Duke Robillard’s recent triumph at the 2010 Blues Music Awards haven’t slowed him down a bit and now he has your ticket and Passport To The Blues, due in stores August 24.
The passport theme is an interesting one for Robillard as he has worn many musical hats throughout his career as a bandleader, producer, and sideman. Recent Robillard records have explored jump blues and swing and he also recently spent time on the road playing lead guitar for legendary songwriter Tom Waits. With Passport To The Blues, Robillard is returning to his native blues home and bringing a bit of his time with Waits back with him. Of the 13 songs on Passport, Robillard wrote or co-wrote 12 of them. The lone exception is Tom Waits’ “When You’re Old You’re Cold.”
Robillard said with the exception of the Waits tune and “Make It Rain,” all the songs for the album were written in a two-week period not long before the band went in and cut them in the studio. The return to a grittier blues sound and his comfort with his band allowed them to work fast.
The decision to return to a blues sound for this record was also inspired by the types of life experiences that have been at the core of the idiom since its inception.
“I’m turning 62 this year and am feeling a little too mature for writing songs like ‘you’re so sexy baby, I’ve gotta have ya,” he said. “I was thinking about that, trying to get started writing new songs that would capture what was on my mind – and then the I.R.S audited me. That got me started writing for the album. I figured if that’s not the blues, what is.”
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