The Duke Robillard Band Releases New Video “Outta Here”

Photo: Duke Robillard Band by Pat Quinn

The Duke Robillard Band Releases New Video “Outta Here”

Two-time Grammy nominee and multiple Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Duke Robillard and The Duke Robillard Band release a grooving new video for “Outta Here” from their new album, They Called It Rhythm & Blues out on Stony Plain Records. Special guests including John Hammond, Kim Wilson, Sue Foley, Sugar Ray Norcia and more.

“Outta Here” is a slinky kiss-off tune directed at the meanest woman Duke has ever encountered that sits on a chugging fatback groove. Robillard speaks his truth with his own kinds of attitude and sass, leaving no doubt about how he feels. His guitar playing centers on popping rhythmic figures and tight, minimalistic blues lines that slice and dice. The band behind him is all about the pocket below and the horns and keys above and some slick backup vocals add the frosting to this funky cake. Robillard is a roots music legend and “Outta Here” shows us all why one more time.

Watch “Outta Here”

Joining the guitar maestro Robillard, who also produced 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.

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.

Robillard says, “The tune ‘Outta Here’ is one of my two songs I wrote for the album. Its form is a combination of blues rock with a touch of Memphis groove. I wrote it during the session and made use of the popular phrase ‘I’m outta here.’ It bears resemblance to my songs of the 1980s, but with more production. Both of my tunes here feature organ and on this one Bruce Bears plays a killer solo. Paula Claire does a fabulous job of playing the rejected lover and a trio of Providence vocalists play the background singers in the video. It was shot at Rich Lupo’s The Met, which hosts local and touring acts.”

Along with Al Copley, Duke Robillard co-founded Roomful of Blues and spent over ten years with the band. Later, he became a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, replacing Jimmie Vaughan. He was a member of several bands and pursued a solo career at the same time, touring and recording solo albums in other genres such as jazz and blues. He formed a duo with jazz guitarist Herb Ellis and the swing trio New Guitar Summit with Gerry Beaudoin and Jay Geils.

“Robillard is a soloist of stunning force and originality” – The New York Times