Blues CD Reviews 110
Duke Robillard
And His All Star Band
Blast Off
Nola Blue Records
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © February 2026
Blast Off is Duke Robillard's thirty-eighth release and his first on KBA recipient Sallie Bengtson's Nola Blue Records. That said, if you were to figure in the number of recordings he's produced and/or appeared on, that number just might be countless.
For the project, Duke - on guitar and lead & background vocals - is joined by many recognizable names: Chris Cote on vocals and lead guitar; Bruce Bears on piano, organ and background vocals; Marty Ballou on electric & acoustic bass, and background vocals; Mark Teixeira on drums, percussion and background vocals; Doug James on baritone and tenor sax; Mark Earley on tenor sax; Billy Novick on clarinet; and Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet. Collectively Duke calls them his All Star Band. Of the disc's twelve tracks, three - of which two are instrumentals - are Duke's originals.
Similar to my favorite Duke Robillard song, "Blues A Rama" - where Duke expertly mimics the styles of many of his guitar influencers - for this recording, Duke assembled many of the styles of music he's known for: blues; swing; jazz; and R&B.
The opening track is a swinging rendition of Floyd Dixon's "When I Get Lucky". As with most of the other tracks, the smooth vocals being belted out on this one come from the outstanding voice of Chris Cote. Musically, as with many of Duke's recordings, horns and rhythm rule, and Doug, Mark (Earley), Billy, Marty, Mark (Teixiera), and Bruce are indeed making that happen here. And then there's Duke, being his masterful self on jump blues guitar.
With a title like "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead (You Rascal You)", Sam Theard definitely did not care for the person he wrote this one about. This duet between Duke and Chris is the only track that features Duke singing. The sass they exude on the humorous lines of:
"I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you,
I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you.
Well I brought you into my home,
You wouldn't leave my wife alone.....
I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you,
I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you.
When you're laying six feet deep,
No more fried chicken will you eat".....;
..most certainly take the edge off the severity of the lyrics.
Musically, the Dixieland Jazz vibe created by the horn section - now with Doc on trumpet and Billy on the clarinet - will surely transcend you straight to the French Quarter.
Most young musicians form garage bands right out of high school, but that's when Duke started Roomful of Blues. Wow! As a matter of fact, when he wrote this song - "Feel My Cares", he was just seventeen years old. Lyrically and musically, this is good ol' traditional blues at its finest with Duke at his finest on blues guitar.
Having never heard this song, and having never heard of the Rocking Brothers - which Bill Dahl mentions on the disc's liner notes as "a mid-50s obscurity" - I just had to go to YouTube and listen to their original recording of "Play Boy Hop" (A.M. Bruner). With no apparent deviation from the Rocking Brothers performance, Duke and the band totally nail this instrumental. As it did back when some of these players performed it in the early years of Roomful, the track features a standout performance by Doug on baritone sax.
The original and title track is a collaboration of Duke, Marty and Mark T. it's one of those songs that from time to time arises from a few band members fooling around with their instruments while waiting for the others to show up. Dukes take on it was "This is Really cool! I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but we'll see!". Well now you not only see what he did with it, you can listen to it as well, because it became a fabulous instrumental titled "Blast Off".
Being a big fan of his, Duke pays homage to Count Basie on a rendition of his "The King". Something Duke said about Basie's music: "The sound of the band, the sound of the rhythm section, and the soloists just blew my mind". Simply said, that same statement can be made about this ensemble. Jazz and big band fans, as well as the swing dancers, are going to absolutely love this one.
Using a "You had me at" reference, on "Warm And Tender Love" (B Robinson & I Berger) Chris had me at "Let Me Wrap You In My Warm And Tender Love", on the opening of this soulful ballad. A reference Duke made in the liner notes was that Chris can sing any kind of music. That said, not being all too familiar with him, after hearing him on this one, I'm his newest fan. Easily one of the disc's best tracks.
Like that earlier reference I made to "Blues A Rama", this original instrumental titled "Galactic Grease" is all about guitar style - Duke's, that is. With the rhythm section in that killer groove of theirs, Duke takes this one and runs with it. Great stuff!
Other tracks on Blast Off - what I'm saying will be an oft mentioned CD come various awards times - include: "Lowdown" (T. Waits & K Brennan); "Confusion" (A. Toussaint); "Stand By Me" (E. Jones); and "Look A There Look A There" (H. Whitaker).
