Two-time GRAMMY nominee and four-time Blues Music Award winner Duke Robillard celebrates the release of Blast Off! with Duke Robillard and His All-Star Band, which shows love to American roots music – Jazz, Blues, Swing, and R&B. The 12 track release, with 3 original songs and a cast of Who’s Who musicians, will get you swinging, bopping, tapping, and dancing as the release looks back to the 50’s and 60’s melded with new music. This marks Duke Robillard’ first release on the Nola Blue Records label, and it is a pairing long overdue.
Blast Off!: When I Get Lucky, I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead (You Rascal You), Feel My Cares, Lowdown, Play Boy Hop, Confusion, Blast Off!, Stand By Me, The King, Warm and Tender Love, Galactic Grease, Look a There Look a There
Personnel: Duke Robillard: Guitar, Vocals (2), Background Vocals (12); Chris Cote: Vocal (1, 2,3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), Guitar (10); Bruce Bears: Piano, Organ, Background Vocals (12); Marty Ballou: Electric and Acoustic Bass , Background Vocals (6, 12); Mark Teixeira: Drums and Percussion, Background Vocals (6, 12); Doug James: Baritone and Tenor Sax (all tracks except 7, 11); Mark Earley: Tenor Sax(all tracks except 7, 11); Billy Novick: Clarinet (2, 9); Doc Chanonhouse: Trumpet (2)
Blast Off! with Duke Robillard and His All Star Band was recorded and mixed by John Paul Gauthier, Mastered by John Mailloux, produced by Duke Robilard, and released on the Nola Blue Records label. Blast Off! contains 12 tracks with 3 original songs and this release is part of over 35 albums created by Duke Robillard. This is Duke’s first release on the Nola Blue Records label and was celebrated by the record label as they noted, “It is a distinct honor to release this striking project from a true master of his craft.”
The release opens with the cover of the Floyd Dixon track, When I Get Lucky, a track that is cast in the classic Blues 50’s tempo and pace with fun lyrics that will grab the listener, “When I get lucky, I’m gonna buy me a fishtail Cadilac car…” The track, I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead (You Rascal You), made famous by Louis Armstrong, is captured to perfection by vocalists Duke Robillard and Chris Cote as they volley the lyrics on this frolicking song.
The track, Feel My Cares, was penned by Duke Robillard at the ripe age of 17. This is a deep and poignant track with amazing lyrics and a beautiful melody. The cover track, Lowdown (Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan), is a musical revival in the hands of the band as they let loose and show off their musicianship. Getting back to the 60’s is the cover, Play Boy Hop, an instrumental with a pulsating horn section that typifies the 60’s sound.
The original and title track, Blast Off!, is an instrumental masterpiece with a mesmerizing melody and a series of transitions that as Duke said, “the band ate up all the material and gave great contributions,” which can be heard throughout this song. Turning the clock back the band covers the track, Stand By Me, and the horn and baseline sections are pure 50’s.
Getting into the swing of things they cover the Swing era Count Bassie track, The King, with outstanding keyboard work by Bruce Bears, stellar clarinet by Billy Norvika, and great finger work on the guitar by Duke. The track, Warm and Tender Love, will tug on the listener’s heart strings through the breathtaking lyrics and the engaging melody.
The release closes with the tracks, Galactic Grease, an original track that carries the Blues down and dirty, and the closing track, Look a There Look a There, a 1952 Hudson Whittaker cover that has the band rollicking as they close out the release in true Jazzy Blues style.
Websites where you can procure Blast Off with Duke Robillard and His All-Star Band: MVD Shop, Easy Street Records, Apple Music, Cactus Records
Website – Duke Robillard – https://www.dukerobillard.com/
Social Media:
Facebook – Duke Robillard – https://www.facebook.com/duke-robillard
Instagram – Duke Robillard – https://www.instagram.com/therealdukerobillard/?hl=en @therealdukerobillard
YouTube – Duke Robillard – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffw62MMTRYM
Spotify – Duke Robillard – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3SQa9cVuiUaZfao2KZiElA
Facebook – Nola Blue Records – https://www.facebook.com/nolabluerecords
Instagram – Nola Blue Records – https://www.instagram.com/nolabluerecords/ @nolabluerecords
Threads – Nola Blue Records – https://www.threads.com/@nolabluerecords
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