The Jeff Golub Band - Three Kings

The Jeff Golub Band - Three Kings
2011, Entertainment One Music

Jeff Golub made his name in rock n roll, touring and recording with Rod Stewart for seven years, and then performing similar duties for Billy Squier across seven albums and three world tours.  As a solo artist, however, Golub has returned to his first love, the blues.  Golub's most recent album, Three Kings, pays tribute to music of Albert, B.B. and Freddie King.  Golub is joined by Henry Butler on piano and vocals; Andy Hess (Gov't Mule) on bass and Josh Dion on drums, percussion and vocals.  Special guest appearances by Robben Ford and Sonny Landreth augment a dynamic musical experience that was recorded live and accentuated with very few overdubs.  Three Kings was produced by Golub and Bud Harner and recorded in Brooklyn, New York.

To call Three Kings a blues album isn't as descriptive as it might be.  This is a solid mix rhythm and blues album, mixing vibrant instrumentals with rollicking numbers that are blues in form but rock n roll in spirit.  The highlights of the album generally involve Henry Butler on vocals ("Let The Good Times Roll", "Born Under A Bad Sign",
and "Three Kings").  Sonny Landreth's slide guitar work on the instrumental "In Plain Sight" is brilliant, as is dual guitar work of Robben Ford and Golub on "Side Tracked".  Butler steals the show on piano in "I'm Tore Down", but the entire ensemble is hot on what turns out to be the standout track of the album.

Jeff Golub hits mostly golden notes on Three Kings.  His guitar work is outstanding throughout, even if the energy on a couple of tracks falls a bit flat.  All new students of blues/rock should include Three Kings in their early education, as The Jeff Golub Band knows their craft and interpret the numbers here with pizzazz.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Jeff Golub Band at http://www.jeffgolub.com/ or on Facebook.  Three Kings is available on Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session...

Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session...
2010, Stax Records

It was a one time union that has become legendary.  In December of 1983, the legendary Albert King shared a soundstage with Stevie Ray Vaughan, a young buck who would himself become a legend.  That recording session has been memorialized several times over the years on CD, but on November 9th of this year Stax Records made the video from that session available for the first time in the form of a CD/DVD package.  In Session... captures two icons of the blues practicing their art in a laid back setting that allows a serious yet playful musical nature shine through. 

The album itself has been on the market for years, and if you're already familiar with it there's little to be said.  If, however, you are new to the blues, then In Session may be the perfect place to get your feet wet.  King and Vaughan create magic here and the album is worth owning for anyone with even a passing interest in the blues.  The real reason to buy this release, however, is the DVD, which features three performances not previously available ("Born Under A Bad Sign", "Texas Flood" and "I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town".  The video here offers an insight into the chemistry King and Vaughan achieved on the magical winter's night.  That chemistry is apparent in the music on the CD, but you can almost see the energy flow back and forth between the two icons on DVD.

It's reasonable to be skeptical of the sort of value-added re-releases the music industry is so fond of.  They are ultimately cheap ways for the record companies to extact more cash from fans for things they essentially already own.  Occasionally you get fair value in return, and In Session... is one such occasion.  The addition of the DVD illuminates the musical performances on the CD sufficiently to be of value to fans.  And if you're not familiar with Albert King or Stevie Ray Vaughan, you'd be hard pressed to find a better introduction.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Information about Albert King is available from Stax Records, while you can learn more about Stevie Ray Vaughan at http://www.srvofficial.com/.  In Session... is available as a CD/DVD combo, Audio Download, or DVD from Amazon.com.