Should you have not yet received your copy of Blast Off for airplay, contact Michelle Castiglia at - macradiopromo@gmail.com - and if you don't already know enough about Duke, check him out at - www.dukerobillard.com. As usual, whomever you contact, please tell them their friend the Blewzzman sent you.
Good Soul is the title of Charles Tiner's second release, but if you take the time to read his bio, I think you'll agree with me that it could very well be a term to describe Charles, as well. For this project, Charles - on lead & background vocals, piano, organ, horn & string arrangements, and percussions - is joined by: John Virgin on lead guitar; Jamahl Patterson, Mark Sanders, Keagan Cunningham and Mike Wallace on drums; Charles Fox, William "Chilly" Bryant and the late Conrad Lee on bass; Theodore "Theo" Fisher on sax/arrangements; Clipton Smith on lead, solo and rhythm guitar; "Ready" Eddie Smith on lead and rhythm guitar; Travis Aldridge on lead & rhythm guitar; Chris Camp on harmonica and washboard; with Sandra Chappel, Regina Stewart-Byrd, and Johnetta Jay Williams on background vocals. Of the disc's twelve tracks, eleven are written, composed and arranged by Charles.
Having nurtured his musical roots in the Baptist church where his father was a pastor, I'm going to put my money on "Bad Woman" having never been performed in that environment. Ya see, Charles wants his woman to be bad and if not, he won't spend one dime 'cause she'd just be a waste of his time. Amongst other things, "She's gotta put food on the table, sweep the floor with a good broom, run his bath water, and put it down in the bedroom......". Vocally, with his compelling presentation of this song's forthright lyrics, Charles' sincerity is never in doubt. Musical highlights include, Theo's fiery sax solos; Clipton and John's toe-to-toe smoking guitar leads; and a powerful rhythm led by Charles' intense organ runs. Great track!
Travis' killer blues guitar intro - and throughout the track, as well - pretty much sets the mood for a good ol' downhome blues track called Blue Moon. Speaking of blues, with lyrics like: "We didn't wear name brand clothes like Louis Vuitton, we wore hand me downs from the body of someone; No Michael Jordan's or Stacy Adams', we had plain leather shoes with Holy bottoms; We didn't drive BMWs, we didn't drive Cadillacs, we had to walk to school with our heavy back packs; I can't miss having a silver spoon, I was born under a Blue Moon"; Charles is belting the hell out of them vocally. With the band in a killer blues groove behind them, Charles - with outstanding help from Sandra and Regina - just takes the lyrics and runs with them on this one.
Unlike a previous song I mentioned, this one would surely be welcomed to be performed at any spiritual gathering. As a matter of fact, Charles' Gospel roots are quite evident on "Peace By The River". From Theo's opening sax intro; to Charles' range roving emotional vocals; to the accompanying backing vocals; to the lead and rhythm guitar work; to the drum and bass playing; to the song's lyrics; the word powerful is the common denominator. This one reeks of "Song Of The Year" potential.
This is a song about something that many of us are working hard at to make happen, and all of us are hoping does - making sure the blues "Stick Around". As Charles soulfully professes his love for the music his thoughts are:
"There’s something about my love of blues,
A love I’ve ever known.
I CAN'T hardly figured It out
But one thing I do know
My love has grown
The blues Has been consistent,
The blues have been real sound
That’s why I gotta keep it real
You know what.
The blues will always stick around."
"Don't Let The Devil Ride" is the band's reconstructed rendition of the 1968 original by Rev. Oris Mays. This take is a funky rocker featuring the whole band pretty much laying down a Gospel style jam while Charles offers the sound advice of: "Don't let the devil ride, if you let him ride, he'll want to drive....." and "Don't let him be your friend, if you let him be your friend he'll take you to the end."
The album closes with a joyful and jazzy tune titled "Put Your Money On Me. The laid-back vibe of just Charles Tiner on piano, Chris Camp on harmonica, and Charles Fox on standup bass, is the perfect vehicle for the boss man to showcase his extraordinary vocal skills. Putting that another way, let me just say "THIS GUY CAN SING!".
Other tracks on Good Soul - an album I believe will make some noise during the blues award nomination processes - include: "Be A Man"; "Don't Bau Me Nun"; "Night Rider"; "She Made A Move On Me"; "Two Wrongs Don't Make It Right"; and "Don't Be A Fool Too Long".
If you've not yet received a copy of Good Soul for airplay, please contact Betsie Brown at - www.blindraccoon.com - and should like to find out more about Charles Tiner, check out his website - www.charlestinermusic.com. Remember, wherever you go and whomever you speak with, please tell them their friend The Blewzzman sent you.
