CD Review
Ronnie Earl
I Feel Like Goin' On
Stony Plain (2003) 1289
11 tracks, 75 minutes.
by Craig Ruskey
Review date: July 2003
|
|
"Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by The Blues Foundation
| |
With 2003 being labeled "The Year of the Blues," one might wonder about the large
number of music journalists proclaiming that real blues doesn't exist anymore. Some say it
went to the grave with Charley Patton or Robert Johnson in the 1930s, while others feel it
was gone by the end of Chicago's golden years of the 1950s, and some swear its last gasp
came in the 1980s when Big Walter Horton, Muddy Waters, and Lightnin' Hopkins drew their
final breaths. The plain and simple truth is that blues is alive, well, and breathing on its own
without the aid of artificial life-support systems, and if I Feel Like Goin' On is
any indication, blues could be due for a banner year. From his early days with Sugar Ray &
The Bluetones, to a lengthy stretch with Roomful Of Blues, plus a solo and sideman career
that has given us staggering examples of his blues guitar prowess, Ronnie Earl has
stepped up to deliver his finest slice of work yet on this, his Stony Plain debut.
Managing to capture the full scope of passion and intensity within the confines of a studio
isn't the easiest thing to accomplish, and it's even tougher when an artist decides to go
almost all-instrumental, but from the searing opener, the shuffling Hey Jose, Earl is
clearly running with all eight cylinders wide open and fuel pouring from the handpicked
band of Dave Limina on keyboards, Jimmy Mouradian on bass, and Lorne Entress snapping
out the crisp backbeats. Blues For Otis Rush is a grinding eight-and-a-half minute slow
blues with a wide variety of tonal variations that run from brittle and piercing to thick and
distorted, but Ronnie's trademark has always been the unerring and innate sense of when
and where to leave space and breathing room, again amply displayed on Little Johnny
Lee, a rustling tribute to Mr. Hooker. Wolf Dance and Howlin' For My Darlin'
call on Chester Burnett and Hubert Sumlin without simply rehashing worn grooves, and the
disc's only vocals appear on Mary Don't You Weep as the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers
take everyone to church while Ronnie tears off licks that cut like shards of glass. Blues For
The Homeless is more than eleven minutes of sheer beauty where Earl takes things from
near-silent whispers to full-throttle dynamics and back again, while Big Walter throws
a nod to a fallen hero with gritty Chicago feel. Alone With The Blues is more pensive
without any accompaniment and a rolling Delta sense but Hank Marr's Travelin'
Heavy honors a little-known B-3 giant with plenty of horsepower over a memorable riff,
and the set closes with Donna showing the disc's sweeter moments.
When blues is delivered by a true master, one who has the utmost respect and admiration
for those who came before, it's bound to be enjoyable, but when it's played by one of the
most passionate and expressive instrumentalists the music has ever known, it becomes
much more. Ronnie Earl has created a true modern masterpiece with I Feel
Like Goin' On. The focus is squarely on blues, and regardless of how much guitar is
here, it stands as an exemplary piece of work from one of the genre's most-respected
players. Kudos to Jose Alvarez for sizzling six-string and to the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers for a
touching and heartwarming appearance that will undoubtedly lift the spirits of those
listening. Absolutely brilliant!
www.stonyplainrecords.com for more information.
Your purchase through this Amazon.com link helps to support this website.
Simply click on the cover at left or the Amazon buy button (if there is one) to order this CD NOW!
"This review is copyright © 2003 by Craig Ruskey, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
Copyright reuse notice: If you would like to reprint or use this review please include the above copyright notice, contained within the quotation marks, PLUS this statement: "Used with permission." Then send an email to Ray at: mnblues@aol.com indicating how you are using the review or the website page address it will be appearing on. Thanks!
You can help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details).
Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!
Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $50.
Web Hosting & Design:
Web Hosting & Design.
Most affordable web hosting and design services available.
Find out how you can host your current site at Blues On Stage, or how I can help you design your own website!
If you would like your CD reviewed, please send TWO (2) copies, along with promotional material to:
Blues On Stage
PO Box 582983
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2983
E-mail Ray Stiles @ mnblues@aol.com with any questions.
|
|
 Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com
Copyright © 2003 Ray M. Stiles
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Blues On Stage is a ® Trademark of Ray Stiles.
|
|
We build websites