Duke Robillard (from the album Roll With Me

Duke Robillard (from the album Roll With Me

Duke Robillard (from the album Roll With Me available on Stony Plain Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Suffice it to say, Duke Robillard is the quintessential Bluesman. Aside from a resume that included co-founding the revered band from providence Rhode Island, Roomful of Blues, and his tenure in the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Duke has been honored with two Grammy nominations and cited at the W.C. Handy Awards. He has also served as guitarist in Bob Dylan’s touring band for a spell, no small distinction in and of itself.
 
His new album, Roll With Me, is, in fact, an earlier recording, one that was shelved for nearly 20 years due to the fact that Robillard would come up with other projects that continued to take precedence. Yet, as the results show, it’s as timely now as it was when it was originally conceived. In many ways, it typifies and consolidates the approach that’s been essential to his signature sound, while also being faithful to the true basics of Blues. In that regard, he’s never hesitated to veer into its many variations, from jazz and swing, to ballads or bluster.
 
There are abundant examples of each found throughout — in the rollicking revelry of “Blue Coat Man” and “You Got Money”, the solid shuffle that underpins “Are You Going My Way”, the basic boogie of “Don’t You Want to Roll with Me”, the slow saunter of “I Know You Love Me”, the sprawling “Give Me Back My Money”, the rousing instrumental that stays true to its name, “Boogie Uproar”, and, naturally enough, “Boogie Woogie Country Girl”. To be sure, it isn’t simply about shifting the styles. The seamless interplay of Robillard’s searing guitar leads, the prevalence of barrelhouse piano and the injection of brass (and sass) provide relentless riffing and give these songs both verve and vitality.

Consequently, the entreaty contained in the album title is, in fact, one that’s hard to resist. When Duke Robillard invites his listeners to get on a roll, it’s obvious he’s right there with them. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Duke Robillard from AMAZON
 
Please go to the Duke Robillard website for more purchase and artist information