The Duke Robillard Band To Release New CD ‘They Called It Rhythm & Blues’ With Special Guests

The Duke Robillard Band

Stony Plain Records announces a March 18 release date for They Called It Rhythm & Blues, the exciting new CD from two-time Grammy nominee and multiple Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Duke Robillard. The new album will also be released as a vinyl LP on August 5^th. Joining the guitar maestro (who also produced) on They Called It Rhythm & Blues is an all-star cast of special guests, including John Hammond, Kim Wilson, Sue Foley, Sugar Ray Norcia, Michelle Willson, Chris Cote, Bruce Bears, Marty Ballou, Mark Teixeira, Doug James, Mike Flanigin, Mark Earley, Doug Woolverton and Matt McCabe.

The Duke Robillard Band will celebrate the release of the new album with two special shows in March: The Narrows in Fall River, Mass. on March 25th and The Center for the Arts in Natick, Mass.on March 26th.

Duke Robillard has been defined as not merely a great artist, but also a true historian, scholar and curator who is adept at electric and acoustic blues, jazz, jump, swing, ballads and standards. He proves that with the fluency he demonstrates on this album that visits the music that defined what came to be called “Rhythm & Blues.” Grammy-nominated and a five-time winner of the Blues Music Award as best guitarist, over his 50 plus year career Duke has been a prolific songwriter and is considered a blues guitar master.

Duke Robillard is effusive in his praise for his special guests on They Called It Rhythm & Blues and the magic they helped create in the studio. “I have to say, I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of the sessions for this album. It’s just a damn good representation of my band, the guest artists and the music we chose to record. I threw in a few of my own tunes written for the occasion also, and it makes a pretty well-rounded package I believe.

“Chris Cote, who has taken over most of the vocals in my band since our Blues Bash CD, has been a great band addition. He’s a powerhouse vocalist who can literally sing anything. His six spirited vocals here give the album a pretty high bar to start with. And on top of that he’s a great guitarist also!

“Old band mate from my Thunderbird days Kim Wilson was up for being a guest and we chose two of his early tunes he originally recorded with the T-Birds. I’m pretty damn happy with the results personally! Kim kills both tunes the way he always does – of course. Matt McCabe plays piano on ‘Tell Me Why’,” says Robillard.

Robillard adds, “I’ve known Sugar Ray Norcia for too many decades to count and anyone who is a true fan of deep Chicago and also Jumpin’ R&B knows he is one of the heaviest cats as a vocalist and as a blues harmonica giant. Ray’s rendition of Tampa Red’s ‘Rambler Blues,’ which originally had Big Walter Horton on harp, was the perfect vehicle for Ray to pay tribute to his old friend Big Walter. Ray suggested Jimmy Nelson’s ‘She’s My Baby,’ which I wasn’t familiar with, but it sure was a great choice! Again, Ray found a way for his harp to perfectly fit the tune and again, there are echoes of the great Big Walter here, but at the same time it’s pure Sugar Ray!”

The Duke Robillard Band:
Duke Robillard – guitars, vocals
Chris Cote – vocals
Bruce Bears – piano, organ
Marty Ballou – acoustic and electric bass
Mark Teixeira – drums
Doug James – baritone and tenor sax

They Called It Rhythm & Blues CD Track Listing

Here I’m Is – Chris Cote – vocal
No Good Lover – Duke Robillard – vocal; Sue Foley – vocal and guitar; Mike Flanigin – organ
Fools Are Getting Scarcer – Chris Cote – vocal
Tell Me Why – Kim Wilson – vocal and harmonica; Matt McCabe – piano
Rambler Blues – Sugar Ray Norcia – vocal and harmonica
The Way You Do – Chris Cote – vocal
Champagne Mind – Michelle Willson – vocal
Homeless Blues – John Hammond – vocal and guitar
Outta Here – Duke Robillard – vocal, Anita Suhanin – vocals
In The Wee Wee Hours – Chris Cote – vocal
Someday After Awhile – Chris Cote – vocal
She’s My Baby – Sugar Ray Norcia – vocals and harmonica
Trouble In Mind – Michelle Willson – vocal
No Place To Go – John Hammond – vocal and guitar
The Things I Forgot To Do – Kim Wilson – vocal
I Can’t Understand It – Chris Cote – vocal
Eat Where You Slept Last Night – Duke Robillard – vocal
Swingin’ For Four Bills – Duke Robillard, Sue Foley – guitar; Mike Flanigin – organ