It's slidemeister Roy Roger's (yes, that's his real name) first studio recording with his band, the Delta Rhythm Kings, in seven years. It's about time. The man plays slide like Big Ben plays football.
But this is not exactly a traditional Rogers blues album. In the past he's offered up a variety of blues material, often filtered through his own personal lens, but this time, he's exploring his songwriting and musical skills that push in all directions. For example, his original instrumental "Your Sweet Embrace" is a lyrical exercise that borders on classical guitar with a hint of Latin flavor. Another instrumental, "Rite of Passage," offer jazz licks and horns.
The rest of CD is equally diverse. "Calm Before the Storm" is a kind of wall of sound approach that combines edgy blues and rock in shifting layers of expressive slide guitar. "Patron Saint of Pain" is a more traditional blues, with tough piano by Phillip Aaberg that turns into a searing slide-piano duet featuring lyrics like "put a deadbolt on your dreams..." A wicked guitar solo closes it off, Delicious.
"Little Queen Bee" rocks with power fueled by turbocharged slide, the best of blues rock, where the blues actually rides shotgun. Kickass piano never hurts, either. "Holy Ghost Moan" turns the devil at the crossroads inside out, looking for the spirit of the music in less than spiritual places.
There's more, and none of it may be what you've come to expect of Rogers, but it's still great music. He's stepping out onto a musical limb on a tree that counts the blues among its roots.
Satanic update
I went back to the classy Peninsula Inn in Gulfport, Fla., again last night to hear Sterling Magee (Mr. Satan), and he's still there, playing great old blues. It's really a pleasure to watch an old bluesman who's been long lost to time have a few fine blues minutes for appreciative fans.
Posted
Apr 22 2009, 01:00 AM
by
Jim White