Robben Ford

Robben's latest record "Truth"has received a Grammy nomination for "Best Contemporary Blues Record". Robben has also released a new live clinic DVD " The Art of Blues Rhythm", published by Hal Leonard, available for purchase now. Click here for details.

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Email List Robben will tour with Travis Carlton on bass and Toss Panos on drums

Robben Ford band:
May 2008
07 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser
08 - Kultur Bolaget, Malmö Sweden
09 - Ny Teater, Horsens - Denmark
10 - Tante Olga, Randers - Denmark
11 - Amager Bio, Copenhagen Denmark
14 - Milton Keynes, UK - The Stables
15 - Cardiff, UK - The Point
16 - Falmouth, UK - The Pavillion
17 - Liverpool, UK - Academy
18 - Manchester, UK - Academy
21 - Newcastle, UK - Academy
22 - Sheffield, UK, Boardwalk
23 - County Down, UK - Blues On The Bay
June
14 - Vallejo, Ca - Summertime at the Maritime Series
20 - Huntington, NY - IMAC
21 - Annapolis, MD - Ramshead Tavern
22 - Washington DC - State Theater
23 - NYC, NY - Highline Ballroom
24 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
26 - Montreal, Canada - Montreal Jazz Fest./Club Soda
28 - Monterey, CA - Monterey Blues Festival

July
05 & 06 - Quincy, CA - High Sierra Festival
07 - Santa Cruz, CA - Kuumbwa Jazz Center
12 - Belleville, WI - American music fest.
13 - Minneapolis,MN - The Dakota (w/Charlie Musselwhite)
14 - Minneapolis,MN - The Dakota(w/Charlie Musselwhite)
19 - Sioux Falls, SD - Yankton Trail Park
22 - Chatanooga, TN - Night Fall Concert Series @ Miller Plaza
25 - Narcao, IT - Narcao Festival
26 - Casalmagiore, IT - Piazza Duomo
27 - Savona, IT - Fortezza del Priamar
29 - Rome, IT - Ostia Antica
31 - Soiano, IT - Soiano Blues Festival

August
02 - Varese, IT - Black & Blue Fest.
03 - Summer Beat 2008 - Villa Guerrazzi - La Cinquantina - Cecina (LI) 9:30
04 - Aquila, IT - Aquila Festival
06 - Syracusa, IT - Guitar Workshop(Robben only)
07 - Syracusa, IT - Guitar Workshop
08 - Syracusa, IT - Guitar Workshop
09 - Syracusa, IT - Guitar Workshop
14 - Snowmass, CO - Fanny Hill
15 - Saint Joseph, MO - Missouri W. St. College
16 - Mammoth Lakes, CA - Mammoth Festival of Wine, Music & Food
22 - Chattanooga, TN - Miller Plaza
25 - Tokyo, JP - Blue Note
26 - Tokyo, JP - Blue Note
27 - Tokyo, JP - Blue Note
28 - Nagoya, JP - Blue Note
29 - Yokohama, JP - Motion Blue
31 - Tokyo, JP - Tokyo Jazz
September
11 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
12 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
13 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
14 - Seattle, WA - Jazz Alley
January 09
30 - Pittsfield, MA - The Colonial Theatre Association
31 - New London, CT - Garde Arts Center
February 09
05 - Englewood, NJ - The Bergen Performing Arts Center
06 - Harrisburg, PA - Whitaker Center
07 - Stamford, CT - Stamford Center for the Arts
08 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Bardavon 1869 Opera House
09 - Pomona, NJ - Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
12 - Wilmington, DE - Grand Opera House
13 - Charlottesville, VA - The Paramount Theater
14 - Greensboro, NC - Carolina Theatre
17 - Durham, NC - Fletcher Hall Auditorium - Carolina Theatre
20 - Mt. Clemens, MI - Macomb Center for Performing Arts
21 - Glen Ellyn, IL - College of DuPage Arts Center
27 - San Rafael, CA - Marin Center
28 - Redding, CA - The Cascade Theatre
March 09
03 - Arcata, CA - Van Duzer Theatre, Humboldt State University
04 - Davis, CA - Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis
06 - Olympia, WA - Washington Center for the Performing Arts
07 - Bellingham, WA - Mount Baker Theatre

Videos

Robben Ford

BURN : Miles Davis w/Santana & Robben Ford

BIOGRAPHY

In the 1960s, long before pop artists were backed by the generic, computer-based accompaniment that is commonplace today, singers often recorded with formidable house bands, including Booker T. & the MG’s and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. The former band came together at Stax records in Memphis, laying down timeless grooves on hits by artists like Otis Redding, Albert King, and Carla Thomas. The latter group—based in Muscle Shoals, as well as New York and Nashville—enhanced such classic tracks as Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally,” and Paul Simon’s “Kodachrome.”

Growing up in the ’60s, a teenaged Robben Ford spent countless hours listening to artists like Aretha and Otis, at the same time soaking in guitar blues from Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King. In his early 20s, Ford went on to join blues luminary Jimmy Witherspoon’s band. But soon, Ford experienced a diversion from the genre. In 1974, the guitarist was discovered by saxophonist Tom Scott, whose progressive fusion group, L.A. Express, then teamed up with Joni Mitchell to support her Court and Spark tour and play on two of her albums (1974’s Miles of Isles and 1975’s The Hissing of Summer Lawn).

