This week’s recommended listening comes in the form of a relatively modern, 1995 classic from Californian guitar maestro, Robben Ford.
Ford’s signature jazz-influenced blues style shines throughout this record as he seamlessly intersperses fusion-tinged licks with classic blues phrases.
The lead work on the uptempo opening track ‘Rugged Road’ is a great example of Ford’s fusing of guitar styles, as is the solo on the Taj Mahal cover ‘Chevrolet’.
Other covers on the record include a heartfelt rendition of the 1964 Nina Simone classic ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ and Willie Dixon’s ‘I Just Want To Make Love To You’.
Ford’s original compositions sit confidently beside his cover versions, making ‘Handful Of Blues’ a diverse album the spans the full spectrum of blues styles.