Blue Mood
Duke Robillard's command of guitaristT-Bone Walker's flashy but fluid style--full of rich passing chords, rippling melodies, sweetly sculpted bends, and elegant jazz-influenced phrasing--anchors this 12-song tribute to the pioneering electric bluesman from Texas. But it's obvious that Robillard has absorbed every detail of Walker's music. The horn arrangements are lush and, when muted trumpet and clarinet enter the mix on "I'm Still in Love With You" and "Born to Be No Good," downright sensual. Every track swings, from the revved-up guitar showcase "T-Bone Boogie" to the slow, simmering heartbreak ballads "Blue Mood" and "Love Is a Gamble." And Robillard emulates the bold, declamatory side of Walker's singing style with husky power and authority. Although no substitute for T-Bone's own high-voltage recordings, these tracks are a winning testimonial to the durability of Walker's creative genius.--Ted Drozdowski