Music review: Buddy Guy — ‘Rhythm & Blues’
鈥淎ll that makes me happy is the blues,鈥� wails blues legend Buddy Guy on his latest effort 鈥淩hythm and Blues.鈥�
With a career that spans nearly 50 years and more than 50 albums released, it鈥檚 instantly obvious that Guy is elated to still be performing the music he genuinely loves. The Louisiana native, who later adopted the Windy City as his hometown, celebrates his 77th birthday with the release of the new album. Rhythm & Blues鈥� is a double-disc extravaganza featuring star-studded collaborations with Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Gary Clark Jr., Beth Hart and Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith. The first disc features rhythm and the second disc offers blues.
The follow-up to his 2010 Grammy winning 鈥淟iving Proof,鈥� features Guy鈥檚 electrifying guitar licks and passionate vocals as the blues icon demonstrates that he鈥檚 still on top of his game.
The Muscle Shoals Horns bring a smooth Memphis soul to the opener 鈥淏est in Town,鈥� while 鈥淛ustifyin'鈥� sizzles behind Guy鈥檚 mesmerizing guitar work making it easy to understand why he is listed as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone. Rock brings plenty of gritty swagger to Junior Wells鈥� classic 鈥淢essin鈥� with the Kid鈥� and Hart simply shines during a smoldering duet with Guy on 鈥淲hat You Gonna Do About Me.鈥�
Urban, one of country music鈥檚 best guitarists, joins Guy on 鈥淥ne Day Away,鈥� the album鈥檚 most touching and sentimental arrangement. The boys from Aerosmith get in on the action by adding some rock influence to 鈥淓vil Twin.鈥� Tyler, Perry and Whitford certainly aren鈥檛 strangers to the blues as witnessed by Aerosmith鈥檚 underrated 2004 blues-flavored 鈥淗onkin鈥� on Bobo.鈥� Texas guitarist Clark Jr. brings his mix of blues and soul to the potent 鈥淏lues Don鈥檛 Care,鈥� matching Guy lick by lick. Guy, a six-time Grammy winner, continues to do what he does best.
鈥淩hythm & Blues鈥� is an intensely brilliant work of musical emotion by a man who knows more than a thing or two about the blues.