Today, possessing a résumé that includes stints with an impressively broad range of other musical personalities—Miles Davis, George Harrison, Little Feat, and the Yellowjackets, among many others—Ford has demonstrated an uncanny adaptability similar to that of the MG’s and the Muscle Shoals group. The guitarist has effortlessly traversed genres without compromising his exquisite, blues-based playing and singing. So it’s only natural that on his latest album, Keep On Running (CCD-2187), Ford tips his hat to Muscle Shoals and the MG’s, offering fresh takes on soul classics, in addition to serving up several glowing originals.
Keep On Running boasts a core group of heavyweight players—bassist Jimmy Earl and drummers Toss Panos and Steve Potts. Ford couldn’t be happier with his co-conspirators. Of the low-end, he raves, “Jimmy’s just about my favorite bassist in the world. He has a great feel, and he and I see eye-to-eye in terms of time; Jimmy is so comfortable to play with.” Ford is similarly praiseful of his percussionists: “Steve plays so beautifully. He can do rhythm ’n’ blues in such an authentic way, while at the same time sounding incredibly fresh. And I’ve played with Toss on the road for a couple of years now; I’ve really benefited from his unique feel.”

Among other instrumentalists, Ford expanded the core group with a battery of keyboard players. But after the recording was completed, Ford, a relentless perfectionist, found that their sounds were incongruous. He explains, “At a certain point, I thought, ‘What’s wrong with this picture?’ It turned out I just didn’t want to hear the [Hammond] B3 [organ].” So Ford, himself a diligent multi-instrumentalist, redid most of the keyboard parts, using the more appropriate-sounding Wurlitzer electric piano.

Ford’s journey throughout this CD, his second for Concord Records, covers many musical miles. Starting things off, the title track is a fresh though faithful cover of the Spencer Davis Group classic, which captured a then 17-year-old Steve Winwood on vocals. Joining the core cast here are Bob Malach on tenor sax and Edgar Winter on baritone; Ford expertly handles the guitar, vocal, and keyboard parts. “I really dug this record when I was growing up,” says Ford. “I’d been wanting to hear it again, but it only recently became available on CD. My producer [John Wooler] also had this song in mind. We worked up an arrangement at rehearsal recorded it.”
“Over My Head” showcases Ford’s organic, breezy compositional style in a song dealing with the oldest of subjects: man chases woman, followed by heavy infatuation. Here, his smooth, blues guitar screams and moans in a perfect extension of the song’s soulful vocals. “‘Over My Head’ came from a casual guitar riff that I found myself playing one day,” says Ford. “The words tumbled out quite naturally. The riff seemed to suggest something many men go through as one point, or many times—meeting a woman you know is dangerous but find completely irresistible.”

Ford was at first uncertain about “Can’t Do My Homework,” originally recorded by Otis Rush. The guitarist says, “We played the song, but it has such a camp lyric. It felt so good, though, and was so much fun to play, that we just had to use it.” And it is such an enjoyable listen, too. Showcased here are Ford’s gorgeous guitar tones and sharp, playful improvisations, which never stray too far from Rush’s original version.

On “Badge” (written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison, and recorded by Cream), Ford offers another respectful cover, his smooth vocals backed by those of Siedah Garret (the singer also appears on “Bonnie”), and his creamy guitar tone recalling that of Clapton, while retaining Ford’s own unmistakable imprint. “I’ve always loved the first Cream album, which is brilliant,” says Ford. “Recording ‘Badge’ was John Wooler’s idea. I’m glad he suggested it; the song so was nice to use as a touchstone, since I had worked with Harrison, and he had recently passed away. You can really hear his influence in there, as well as Clapton’s.”
“Peace Love & Understanding” finds Ford using R&B to smooth out a more rocking version recorded previously by Elvis Costello. On this outstanding song, Ford duets with the legendary Mavis Staples (who, incidentally, began her recording career at Stax/Volt in 1969, backed by the MG’s) commenting on the difficult times as of late. Ford explains, “I have to say that I didn’t grow up listening to Elvis Costello. But this song presented a great opportunity: I don’t like what’s going on in the world right now, and “Peace Love & Understanding” expresses a beautiful sentiment.

A smart blues instrumental, “Cannonball Shuffle” was written by Ford for Freddie King. The composition showcases Ford’s gutsy though refined playing, in addition to some fine soloing from Malach. Ford says, “While planning this album, Wooler and I were talking a lot about Freddie King. As a youngster, I’d never gotten next to him, but now that I’ve taken the time to get inside his style, I modeled ‘Cannonball Shuffle’ after tunes like ‘Hideaway’ and ‘The Stumble.’”
The album’s second half—“Me and My Woman,” “Bonnie,” “Lifetime Thing,” “For the Love of Money,” and “Hand in Hand With the Blues”—maintains a similar vibe. It’s at once old-school and, thanks to Ford’s outstandingly fresh playing, contemporary. Ford says, “This is the music I grew up with, when things were more carefree. For me, the album is full of nostalgia. I think we could all use some of that kind of feeling today.”

Concord Records Discography:
Blue Moon CCD-2112
For More Information:
Concord Records
Jo Foster
T: 310-385-4218
E: [email protected]