Duke+robillard

Tales from the Tiki Lounge is Duke Robillard and Sunny Crownover's tribute to Les Paul & Mary Ford. Robillard, an accomplished veteran guitarist with a background in blues and swing, demonstrates that he knows his way around a Gibson Les Paul model guitar in the ways that Paul played and overdubbed it on his series of hit recordings with his then-wife, Ford, singing from the early '50s to the early ‘60s. Crownover, whose voice producer Robillard sometimes double-tracks or adds echo to in emulation of Paul's recording approach, has a warm tone consistent with Ford's. The selections include many of the Paul/Ford hits, including "Bye Bye Blues," "Just One More Chance," "Smoke Rings," and "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)," as well as songs Robillard has wisely selected that, while not actually recorded by Paul and Ford, can be performed in their style.

Best known for his classic blues, jazz and guitar instrumental sounds, Duke Robillard cuts loose in style on his 2023 album Six Strings Of Steel. Credited to Duke Robillard & His All-Star Band, the 12-track, 60-minute CD features Duke’s guitar and vocals backed up by a top-flight band including long-time Robillard band members Mark Teixeira (drums), Bruce Bears (keys), Marty Ballou (bass), and Doug James (sax), in addition to recently added band member, Chris Cote (vocals). Guesting is Katie Shore (fiddle) of Asleep at The Wheel.

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.

Calling All Blues, the new album from two-time Grammy nominee and multi Blues Music Award winning guitarist Duke Robillard. Recorded fresh off the heals of touring as the guitarist with Bob Dylan's band, Duke Robillard's 2014 CD, Calling All Blues, is a collection of mostly new blues material by one of the genre's best and most creative artists. Robillard is joined by the horn section from Roomful Of Blues, the band he founded in 1967, on four songs. In a career spanning over four decades Duke has also worked with Tom Waits, Fabulous Thunderbirds, and dozens of blues legends.

Between stints with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and his work as a busy session player, Roomful of Blues founder and original guitarist Duke Robillard finds time to work with his own band, one of the most rockin' ensembles extant, highlighted by the vocal support of Susann Forrest. "Turn it Around" is yet another excellent Duke Robillard offering which features guest artist Suzanne Forest. This album was released about the same time as the Fabulous Thunderbirds' "Walk that Walk, Talk that Talk" disc, and Duke's guitar and vocals are on the same high level as on the latter. Add angelic vocals by Ms. Forest and this disc is a superb representation of vintage Duke Robillard. Anybody who enjoys blues, Texas rock 'n roll and r&b needs to add this to their collection.

This unassuming and delightful little album visits a time when jazz and blues were still directly entwined, drawing on the ghosts of guitarists like Charlie Christian, Eddie Durham, Bill Jennings, Tiny Grimes, Barney Kessel, and Kenny Burrell, guitarists who used the blues to enrich the jazz pieces they played on, a kind of ensemble contribution that is all too frequently missing on the contemporary blues scene. Duke Robillard, Jay Geils, and Gerry Beaudoin are all gifted guitar players, each with his own career, but as a trio working three-part harmony lines around each other, they bring a stately ensemble grace to the tracks on New Guitar Summit (the trio also appears under that name when they do live shows).

Since joining the Stony Plain roster in 1993, Duke Robillard has released an average of one album per year with the Canadian roots and blues label, and his sixteenth is a little bit of a departure: where his previous efforts have focused mainly on jazz and blues, this one is a celebration of the jump blues and R&B of the '40s and '50s, and Robillard sounds just as natural and is clearly having just as good a time with this repertoire as he always has on his previous projects. Highlights include a wonderful jump blues instrumental arrangement of the traditional song "Frankie and Johnny," an equally great vocal duet between Robillard and Sunny Crownover on "I Wanna Hug You, Kiss You, Squeeze You" and an absolutely brilliant rendition of the Ike Turner R&B classic "Tore Up."

Six time 'Blues Award' winner Duke Robillard is one of the most respected blues and roots music guitarists working today. Guests on Blues Full Circle include Jimmie Vaughan, Sugar Ray Norcia and Kelley Hunt. Robillard has worked with Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Roomful Of Blues, Fabulous Thunderbirds and dozens of blues legends. “On Blues Full Circle, Duke Robillard slams out the blues like the all-time great he is, with impeccable support.”

Robillard, both a good blues guitarist and knowledgeable swing player, displays his rocking side on this '88 date. There are flashier solos, more uptempo cuts, and an aggressive, frenetic quality that's missing on Robillard's jazz-oriented releases. Duke Robillard is an award-winning American blues, roots rock, and jazz guitarist. His warm, silvery, vintage sound and clean playing style evoke the entire history of blues, jump R&B, swing, and proto rock & roll. A globally renowned guitarist, Robillard is a singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, and a first-call session player. A founding member of Roomful of Blues, he cut the roots-rocking Duke Robillard and the Pleasure Kings in 1983. He replaced Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1989 and remained through 1993.

Duke Robillard's sessions have alternated between jazzy, sophisticated, low-key ventures and bluesy, more energetic, rousing dates. This one is on the robust side, matching Robillard's guitar and good-natured, celebratory vocals with the talents of a great guest corps that includes Dr. John and Ron Levy on keyboards, guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, bassist Thomas Enright, and drummer Tommy DeQuattro (the Pleasure Kings). These aren't always musical triumphs, but even the songs that don't quite work are entertaining, while the more inspirational offerings like "You're the One I Adore" and "Don't Treat Me Like That" nicely balance tremendous instrumental support with energetic vocal performances.