Over the course of thirty-plus years and nearly two dozen albums, blues guitarist Ronnie Earl has carved out his own little niche in the blues world. A phenomenal talent equally capable of throwing out both nimble-fingered jazz licks and greasing down-and-dirty Delta blues riffs, Earl's playing is a cross between B.B. King's effortless elegance, Albert King's funky grit, and Freddie King's instrumental playfulness.
With six-string skills to spare, Earl usually fills his albums with stellar guitarplay and robust blues instrumentation courtesy of his fine band the Broadcasters. For Living In The Light, however, Earl has enlisted the help of a couple of guest vocalists to serve as his voice on five songs. It's a departure, to be sure, from the virtuoso instrumental work-out that was 2007's critically acclaimed album Hope Radio, but it's one that I think that blues fans will certainly enjoy.
Ronnie Earl's Living In The Light
Imagine your favorite vintage soul band or artist from the 1960s and '70s, and understand that hearing Living In The Light for the first time is like taking a trip back to a musically hallowed time. The album begins with the gorgeous "Love Love Love," an Earl original sung by the talented Mr. Dave Keller. While Earl embroiders his fluid six-string leads throughout the song, Keller belts out the lyrics with gospel fervor.
About half-way through the song, it breaks down into a slow-burning jam. Led by Dave Limina's ethereal keyboard riffs, Earl picks out a tale of instrumental heartbreak. Keller kicks in with a minute or so left, the song amping back up into a joyous finish as every player chimes in with a glorious din. It's an invigorating eight minutes that flashes by quickly, leaving the listener exhausted but happy.
Kim Wilson & Dave Keller
That's just the opening song...there's plenty of other quality jams to be found on Living In The Light. The blistering instrumental "S.O.S." gives Earl a chance to channel his inner Stevie Ray, the guitarist ripping off notes in the best Texas tradition as Limina's piano paints a rough texture behind Earl's flying fretwork. When the song slows down, it's so that Earl can create an atmospheric mood with sparse notes and a lonely drumbeat. A cover of Robert Jr. Lockwood's "Take A Little Walk With Me" features Fabulous Thunderbirds' frontman Kim Wilson on vocals for a spry country blues romp with plenty of his wailing harp and Earl's strutting fretwork.
Dave Keller returns for an inspired Dylan cover, "What Can I Do For You," on which his rich voice is complimented by a full-blown choir providing backing vocals. Limina's somber keyboards punctuate the song's high points, while Earl's guitar takes a backseat behind Keller's fine vocal performance. When he does cut loose and let the strings fly, the result is haunting, perfectly evoking the reverent nature of the song, soaring above the mix in a display of six-string pyrotechnics that you'd have to be a fool not to believe he had in him to begin with.
Blues For The South Side
After a display of virtuosity like "What Can I Do For You," what's left for Ronnie Earl and crew to prove? How about a shot o' the "Recovery Blues"? The first of three blues-themed instrumentals, "Recovery Blues" showcases Earl's jazzier side. With resonant licks pouring from his instrument like water off the roof, the band slides in behind him. Limina's ever-present keys scat and boogie across the soundtrack while drummer Lorne Entress provides some subtle brushwork and a steady beat.
A word should be said about "Child Of A Survivor," a heartfelt and personal song penned by Earl and sung with great soul and strength by Kim Wilson. This is pure blues anguish here, folks, Earl's heartbroken guitar licks matching Wilson's lonesome harpwork in etching the tragic story of the Holocaust and the plight of the Jewish people. Earl's grandmother was killed during the war, and he uses that grief to construct a living blues monument.
"Blues for Fathead" is a similarly jazzy spree, keyboards dancing gleefully atop the mix, the band hitting a loping groove fueled by bassist Jim Mouradian's steady hand, and Earl bringing a lively tempo and great tone to his typical awe-inspiring performance. The last of the trio, the Chicago-styled deep-dish "Blues For The South Side" is a raucous, revved up and respectful nod to fretburners like Magic Sam and Otis Rush, as well as the one and only master-blaster of the 88s, Otis Spann. Earl's playing here is priceless in both energy and spirit, his strings vibrating with the raw fury he's laying down.
The Reverend's Bottom Line
There really aren't words sufficient to describe Ronnie Earl's incredible six-string talents. Just when you think that you have the man figured out, he pulls out a musical triumph like Living In The Light. It's not that the album defies expectations - Earl's skills are such that you're always guaranteed a great time - but that Earl manages to set the bar higher with each musical outing, and then clear it with ease.
Backed by a top-notch band that follows him note-for-note, and with talented guests like Wilson and Keller, Earl has put together one of the best albums of his already impressive and lengthy career, a shoo-in for end of the year honors. And keep your eyes open for vocalist Dave Keller, who is an up-and-coming blues talent that you'll be hearing a lot of in years to come. (Stony Plain Records, released June 2, 2009)
'Living in the Light' Track Listing
1. Love Love Love
2. S.O.S.
3. Take A Little Walk With Me
4. River Charles Blues
5. What Can I Do For You
6. Recovery Blues
7. Blues for Fathead
8. Child Of A Survivor
9. Blues for the South Side
10. Ain't Nobody's Business
11. Donna Lee
12. Pastorale
