2014

'A Day In Nashville' is a welcome throwback of an album. Robben Ford's latest release stands out as a true old school project for a variety of reasons. The sly vocalist-guitarist recorded the entire album in just a day, which is the anomaly by today's recording standards. <br/>"It just doesn't happen today," Ford said. "Nine songs in one day, all new music. That normally takes some time. But I credit the musicians I worked with. I sent demos to them with me singing and playing on acoustic guitar. I sat down and thought if I can pull this off, wouldn't that be something." Ford pulled it off courtesy of the work he put in and due to an exceptional bunch of musicians. Guitarist Audley Freed (Black Crowes), keyboardist Ricky Peterson (David Sanborn), bassist Brian Allen (Jason Isbell), drummer Wes Little (Sting) and trombonist Barry Green (Tony Bennett) helped make 'A Day In Nashville' a reality. You can't pigeonhole 'A Day In Nashville' which is a blues/R&B hybrid, with a tinge of jazz tossed into the sonic potpourri for good measure.<br/><br/>'A Day In Nashville' is the perfect follow-up to 'Bringing It Back Home.' Although there is a similar sonic presence, this time out Ford, pens seven of the nine cuts. "I had the chance to write some new music and so I did it," Ford said. "I enjoy recording versions of other people's songs but I like to write music too." Ford nails it whether delivering a pair of instrumental tunes or the seven gems, which range from the compelling ('Midnight Comes Too Soon') to the humorous ('Ain't Drinkin' Beer No More'). The former, which includes a number of searing bluesy guitar licks and a film noirish story, is not set to a rhyme scheme. "It was a worthwhile exercise to break away from rhyming in songwriting," Ford said. "Rhyme does make a song more powerful but singing words that don't rhyme can work really well. The entire bridge doesn't rhyme at all. You can't put this song into a box."

Taylor Joanne Shaw: The dirty truth 2014 [Digipack / CD]

HAL KETCHUM, BILL RICH, AMOS GARRETT, DAVE ALVIN,<br/>DAVID LINDLEY, KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE

Turner Big Joe: Live 1983 [CD]

Hart Beth & Joe Bonamassa: Live in Amsterdam -14 [2 CD]

Fulson Lowell: Live with Billy Vera & Beaters [CD]

In My Soul is the seventeenth studio album for the legendary guitar musician and singer-songwriter Robert Cray. <br/><br/>Produced by American multi-instrumentalist, composer, musical director, Grammy Award-winning artist and longtime Cray friend Steve Jordan (Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Keith Richards), In My Soul captures Cray at his finest with an outstanding 10 song collection of Stax and Chess influenced soul and blues that showcases his trademark guitar playing and his extraordinary vocals. A bonus track "Pillow" is included on this limited edition CD.<br/><br/>From the driving original classic Cray "You Move Me" with its scorching guitar leads, to the melodic 60's sway of "Fine Yesterday" featuring Cray's trademark soul drenched vocals, In My Soul draws listeners in very quickly. <br/><br/>In My Soul offers an array of powerful material that displays Cray's amazing and unique guitar sound, his passionate and soulful vocals alongside awarding winning songwriting and musicianship. A cutting collection of tunes that will please longtime fans yet offers a purity of new life for first time listeners.