Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Robert Randolph & The Family Band: Colorblind

291

Robert Randolph & The Family Band: Colorblind

By

Sign in to view read count
Robert Randolph & The Family Band: Colorblind
In a relatively short time, Robert Randolph has become generally renowned as "the Hendrix of pedal steel guitar, expanding the instrument's vocabulary and approach beyond its familiar country/pop settings. He's in what must be a rather exclusive club of musicians who have guest-starred, upon request, with the Five Blind Boys of Alabama and with Ozzy Osbourne. "I'm trying to create a new field and a new style that'll influence some kids to go, 'Wow, I can be Black and be from the inner city and I don't have to be a rapper!' Randolph allows. "I look at Sly Stone, how he came in and just ripped the music industry apart—I think music fans are ready for that again.

The stylistic mixture of Colorblind puts Randolph's music where his mouth is. "Deliver Me twitches off of rhythm guitar riffs and a staccato vocal that roar with all the punk-funk power of a Red Hot Chili Peppers hit. "Thrill of It moves toward the "black rock advocated by guitarists James Blood Ulmer and Vernon Reid in Living Colour. Put together, "Diane and "Thrill of It prove that the Family Band's rhythm section, bassist Danyel Morgan and drummer Marcus Randolph, play with the funkiest bottom this side of Christina Aguilera.

Co-written with Steve McEwan, songwriter of hits for country stars Faith Hill and Kenny Chesney, "Stronger features McEwan on acoustic guitar, Leela James on vocals, and this set's most familiar country/western use of Randolph's slide guitar.

His cover of the Doobie Brothers' running blues "Jesus is Just Alright in tandem with blues-rock guitar king Eric Clapton boils the lid completely off. Clapton's vocal in the "Jesus, He's my brother... bridge burns hoarse yet hot, and it's a tribute to Randolph's own playing that you cannot identify whose electric guitar is shooting off which sparks. If there was more music like this on Clapton's recent records, I'd have tried harder to stay awake and get all the way through more of them.

Track Listing

Ain

Personnel

Robert Randolph
guitar, steel

Robert Randolph: pedal steel, guitar, vocals; Danyel Morgan: bass, vocals; Jason Crosby: Hammond organ, piano, keyboards, vocals; Marcus Randolph: drums, vocals; Drew Ramsey: guitar, vocals; Shannon Sanders: keyboards, vocals; Shanna Crook: vocals; Lenesha Randolph: vocals; Leroi Moore: tenor saxophone; Rashawn Ross: trumpet; Mark Batson: drum programming, keyboards; Eric Clapton: guitar; Leela James: vocals; Dave Matthews: guitar, vocals; Steve McEwan: acoustic guitar.

Album information

Title: Colorblind | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Warner Bros.

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.