Artist:     Peter Ward

Album:     Train to Key Biscayne

Label:     Gandy Dancer

Release Date:     4.05.2019 

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Bostonian Peter Ward is a major player in the talented New England blues scene, back now with a follow-up to his 2017 Blues on My Shoulders. Like that one, this release features a host of compadres that have been prominent throughout Ward’s career, most notably as a guitarist with The Legendary Blues Band that carried on Muddy Waters’ legacy. Ward’s friends and strong musicians include Ronnie Earl, Sugar Ray Norcia, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, Johnny Nicholas, Anthony Geraci, Michelle “Evil Gal” Wilson, Neil Gouvin and Peter’s brother Michael ‘Mudcat” Ward, both from Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, as well as Hank Walthner. Most are multiple BMA winners and/or nominees.

Ward is also a versatile guitarist, adept at country and western swing. In 2019 he produced Goodbye Liza Jane: Hello Western Swing; a CD of western featuring Herb Remington, and original member of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

These are 12 new blues, swing, and ballad tunes all composed by Ward, who has plenty of experience to draw on. He acquired the nickname “Hi-Fi” Ward, beginning first alongside Ronnie Earl in Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, before backing Jimmy Rogers, Eddie ‘Cleanhead” Vinson, Sunnyland Slim, and Lowell Fulson when they appeared locally. He also worked with Johnny Copeland, Joe Beard, Junior Wells and Otis Rush. In the 80s Ward toured with the Legendary Blues Band lineup featuring Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Calvin “Fuzz” Jones, Jerry Portnoy, and Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson (the New England connection), all of whom backed Muddy Waters. His deep immersion n the blues makes him as credible as any blues artist playing today, but he does have his limitations as a vocalist and acknowledges that by turning the mic to the several gifted singers here. He does sing on three tracks.

Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson has resided in nearby New Hampshire for years, so his longtime relationship with Ward makes it appropriate that he get the honors of the rousing opening track, “The Luther Johnson Thing,” where he handles the vocal lead. The unmistakable guitar sound in “Blues Elixir (Ronnie’s Here)” is indeed that of Earl. Another former bandmate, Sugar Ray Norcia, plays harp and sings on three tunes, “As Long As I have a Chance,” featuring rollicking piano from Geraci, “A Westerly Sunday Night,” a blaring blues harp homage to Norcia’s RI hometown, and the ballad “When You Are Mine.” The soulful voice of original Rhode Islander, now Texas-based Johnny Nicholas leads “Change (Ain’t for the Good)” and the title track, which he co-wrote with Ward. Blues belter Michelle “Evil Gal” Wilson assumes vocal leads on “I Saw Your Home” and “Something Always Slows Me Down.”

The album is much like the two strong solo albums released by Anthony Geraci with very similar casts, but Ward’s has a bit more Chicago blues approach, given his many years playing that style. Speaking of Geraci, the last instrumental guitar piece is in tribute to Geraci’s son, Todd, who recently lost part of his leg in a tragic pedestrian accident in Vermont. Nice touch by Ward.

While the title may suggest possible retirement in a place that really has no train lines, Ward shows no signs of hanging it up soon. He just wants to keep on riding, as well he should.

—Jim Hynes