Golub’s Three Kings Features Landreth & Ford

(New York, NY)

In all honesty, when I received The Jeff Golub Band’s THE THREE KINGS in the mail, I was skeptical. When I popped it in and started listening to it, my immediate response was “why?” A tribute album to three of the blues’ all-time greatest guitarists, to me, seemed a little overly ambitious; and to record their greatest hits, essentially in the same style…well again the question remained, “why?” I have the original recordings. If I’m in the mood to listen to those songs, there is no doubt that actually listening to B.B., Albert or Freddie is going to make for a more rewarding listening experience; and let’s not forget that a Rick Derringer compilation album titled THE THREE KINGS OF BLUES, attempting the same kind of tribute, came out just a year ago. It just seemed a little ill-advised to me.

With all that said, I’m sure it looks like I’m gearing up for an awful review of The Jeff Golub Band’s THE THREE KINGS, but the truth is that after a few listens, it won me over…somewhat. Yes, if you want to hear the blues classics that are featured on this album, I would still advise that listening to the actual “Three Kings” is probably the way to go, but this album is clearly a labor of love and respect, meant to honor three of the greatest artists the blues has ever produced…and how can one really argue against that?

The guys that make up the Jeff Golub Band are all very talented musicians and Golub, himself, is a very good guitarist. In addition to spirited versions of such classics as “Let the Good Times Roll,” “Born Under a Bad Sign,” “Help the Poor,” “Everyday I Have the Blues,” “Have Your Ever Loved a Woman?” and “I’m Tore Down,” the group has also recorded a handful of originals that, though compositionally may not always stand up to the album’s cover songs, do often make for better and more fitting tribute material.

Both Sonny Landreth and Robben Ford make guests appearances on the album and it is not surprising that it is these tracks, a cover of Freddie King’s “Side Tracked” (with Ford) and an original composition titled “In Plain Sight” (with Landreth), that shine brightest. Both tracks are guitar-driven instrumentals that manage to avoid the trap of “excess” and show that Golub is a guy that can “play” well with others…and these tracks alone are worth the price of admission.

As a reviewer, I don’t always understand why blues artists feel the need to constantly revisit old material in the studio; especially if they’re not bringing anything significantly new to the table. Frankly, the stage seems to be a better forum such tributes (in my humble opinion), but undoubtedly there are listeners that want to hear newer versions of old classics and it is to those fans that albums like THE THREE KINGS are clearly catering.

There is a lot of talent displayed on THE THREE KINGS. The recording quality is topnotch and the playing is full of life and energy. I am sure that many blues fans will be very happy with this album.

If you enjoyed this article you may also enjoy The American Blues News’ review for Dave Specter’s Spectified.

As always, checkout jblakeblues.com for some local NYC blues and J. Blake gig dates…and become a fan of J. Blake’s on Facebook.

Copyright © 2011 – J. Blake. All Rights Reserved.