ELVIN BISHOP

ELVIN BISHOP'S BIG FUN TRIO

2017-03-10

Hot off the multiple award winning "Can’t Even Do Wrong Right", storied guitarist Elvin Bishop has stripped his band to a three- piece featuring Bishop, Bob Welsch on guitar and piano and Willie Jordan on percussion and vocals. This 12-cut disc finds the crew doing its best to honor the “big fun” of its name both musically and lyrically. "Keep On Rollin’" uses a rollicking groove to encourage you to roll over the problems that arise when “you can’t tell the difference between congress and a circus”. The Dave Bartholomew/Fats Domino classic "Let the Four Winds Blow" adds a jaunty New Orleans groove to the proceedings that the band visits again on the self-penned "That’s What I’m Talkin’ About" which takes the band on a road food tour from New Orleans back to the West Coast. "Let’s Go" finds the crew checking out a rocking bar stocked with eye-pleasing women who in classic blues style get even better looking as closing time approaches and options dwindle. The party-ready vibe of the music leaves no doubt about the fun to be had. While the dogs prowl on that number, they are mindful on "Ace In the Hole" that having a good woman is a card that should be held tightly. Striking a more traditional tone, the band powers through Lightning Hopkin’s "Honey Babe" and Bobby Womack’s "It’s All Over Now" (most notably covered by the Rolling Stones). "Delta Lowdown" finds the crew joined by Rick Estrin on harmonica for a traditional blues stomp while "100 Years of Blues" features Charlie Musslewhite adding his harmonica and vocals to the trip down memory lane as he and Bishop combine their years in the blues and name-check all of the first-generation giants they have had the honor of working with over the years. The disc ends with the tasty instrumental "Southside Slide" which places Bishop right back where he started on Chicago’s South Side. Smitty

review by Mark