Guitar Groove-A-Rama

Duke Robillard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Stony Plain Music
• ASIN: B000E5KU6U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,956 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Do The Memphis Grind

2. Gambler Blues

3. Down Along The Cove

4. Sunday Mornin'

5. Sewed Up

6. Danny Boy

7. Blues A Rama

8. I'll Do Anything But Work

9. No Way Out

10. This Dream

11. Just Before Dawn

12. Dawin

13. Cookin'

14. Dark Eyes

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As the title implies, Guitar Groove-a-Rama is a showcase for Duke Robillard and his guitar collection. It allows him to both flex his chops in a variety of styles and display his impressive set of instruments--on the cover and in the grooves. Although he has recorded jazz discs, the founding member of Roomful of Blues is primarily a blues player, and that genre grounds the majority of this crackling release. It's also a jumping-off place for songs that reference twang (a peppy version of Bob Dylan's "Down Along the Cove"), jazzy lounge/gospel ("Sunday Mornin'"), and tough swamp ("Sewed Up"), plus a "Tequila"-styled surf take on Sonny Boy Williamson's "No Way Out" and even a swinging instrumental rendition of "Danny Boy" with a surprise Beatlesque ending.

The album's 16-minute centerpiece, "Blues-a-Rama," is a magnificent vehicle for Robillard. He uses a standard slow blues to introduce and play licks in the style of about a dozen influential guitarists, from the usual suspects such as Buddy Guy and Freddie, Albert, and B.B. King to the slightly more obscure likes of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. That track, like this terrific album, is a mini history lesson in blues guitar that every lover of the genre will enjoy and newcomers can use as a handy course. --Hal Horowitz

Product Description

Perhaps his most ambitious album in a career that spans almost 40 years, Guitar Groove-A-Rama jumps out of the gate with the funky lead-off track, "Do the Memphis Grind," (with a tip of the hat to guitar greats James Burton and Steve Cropper) and never lets up. Along the way, Duke explores the grooves of Delta blues (Lil' Son Jackson's "Gambler's Blues"), jazz/gospel ("Sunday Mornin'"), Chicago blues (Sonny Boy Williamson's "One Way Out"), the soul of Ray Charles ("I'll Do Anything But Work"), the country blues of Bob Dylan ("Down Along the Cove") and even Irish folk ("Danny Boy"). In an album filled with highlights, the best may be the 16-minute tour-de-force "Blues-A-Rama," wherein Duke pays tribute to 10 guitar influences with an amazing performance recorded live in the studio.

"When I came up with the idea of Guitar Groove-A-Rama, I wanted to make an album of tunes that showcased all the sounds and influences that make up my style, or styles," says Robillard in the CD liner notes. "Of course, the blues is at the root of nearly everything here, but I also wanted to show some of my other influences that moved me as a young guitarist. Guitar Groove-A-Rama is a culmination of my lifelong love affair with guitars and roots music, but I really wanted to make this album for my fans," he adds.

The new CD features Duke Robillard in mostly a trio format, which accentuates the many nuances of his guitar work, and also gives him a chance to play a number of the guitars in his vast collection. In addition to Robillard on guitar and vocals, the band lineup includes Mark Teixeira on drums/percussion, with Jesse Williams and Marty Ballou on bass. Guests include Doug James on baritone sax, Bruce Bears on Hammond organ and Al Basile on cornet. It was recorded at his studio, Duke's Mood Room, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

A founder of the seminal blues group, Roomful of Blues, Duke Robillard is a four-time winner of the prestigious "Best Guitarist" Blues Award presented by the Blues Foundation. His last CD for Stony Plain was the critically acclaimed The Duke Meets the Earl, which paired him with fellow guitarist Ronnie Earl. His recent DVDs have included his own A Special Evening with Duke Robillard and Friends, as well as New Guitar Summit: Live at the Stoneham Theatre, in which he was joined by fellow guitarists Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravorama!, March 25, 2006

By 

Star Thrower - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guitar Groove-A-Rama (Audio CD)

To reiterate the editor's words, this is a terrific new release from Mr. Robillard! Guitar Groove A Rama features a strong collection of diverse material all beautifully played with delicious guitar tones. I have to confess I hadn't bought a Duke Robillard cd in nine years and I was initially seduced by the cover photo, being a sucker for beautiful guitars. The seduction continued as the first notes of ... Memphis Grind poured out of my stereo speakers. This "swampy little tune", to quote Robillard is classic Duke, and a great start to a 77 minute romp that does not disappoint. Recommended!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Duke hits on all cylinders, August 11, 2006

By 

Music, Man! - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guitar Groove-A-Rama (Audio CD)

I remember seeing Duke play at the old Lone Star Club on 5th Avenue in Manhattan about twenty years ago. He was opening for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and it was an unforgettable night. He opened with a perfect rendition of "Honky Tonk". You could see and feel the love in his playing that night. I have been a fan of his ever since. He put out a couple of albums with his great trio, and I still own both on LP.

This album is like a big hug from Duke for all his fellow blues and roots music lovers. I always find Duke's other albums enjoyable (I particularly like his guitar duets with Herb Ellis), but this one is different in that it embraces you and doesn't let go. Beautifully engineered too.

I think it is worthy of a Grammy. Thanks Duke.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crank up your stereo and groove!, April 23, 2006

By 

M. Bernocchi "mbernocchi" (Old Windsor, Berkshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guitar Groove-A-Rama (Audio CD)

...So sit back crank up your stereo and GROOVE! This is a phrase that you can read on the back cover of the CD at the end of Duke's statement. Well, this is exactly what I have done as soon as I received the delivery from Amazon and from the opening track to the last one I have been carried away by an incredible series of great blues. Following the extraordinary "The Duke meets the Earl" Duke Robillard delivers another excellent album that once again demonstrates beyond any doubts his immense talent as guitar player. This time, as stated also on the editorial review, Duke Robillard pays a sort of tribute to all the artists who influenced him as musicians. Different styles of blues magnificently played using a lot of different guitars as described track by track by Duke himself. From my point of view this is the best blues release so far in 2006. Really recommended not only to all the blues lovers but also to everyone who enjoy great guitar music. Simply a must have album that will stay permanently for the years to come in your CD rotation.