For a lifetime Duke Robillard has been playing the jazzy corners of the blues. He was a founder of Roomful of Blues in the early 1970s, replaced Jimmy Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds in the 1990s, and was a core member of the New Guitar Summit through the 2000s, in addition to releasing an astounding 37 albums on his own. He has won the W.C. Handy Award as Best Blues Guitarist an astounding four times, and been nominated for two Best Blues Album Grammy Awards. He is credited with taking the blues to a new level for multiple generations of blues guitarists.

If you know Duke’s music, the first few seconds of the opening track of his newest album They Called It Rhythm & Blues will put a smile on your face. It’s that joyous, jump blues shuffle sound that Duke has been homing in on since the late 60s when he founded Roomful of Blues. An infectious Kansas City-inspired, horn band sound that Duke has crafted and put his own stamp on. LIke every song on this album, it’s about the groove, master musicianship, great understated taste, and a perfect band mix that always complements the pulse and the singer. Duke’s guitar is at the centre and brings it all together.

That sound and Duke’s playing has been refined over the decades and has never sounded better than on They Called It Rhythm & Blues. The term Rhythm & Blues has undergone many interpretations since it originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. It combined regional styles and included various forms of blues and swing with jazz, boogie-woogie and gospel. It paved the way to doo-wop, rock & roll, funk, and soul. The term is still used today, but that music is a far cry from its early roots in blues.

Duke knows about the subtlety of vintage sounds and tones. His fellow band members will confirm that he rarely comes home from a road trip without picking up a used guitar or three. His collection of 78s, 45s and LPs of all genres is formidable. Duke knows!

Duke’s band members and guests are all long-time friends from his various groups and projects over the years. Like Duke himself, most of Rhode Island roots. Doug James, Sugar Ray Norcia, Matt McCabe and Marty Ballou are former Roomful of Blues members. All have contributed to Duke’s projects over the years. Bruce Bears and Mark Teixeira are long-time members of Duke’s touring band. Michele “Evil Gal” Willson is a distinctive singer who, like everyone else on this project, knows and loves early R&B.

There has been a long-time connection between musicians from Rhode Island and Austin, Texas. Clifford Antone helped by presenting Duke’s bands at his legendary Antone’s club in Austin. Sue Foley credits Duke with being the first person to invite her onstage at Antone’s. The long-time friendship and mutual respect resulted in Sue and Austin keyboard master Mike Flanigin appearing on this album. Duke’s friendship with Kim Wilson goes back to those same early Antone’s days. Duke eventually joined Kim as a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1990. John Hammond and Duke have toured together many times and Duke produced John’s album “Found True Love” in 1995.