‘Robben Ford & The Blue Line Live At Yoshi’s 1996’ to Release January 21

Repertoire Records is delighted to announce the forthcoming, previously unreleased Robben Ford & The Blue Line – “Live At Yoshi’s  1996”, a 2 CD set released January 21, 2022.

Regarded as one of the 20th Century’s greatest guitarists, Robben Ford’s credentials as both sideman and solo artist reads like a musicians’ Who’s Who.’  Robben Ford is the 5 time Grammy nominated artist, and one of the premier electric guitarists today, particularly known for his blues playing, as well as his ability to be comfortable in a variety of musical contexts.

Robben has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Bonnie Raitt, Michael McDonald, Bob Dylan, John Mayall, Greg Allman, John Scofield, Susan Tedeschi, Keb Mo, Larry Carlton, Mavis Staples, Brad Paisley, and many others.

The Blue Line – “Live At Yoshi’s” includes original material alongside works by Bill Evans and Paul Butterfield and is available for the first time on a 2 CD set. It was recorded at the premier venue Yoshi’s, which has built itself into one of the world’s most respected jazz venues, earning a reputation as the San Francisco Bay Area’s premier location for great Japanese cuisine and jazz music.

In the wake of his US Billboard No.1 Blues album Pure, we can now experience Robben Ford and the Blue Line live on stage in the intimate surroundings of this renowned jazz venue.

A note from Robben: “The Blue Line was a very special band. One of those few groups in a musician’s life that felt destined – at least to us. Real chemistry is a rare thing for musicians to encounter. And the Blue Line had a chemistry that is clearly present in these performances. Culled from a five day, two-shows-a-night stint at the original Yoshi’s in Oakland, California, you’ll hear a band that couldn’t be tighter and playing with an energy and musicianship that won’t be found in your garden variety blues band. All of the members are in top form and playing at a high level of intensity.

To hear the band again like this makes me very proud of what we accomplished over a roughly eight-year period: touring the world, making three Grammy-nominated studio albums and one previously released live-unplugged performance from the same Yoshi’s called “The Authorized Bootleg.” We covered a lot of ground! We would not have this record without the foresight of our then-manager Dal Booth who arranged and paid for the recording of his own volition. The tapes lay in state for twenty-four years until he had the inspiration to uncover them and find Repertoire Records who jumped at the possibility of releasing them.”

To celebrate this unique album, Repertoire Records is releasing as a single “Prisoner Of Love”

Listen to “Prisoner of Love”

 
About Robben Ford:
As a child Robben Ford played the saxophone and by fourteen had taken up the guitar, playing with his brothers in the Charles Ford Blues Band. While still a teenager he was hired to play with bluesman Charlie Musselwhite, and also recorded with Jimmy Witherspoon. Having been a member of jazz fusion band L.A. Express and later the Yellowjackets, the five time Grammy Award nominee collaborated with such musical heavyweights as Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Gregg Allman, Rick Spring!eld, Little Feat and Kiss. Fast forward to the early 90s and Robben Ford and the Blue line (bassist Roscoe Beck, drummer Tom Brechtlein and pianist Bill Boublitz) had been touring internationally pretty much non-stop, playing mostly large venues, festivals and outdoor events. The band had always talked about how much they relished the intimacy of a small venue and the opportunity to stretch out musically and really open up. These recordings showcase their enjoyment.

Recorded at Yoshi’s, the celebrated Oakland restaurant and jazz venue, this album – available for the first time – originates from the band’s appearances there during the week of 15-19 April 1996. Founded in 1972, Yoshi’s opened as a sushi bar owned by Yoshie Akiba, alongside her two best friends Kaz Kajimura, a journalist and carpenter, and Hiroyuki Hori, a painter and Japanese cook. Since then, Yoshi’s has built itself into one of the world’s most respected jazz venues, earning a reputation as the Bay Area’s premier location for great Japanese cuisine and jazz music.  Watch the trailer for Robben ford & The Blue Line Live at Yoshi’s 1996

Pre-order link for Robben Ford & The Blue Line ‘Live At Yoshi’s 1996 

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