look: Rory Block - The Lady and Mr. Johnson - Rycodisc 10872 - BUY

listen:

Preaching Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)

32-20 Blues

Come In My Kitchen

buy:

If you could meet Rory Block just one time, you will see that she is an intense perfectionist. Her whole way of working is based upon the fact that, as she says, "I was not created to do things in the expected way." "I persist where others give up." This is certainly true and it all comes together in her perfected guitar playing and mastery of all things Robert Johnson. She's been playing his material so long that it has been a life-long study, constantly perfecting the licks, and clocking in with the soul of Johnson.

Her tale of how this CD came about is eerie. After following Robert Johnson's music for so many years, she was surprised by the fact that he actually had living relatives in Mississippi. His son, Claude, grandsons Greg, Steven, and great-grandson Richard Johnson do indeed exist. They are all pictured on the CD cover along with Rory. The meeting of Rory & the Johnsons was all it took to put this CD into an inspirational mode. The most mystifying thing is that Block's playing is inspired like never before. "It's as if I was in a trance", says Rory. I've never heard anyone play with such fiery enthusiasm.

This is Rory Block's finest CD, by far. Thirteen of Robert Johnson's songs are done with real grit and intensity. Acoustic players better have this in their collection. It is "The last fair deal goin' down".

(©) 2006, Gary W. Miller
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