Robben Ford – Soul on Ten (2009)
Artist : Robben Ford
Album : Soul on Ten
Released Date : August 11, 2009
Label : Concord Records
I always take blues as the mother of modern music. Blues as a musical form comes from the African-American communities in the Southern part of United State back at the late 19th century Blues was usually used to project their personal daily experiences into music. How fascinating to see the history of modern music, because later on, blues became the beginning of many modern popular music movement. Jazz, Bluegrass, Rock, Soul, R&B to name a few, are clearly characterized by this blues form. That’s why I always go back to blues to see how jazz formed from the very start. Still, with many derivative forms after, blues is still standing tall on its own until today. We can still listen to blues as how it was originated before. There are also many crossovers fuse inside this fascinating musical form brought by many great blues artists from time to time. I often think how amazing it would be if someone deliver blues in its original taste with its derivative forms altogether in one album. And my wish has found the answer from Robben Ford‘s new album, “Soul on Ten”.
Robben Ford is the man. In his 40 years professional career, he is widely known as someone who has a diverse career. He is a brilliant blues, jazz and rock guitarist with virtuosic skill and experience. His ability placed him as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician Magazine. He has played with great jazz saxophonist Tom Scott’s L.A. Express, George Harrison (on his 70′s Dark Horse tour), the jazz legend Miles Davis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sadao Watanabe and many other big stars in music. And let’s not forget the fact that he was one of the founding member of the Yellowjackets beside Russel Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson, and stayed there until 1983. Ford continued his path by having a solo career and playing as session guitarist. But only in 1992 Ford seemed to finally find himself when he returned to his root: the blues. He chose to stay with it until now. What’s interesting about Robben is his uniqueness. He embraces many styles from Jazz to fusion and incorporates them into his blues. Robben has set the new height of blues with his style.
“Soul on Ten” is the brand new album of Robben Ford, also the fourth Concord release after the previous “Blue Moon” (2002), “Keep on Running” (2003) and “Truth” (2007). In this album, five time Grammy nominee Robben Ford is absolutely on ten, showing his virtuosity, skill and sheer the strong blues feel with his guitar and vocal. Eight of the ten tracks were taken from live show at The Independent in San Fransisco, CA last april, just across town from the Fillmore, where the northern California native grew up hearing B.B King, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, Albert King, Duane Allman and Jimmy Page. One of these 8 live tracks is his new composition. Ford includes two other brand new songs in studio recordings. Thus, we have the chance to feel his presence through live recordings plus getting 3 new Ford’s compositions. “Soul on 10″ is basically delivered in blues, but all through the tracks you will get various tastes of rock, jazz fusions and soul.
In “Soul on Ten”, Ford brings his road-tested band of the last few years. There are three musicians on the band beside Ford. Athens-born drummer, a musicologist Toss Panos on drums, who was a student of African percussion and Greek music that also played the blues in South Central Los Angeles. Then there is Los Angeles’-born bassist Travis Carlton, the son of jazz great guitarist Larry Carlton. And last but not least, the skillful Neal Evans on B3 organ. Together they bring blues into the new horizon in their own distinctive blues style.
He starts the album with “Supernatural”, a track from Ford’s 1999 album, “Supernatural”. This song has rock-ish soulful taste in it with a chunky wah-wah psychedelic style of guitar with a hint of experimental jazz-rock style. The second track is Ford’s composition from his “Blue Moon” album in 2002. The song entitled “Indianola”, a tribute to B.B King that based on lively energic rock and blues rhythm, is a really nice landscapic composition to describe the hometown of B.B King, Indianola in Mississipi. Robben Ford continues with “There’ll Never Be Another You”, the live version of a track from his 2007′s Concord “Truth” album. This song includes a stretched improvisation that touches on Miles Davis’ boundless music exploration. You can also hear the talented drummer, Tony Panos shows what he got in this song. In “Spoonful” Ford covers Willie Dixon’s classic song. Neal Evans’ organ play is stunning in this track. Another song taken from Ford’s collaboration with Michael McDonald in Blue Thumb‘s “Supernatural” album comes next. This song has jazz fusion-esque feel with soul, where the bassist Travis Carlton did his solo. Again Evans’ organ roars in this one. “Please Set A Date” is a song by Elmore James serves in straight ahead 12 bar blues. Interestingly enough, Ford combined this song with Jimmy Reed‘s “You Don’t Have To Go”.
taken from robbenford.com, photo by George Wells
“Earthquake” is one of the fresh new song composed by Ford. Ford describes this song as “a black comedy” about the difficulties in maintaining relationships with the demands of a touring musician forced to be away from home much of the time. “Earthquake” is one of the best example of how jazz-rock fusion can blend together with blues harmoniously. This song follows by another song which appears on his 2007′s “Truth” titled “How Deep In The Blues (Do You Want To Go)”. Another sweet soulful blues in this one. And that’s the end of live tracks. The next two songs are brand new songs composed by Ford includes as studio recordings. “Don’t Worry About Me” revisits the sociopolitical side of the previous “Truth” album. It’s interesting to see how Ford reflects the society ills while also pointing the urge to disengage on this song. The last song contains in the album called “Thoughtless”. This is a song subjected to the painful side of being a road musician, just like “Earthquake”. It’s a ballad about being separated with the person you left back home, wondering where you are and why you’re gone. That’s the painful side of being a musician, as Ford says “Its a lonely road being a musician. But this is what I do. I have to do it.”
It’s really nice to have a handful of blues in honesty, smooth and fluid. “Soul on Ten” is a tour-de-force of blues at its best, well performed and has many layers behind the heartfelt blues. “Soul on Ten” is a presentation of great musicians with colorful unique style, combining his roots in jazz fusion, soul, rock into blues, projecting the vintage style into present, with eyes set towards the future. Roaring guitar, chunky wah-wah, tasty blues, even experimental jazz-rock fusion and of course the genuine feel of soul are packed inside blues based album, seriously brilliant play by Robben Ford and friends that is ready to take your breath away. Blues fans will love this, rock fans will accept this, so will jazz lovers. Don’t miss this one.
Personnel:
Track 1-8 (the live recordings):
Robben Ford (guitar and vocal)
Toss Panos (drums)
Travis Carlton (bass)
Neal Evans (B3 organ)
Track 9-10 (studio recordings):
Robben Ford (guitar and vocal)
Jon Button (bass)
Larry Goldings (keyboard)
Karl Denson (sax)
Tracklisting
1. Supernatural
2. Indianola
3. There’ll Never Be Another You
4. Spoonful
5. Nothin’ To Nobody
6. Please Set A Date
7. Earthquake
8. How Deep In The Blues (Do You Want To Go)
9. Don’t Worry About Me
10. Thoughtless
Buy Robben Ford – Soul on Ten on Amazon.com
Buy Robben Ford – Soul on Ten on Concord Records.com
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Reviewed by: Riandy Kurniawan
Special thanks to :
Edria
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[...] brand new album “Soul on Ten” contains both live tracks and three new compositions. (Read the album review here). In “Soul on Ten” Ford is absolutely on ten, delivering his virtuosity, skill and [...]