Chuck Berry - Chuck (2017) [Hi-Res]

Three months after putting on his pine suit, Chuck Berry sent us this final message, direct from heaven. This was no act of base self-interest from Berry's estate: the pioneer of rock'n'roll announced the publication of Chuck himself on his 90th birthday: 18 October 2016. The first record from the man since his Rock It of 1979, it was recorded near St Louis with his family and friends including his children Charles Berry Jr. on the guitar and Ingrid Berry on the harmonica, as well as bassist Jimmy Marsala, the pianist Robert Lohr and the drummer Keith Robinson. Dedicated to Themetta Berry, his 68 year old wife, he handles 8 of the 10 songs by himself and invites some famous guests including Gary Clark Jr., Nathaniel Rateliff and Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine. Chuck has, above all, the merit of a very raw, and very modern sound. No overproduction here: instead, a simple approach (never simplistic) which suits Chuck Berry's style wonderfully. One also has to concede that his voice - even if it is the voice of a man of 90 summers - has a real grain to it, and an affecting swagger. With Chuck, Chuck Berry bows out with style and humour.