Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Buddy Guy, Silvertone, RCA Records, Sony Music Entertainment 2018.
In 2015 I reviewed Buddy Guy’s album, Born To Play Guitar, and commented that, with the recent death of BB King, Buddy Guy was one of the few remaining legendary American blues-guitar-men left.
On that album he was joined by a series of guests who have made an impact on the music business in their own right; Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Kim Wilson, Joss Stone and Van Morrison.
The Blues Is Alive And Well is Buddy’s latest release and he has once again been joined by some rock music luminaries.
This time Keith Richards and Jeff Beck join him on Cognac, James Bay on Blue No More and Mick Jagger on You Did The Crime.
Buddy Guy’s career spans more than 50 years and he’s released just as many albums.
In that time he has garnered 7 Grammy Awards, 37 Blues Music Awards, a Kennedy Centre Honours Award, NARM Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement, Billboard’s Century Award for Distinguished Artistic Development, the Presidential National Medal of Arts, and inclusion into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
At 81 years of age he is truly a living treasure and he has lost none of ability with advancing years. In fact I think that his last two albums have been among the best of his career.
His voice is as strong as ever, as is particularly evident in the title track The Blues Is Alive And Well.
As a music genre, death notices for the blues have regularly appeared, but with each notice there seems to be an influx of fresh new talent into the fold and Buddy Guy just keeps on keeping on.
The music press has been raving about this new album. Rolling Stone has called it “Searing and masterful” and Guitar World called the second single, Blue No More, (featuring James Bay) “scintillating and powerful.”
Every track on this album is a testament to Buddy Guy’s incredible talent.
He is not only a master guitar craftsman but he has a fabulous blues voice.
To top off his collection of awards it has been announced that Buddy Guy will be the recipient of The Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award on 12 September at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
In the opening track, A Few Good Years, Buddy asks the creator for just a few more good years.
I truly hope his wishes are granted.
