Ballou’s infectious bass lines and Pam Murray’s playful trombone that align with Robillard’s inimitable guitar and voice.
A fantastic collection of originals and covers, Robillard and his crew mesh blues, R&B, soul and rock’n’roll into a swingin’ great time you won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: The Duke Robillard Band- They Called It Rhythm & Blues; Brock Davis- Everyday Miracle