Buddy Guy
Born To Play Guitar
(rcarecords.com)
Buddy Guy is SO important to the Blues. Especially with BB passing. Yet when you speak with him, he is the most modest man and does not seem to realise even now, just how important he is to so many generations of blues players. Here he is on his new album cover, playing with his teeth and blowing up a storm. Again Buddy is helped and produced by Tom Hambridge, also a fine drummer and singer, as his solo albums attest. The last album was successful and had some stellar guest contributions. This time out, Guy is joined on Kiss Me Quick by Fabulous Thunderbird star Kim Wilson and he is also on Too Late. The title track has Guy testifying over Delta riffs, edging into a stealthy blues tread. A rolling piano slips into the blend. It’s delicious stuff!
Step up Billy Gibbons for Wear You Out a solid boogie and Buddy eulogising over his ’54 Strat and Gibbons growling his verses; Joss Stone joins Buddy on You Got What It Takes, taken at a jaunty pace and the wonderful contrast between the voices is a treat. It’s wah wah time on Turn Me Wild and a perfect key for Buddy, hence his best vocal on this set, here. A delicate guitar weave has Guy in a psychedelic backdrop and it sounds very different. I love it, ace production with twinkling organ adding to the dreamy vibe. Van Morrison these days can turn any number into a dirge and does just that on Flesh & Bone, dedicated to BB King. A shame. But it doesn’t spoil a punchy album with plenty of full-blooded guitar runs and fine singing, few channel pure soul with such joy as well as Buddy Guy.
Pete Sargeant
Buddy Guy ‘Born To Play Guitar’ is out now on RCA Records.
