Levee Posted April 5, 2010 Share Posted April 5, 2010 It's a sign of Joe Bonamassa's increasing profile that he got blues legend B.B. King to guest on his eighth album Black Rock -- and if what you're doing is good enough to rope B.B. in, there's not much reason to change, so Bonamassa doesn't tinker with his formula here, retaining a little of the folky undertow of The Ballad of John Henry, but with its remaining roots in a thick, heavy blues-rock more redolent of `60s London than the `50s Delta. Of course, Bonamassa has never shied away from his love of Brit-blues, even underscoring it with a good streamlined cover of Jeff Beck's "Spanish Blues," but he retains a healthy respect for all manners of classic blues, kicking out a Chicago groove on a cover of Otis Rush's "Three Times a Fool," reaching back to Blind Boy Fuller for "Baby You Gotta Change Your Mind" and ably replicating B.B.'s latter-day soul groove on a horn-smacked cover of Willie Nelson's "Night Life." Bonamassa has an ear for non-blues writers too, cherrypicking Leonard Cohen's "Bird on a Wire" and John Hiatt's "I Know a Place," tying it all together with beefy lead lines, but the provocative moments on Black Rock are all self-penned, whether it's the clattering stomp "When the Fire Hits the Sea," the British folk lilt of "Quarryman's Lament" and "Athens to Athens," or the droning dramatic epic "Blue and Evil." These are easily the most intriguing songs here, suggesting Bonamassa realizes that the familiar covers allow him to stretch out elsewhere, and while it might be interesting hearing him follow this path for a full album, what's here on Black Rock is both satisfying and admirably, if reservedly, ambitious. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Recording information: Black Rock Studios, Santorini, Greece; Document Room; The Cave, Malibu, CA. Photographer: Kevin Shirley. Arranger: Lee Thornburg. Personnel: Joe Bonamassa (vocals, guitar); Manolis Karadinis (bouzouki); David Woodford (saxophone); Thanasis Vasilopoulos (clarino); Lee Thornburg (brass); Rick Melick (keyboards); Bogie Bowles, Anton Fig (drums, percussion). Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xtazy Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbHzHsCCGuc Awesome songs! Joe really pushes his creativeness on this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadScreamingGallery Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 It's a sign of Joe Bonamassa's increasing profile that he got blues legend B.B. King to guest on his eighth album Black Rock...... I love Joe's new album. When I saw him in concert last month, in a venue of less than 1500 seats, it occurred to me that with his increasing profile it might be the last time I would see him perform in such an intimate setting. Joe has such a down-to-earth, unassuming manner. He acted genuinely happy to be there and joked about and shared his funny memories of his first performance in town - for an audience of 12. He doesn't have a rock star attitude or demeanor and still seems amazed about his success - he thanked all of us for coming to see him play and said he was so happy to see such a large audience - even though we knew he had recently played RAH and other larger venues. His playing just keeps getting better and it has matured a lot over the past few years. He is one of my favorite of the young blues/rock players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyingzepp Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Joe can jam for sure. I love his cover of "Tea For One". Excellent guitar player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levee Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 I love Joe's new album. When I saw him in concert last month, in a venue of less than 1500 seats, it occurred to me that with his increasing profile it might be the last time I would see him perform in such an intimate setting. Joe has such a down-to-earth, unassuming manner. He acted genuinely happy to be there and joked about and shared his funny memories of his first performance in town - for an audience of 12. He doesn't have a rock star attitude or demeanor and still seems amazed about his success - he thanked all of us for coming to see him play and said he was so happy to see such a large audience - even though we knew he had recently played RAH and other larger venues. His playing just keeps getting better and it has matured a lot over the past few years. He is one of my favorite of the young blues/rock players. Thanks for sharing MSG! And yes I love his cover of "Tea For One"also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRambler Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Joe can jam for sure. I love his cover of "Tea For One". Excellent guitar player. I agree, I actually prefer Joe's version to Led Zeppelin's. Doug Henthorn does a great job as well on vocals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRambler Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I discovered Joe Bonamassa one day as I was dusting my livingroom! I had Planet Rock on and wondered who this fabulous guitarist and singer was. I searched on YouTube and that was me hooked. I like all his own stuff but his cover versions are brilliant. The Bad Company & Free songs are just great. I wonder if Paul Kossoff of Free appreciates how Joe plays his guitar licks in heaven? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzepfvr Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Black Rock was my first album of Joe's. I have been nut's for his music and the man ever since. Still working my way back through his early stuff. Saw him in 2011 and was really impressed by his performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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