Customer Reviews

Language of the Soul

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I came across this CD in the racks at a blues festival in St. Louis a few years back, and the opening line of the descriptive text on the back of the CD caught my interest -- "Ronnie Earl is one of the finest blues guitarists of his generation -- but even this accolade doesn't do him justice." Though liner notes & descriptions of these sorts can be hyperbolic, this one turns out to be quite accurate. I bought the CD sound-unheard (I hadn't even heard of Ronnie Earl) and have never regretted it.

The opening track, "Eddie's Gospel Groove", is a fast-paced, uptempo blues number, and Mr. Earl quickly and firmly establishes his considerable musical virtuosity. While the rest of the songs on the CD aren't quite so uptempo, all of them feature great guitar work and Hammond B3 organ accompaniment (Bruce Katz is handles the ivories for the Broadcasters, which also consist of Rod Carey on bass and Per Hanson on drums).

Almost all the songs feature electric guitar, though the last number, "Bill's Blues", is an acoustic performance. On "Through Floods and Storms" there are saxophones as well (Paul Ahlstrand and Kevin Watson) and on "Blue Guitar", Mr. Earl gets some additional guitar work from Adrienne Hayes and Eddie O'Brien. All musicians handle their chores in fine fashion, but the focus of this all-instrumental CD (despite a brief two-line vocal intro on "I Am with You") is Mr. Earl's unsurpassed abilities.

While primarily a blues CD, on many songs there is an additional layering of jazz and even gospel, which elevates the CD above the ranks of just another great blues CD (not that there would've been anything wrong with that). The mix of jazz is actually appropriate, given the historically close relationship the blues and jazz have had in America.

A CD like this reassures the faithful fans of the blues that while the music idiom may not be the commercial powerhouse that top-40 pop and hip-hop are, the music is in the hands of some fine musicians and songwriters (Mr. Earl wrote or co-wrote all but one of the songs on this) and has a viable future indeed.

Ronnie Earl, formerly of Room Full of Blues, is one of the great blues guitarist out there today. And this is one of Ronnie's better albums (they are all good). The album is a set of all instruments and has a great feel to it. The mood of the album is greatly enhanced with some excellent B3 organ playing. There are combination of slow and fast blues and I especially enjoy the rocking openning cut. Colour of Love is also excellent album by Ronnie with some guest stars and has some vocal tracks. For any blues fan you will not be disappointed with this album.

Language of the Soul is a well recorded blues instrumental album that comes across so clearly, and so soulfully, that you can't help but love it. The first cut, "Eddie's Gospel Groove," cooks unbelievably. Most of the album is quite a bit slower but there is a good variety of tempos. Even the housemate that whines for Rammstein, Disturbed and KMFDM is sitting up and taking notice! This album is worth the price just for the first cut, but don't stop there -- there's a wealth of blues history and some great grooves on this CD. Ronnie Earl is one of the brightest lights keeping the blues flame alive.

I discovered Ronnie Earl recently and have been buying everything I can of his. For a person who likes electric, modern blues, he is unsurpassed! Just sorry it took so long for me to discover him. He is right up there with SRV! as far as playig that blues guitar.

This CD is not as heavy on the guitar and organ as the Live Virtuoso, but man, any musician should own it.

Ronnie Earl is a great guitarist that can straddle two genres and sound like a master of both. A disciple of both Freddie King and John Coltrane, Earl is a master of blue moods and jazz flavors. From the SRV-flavored Eddie's Gospel Groove and the relentlessly jumpin' Harvard Square Stomp, to the beautiful blues-inflected jazz of Indigo Burrell and Barcelona Morning, this a must-have for fans of great blues guitar.

Attention all guitar players-This is the real deal. This is not like all the new blues-pop-rock junk people are putting out these days. Simply the most amazing CD of instrumentals one can buy.