Album Reviews

David Bromberg

The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But The Blues

Artist:     David Bromberg

Album:     The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But The Blues

Label:     Red House Records

Release Date:     10/14/2016

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Any new release from US roots master, guitarist David Bromberg, is bound to whip up a fair music feeding frenzy. For around fifty years, I personally have been an unashamed, outright huge fan of this guy and his spectacularly significant, genre-crossing musical magic. When I first heard him back around 1970, I became an avowed fan, chasing up releases when and where I could find them. With this latest release, Bromberg has again shown just how wonderfully versatile and untamed he really is. This is Delaware-based Bromberg returning to his blues roots with complete ease and startling control.

Kicking off with “Walking Blues,” he goes on through the old traditional number “900 Miles,” a simply superb take on “Delia” and a wonderful version of “Bulldog Blues,” mixed together with his own material always brimming with his trademark Jewish humor and laconic, lyrical delivery. It hardly need be said it features some exceptional fretwork with the iconic Bromberg switching effortlessly between, electric, acoustic and slide styles at the drop of the proverbial hat.

Asked about the release, he says he considers it the best thing he’s done to date, heaping praise on producer Larry Campbell for his understanding of what Bromberg was aiming to produce and Justin Guip, who engineered the project with minimal fuss or difficulty in the studio. “What do I hope to get from this album,” he muses briefly before chuckling, “Worldwide domination!”

With The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But The Blues, Mister David Bromberg just might surprise himself with more than a small measure of global sales success. This is a very, very good, satisfying release that cements his position as a true US roots music icon.

-Iain Patience

Read Iain’s full interview with Bromberg HERE

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