Customer Reviews

Blue Moon

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one great album. Don't buy it until you have time to listen to it several times at one sitting, because you will want to play it over and over. It just sounds great. Ford's playing is crisp and smooth. His voice is a little thin for the blues, but still sounds good. Something For the Pain, Indianola, and You're Gonna Be Sorry are terrific blends of jazz, rock and blues. A lot of jazz and blues guitarists get a little out there in terms of improvisational riffs. On this album Ford plays straight ahead melodies that are fun to listen to. You'll wear out the ol' air guitar listening to this one. Enjoy.

Robben Ford has been extremely busy over the last couple of years. Since his 1999, release "Supernatural", he has released the 2001, "Paul Butterfield Tribute", the 2002, "Jing Chi" CD with Vinnie Colaiuta and Jimmy Halsip and now, "Blue Moon", which, like "Jing Chi" also features Colaiuta on drums. Robben Ford has also dropped his label in favor of Concord Records and, for those guitarst out there, his Fender RF model guitar in favor of a Fender Telecaster. The result? Robben's most exciting release in years.

Ford's blues fans will be happy to know that despite Ford's earlier Jazz releases and Concord Record's focus on some formidable jazz artists such as the Rippingtons, Herb Ellis, Gary Burton, Dave Weckl and Eric Marienthal, Robben's new material remains true to the Blues. On this disc, Ford demonstrates some rather exceptional guitar playing, as well as performances on the Wurlitzer and the Piano on a couple of tracks. The CD contains mostly new and original material although Robben has included a sensational cover of Little Walter Jacobs "Up The Line" as well as Willie Dixon's "It Don't Make Sense", which is performed extremely well. The CD's highlights while hard to choose, are probably "Something For The Pain" which has a rather lively beat and uptempo guitar and the slow blues cover of "It Don't Make Sense". Simply Outstanding!

This is one of the best albums released by Robben Ford since "Handful of Blues"(1995),
"Blues Collection"(1997) and "Tiger Walk"(1997)...featuring tunes like "Rugged Road" and
"When I Leave Here"...but with this release from Concord Jazz, we find more Jazz with a
taste of blues.

Stand outs ~ "INDIANOLA", shows how much of a guitarist he is, tremendous arrangement
with great style..."SOMETHING FOR THE PAIN" and "DON'T DENY YOUR LOVE",
digs deep into the soul with a smidgen of rock thrown in for good measure..."IT DON'T
MAKE SENSE(YOU CAN'T MAKE PEACE)" and "MAKE ME YOUR ONLY ONE",
one is a Willie Dixon tune, the later by Ford, both have Jazz written all over them, some fusion
sprinkled moments.

Super job by Concord Jazz, Glen Barros and John Burk (executive producers)...a big
welcome to the newest member of their label...hope this is the beginning of a beautiful
friendship...ROBBEN FORD!

Total Time: 59:03 on 12 Tracks ~ Concord Jazz CCD-2112 ~ (2002)

First of all, this is (or should be) an album for guitar players. And as always, Robben Ford sounds terrific. Seven stars for his playing. Unlike a lot of guys, he just keeps getting better.

But after the first cut--a sort of Robben Ford meets Sam & Dave thing--the rest of the tunes just plod along. None of them is as catchy as I'm Your Man or Talk To Your Daughter. Some songs have changes that are clever, like when Scott Henderson plays blues but clever doesn't get my feet tapping.

Last but not least, he sings. And sings. We can argue if he's the greatest vocalist since Caruso but the lyrics are just filler.

Robben Ford has so many killer albums its hard to pick but if you want one that will give you chills look for the semi-bootleg Live In San Francisco. In the middle of a long and brilliant solo he cuts from I'm Your Man to Purple Haze. Robben Ford playing Purple Haze...need I say more?

The enigmatic Robben Ford hits pay dirt here.. I hesitate to call this a come-back album, but the last three or four albums Fod has put out have been unfocused, and sketchy. In contrast, Blue Moon sounds like it knows where it's going. I'd add a half a star here if I could.

Some of the hightlights:

Robben sings a lot more loosely and confidently then he has in the past. One gets the sense that he's having fun..

The guitar playing is not regulated to the back room. He does judicious time playing the hell out of his Telecaster and his Gibson scaled guitars. But the virtuosity does the music well, and there is a wonderful balance between the blues and just going out. His solos sing, and cry, and come to a wonderful point. Listen to the solo on "You're going to be sorry." Great job from a really great player.

He gets gooooooood backup, from the various combination of side men and backup vocalists. Some wonderful, subtle B3 and sax playing on this album. Again, think loose but funky.

One other thing. This album sounds great CRANKED. Turn it up.

This is a great Robben Ford disc. It has seemed like he's been a bit unfocused lately, but this disc gets back to his roots and just kicks. Great guitar sound, great songs, great backing musicians. It's great to hear Robben with Roscoe Beck again. He's one of the few guys to play blues/rock with intelligence and virtuoso chops. He certainly doesn't play blues because it's the only thing he can do; his jazz fusion material from the '70's shows that. A must have...

Folks, this CD just plain cooks. I hesitated to buy it at first because 1. he sings and 2. I was very disappointed in Supernatural. But the CD has been either in my home or car stereo since I bought it last week.

The band is so tight it "sounds" as if it were recorded live in the studio. Ford's playing is downright swamp-like raunchy at times. His guitar sound is just plain nasty, bellowing blues/rock/funk lamentations to stir the masses. And his singing is the most soulful yet.

Robben Ford can really play the guitar and his smooth voice make listening to these songs a pleasure. Love his music. I have several of his CD's which are hard to get in a store so Amazon is the place to shop.

I've got the Blue Moon fever for a week now. The symptoms are you are unable to get in the car without putting Robben Fords newest release in and turning it up. Blue Moon, Robben's best since 1988's Talk to Your Daughter, is habit forming. Every time I listen it keeps getting better. Do yourself a favor and catch the fever too get Blue Moon you won't be dissapointed.

Robben's combination of a great guitar tone, and soulfull songwriting bring his music to life. The fact that he also plays the piano on this album outlines the talent this man has. For me this is his best album to date. Buy it!