Duke Robillard - Passport To The Blues (2010)

Duke Robillard is one of the founding members of Roomful of Blues, as well
as one of the guitarists who replaced Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous
Thunderbirds in 1990. Between that time, Robillard pursued a solo career
that found him exploring more musically adventurous territory than either
Roomful of Blues or the T-Birds. On his solo recordings, the guitarist dips
into blues, rockabilly, jazz, and rock & roll, creating a unique fusion of
American roots music. In 1967, Duke Robillard formed Roomful of Blues in
Westerly, Rhode Island. For the next decade, he led the band through
numerous lineup changes before he decided that he had grown tired of the
group.

There has been no lack of Robillard product on the market; the roots
guitarist has recorded approximately ten albums since 2000. But he's been
more of an interpreter than songwriter and there haven't been many original
compositions on them. That makes this 2010 disc a welcome appearance for
fans of the guitarist aching to hear fresh tunes from the Roomful of Blues
founder. Perhaps touring as part of Tom Waits' band - this disc's only
cover is a roaring version of Waits' "Make It Rain" - inspired him, but
these songs combine a deep blues sensibility with a sharp band and a raw
instrumental attack often lost when Robillard indulges his jazz and jump
blues sides.

Like Waits, he uses Howlin' Wolf as a model, especially with regard to his
flinty vocals, and even titles one track "Rhode Island Red Rooster," an
obvious homage to one of Wolf's most recognizable compositions. Robillard
won't win any awards for his singing but he's clearly inspired here and
gets by on sheer vocal enthusiasm as he spins out this rollicking
collection with gruff joy. A few jazzy numbers pepper the set, especially
the playful "When You're Old You're Cold," but most of the disc is
dedicated to tough, aggressive, swamp-inflected blues-infused tunes.

He nicks another page from Waits' early years with the spoken "Duke's
Evening Blues" that would have fit well on Waits' Nighthawks at the Diner
and references Waits' Rain Dogs period on the Latin-flavored "Hong Kong
Suit." Robillard dives deep into slow Chicago blues on the eight-minute
guitar showcase of "Grey Sky" and revives "The High Cost of Loving," a
track co-written by Doc Pomus and first heard on the guitarist's 1990's
Turn It Around, giving it a new lease on life.

Current events are run through some choice Chuck Berry riffs on "Text Me"
and on the pounding, grinding opener, "Working Hard for My Uncle," that
relative named Sam. His tight backing quartet features longtime associate
and original Roomful member Doug James on saxes, who adds gutsy blowing to
these bluesy romps. A closing bonus jam on "Bradford Boogie" gives the
listener a sense of how musically connected the bandmembers are as they
feed off each other and just have fun. That camaraderie is ultimately what
makes this such a successful entry into Robillard's bulging catalog.