ROOM WITH A VIEW of the blues..... Duke Robillard "Blue Mood, The Songs Of T-Bone Walker" Stony Plain Records In 1967 Duke Robillard formed “Roomful of Blues.” Ten years later their self titled first album was released, and although Duke Robillard left in 1979, he began the band that is still in existence today. Count Basie once called them "the hottest blues band I've ever heard." Duke Robillard then formed the Pleasure Kings and in 1990 joined the Fabulous Thunderbirds as Jimmy Vaughan’s replacement. After leaving the T-Birds, two years later, Duke continued to perform and record as The Duke Robillard Band. He is a four time Handy award winner as Best Blues Guitarist, and is also an accomplished producer. He has recorded with and/or produced albums for Jimmy Witherspoon, Jay McShann and Herb Ellis among many others. Duke Robillard’s major influence has always been T-Bone Walker (1910-1975). T-Bone Walker is considered to be the founding father of electric blues, and is credited with adding jazz and swing to the sound. “Roomful of Blues” was crafted as a T-Bone Walker type band. “The First Album”, included T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Weather” and “I’m Still in Love with You”. Other songs associated with Duke were first recorded by T-Bone, “Glamour Girl” included, but he has never recorded a whole album dedicated entirely to T-Bone Walker until now. Duke Robillard just released “Blue Mood, the Songs of T-Bone Walker” on Stony Plain Records. The Duke Robillard Band consists of Duke Robillard, guitar and vocals; Jesse Williams, acoustic bass; Mark Teixeira, drums; and “Roomful of Blues” alumni’s Matt McCabe, piano; and Doug “Mr. Low” James, baritone and tenor sax. For this recording Duke has added “Sax” Gordon Beadle, a former band member and leader of “The Love Dogs”, on tenor sax; and Billy Novack, alto sax; and Al Basile, cornet. Matt McCabe’s piano starts off “Lonesome Woman Blues”, then Gordon Beadle rips a tenor solo, next it’s Mr. Low’s turn, and suddenly the whole band is a swinging’. Duke starts with the arpeggio type blues guitar runs, T-Bone style, and my wife is dancing around the room. “T-Bone Shuffle”, the first of six Aaron “T-Bone” Walker authored tunes follow including “You Don’t Love Me”, “T-Bone Boogie” and “Born to Be No Good”. Other highlights include “Alimony Blues’, and Dave Bartholomew’s “Pony Tail”. Duke’s voice is especially good on the slower numbers, “Love is a Gamble”, “Blue Mood”, and “I’m Still In Love with You”. The sax and cornet solos on the latter are beautiful. The band is among the best in the business and they can often be seen at The Turning Point, in Piermont, NY where they will be appearing on Friday, September 17th. This is one show you should be sure not to miss. Richard Ludmerer Director, NY Blues & Jazz Society ricdale2@yahoo.com