Blues Historian Review: Elvin Bishop, The Blues Rolls On

Elvin Bishop's new CD The Blues Rolls On, is just another great example of why Elvin Bishop gets it. When most artists are blowing their own horn, Elvin is bringing much needed attention to a wide range of great blues artists. Bishop's career has been one that has helped a number of musicians and once again he does it on The Blues Rolls On.
Bishop's new CD features features 12 tracks that feature Elvin with help of his friends. Only his song Oklahoma, is him alone. This disc is very much an all-star event and Bishop does a great job holding this diverse group of blues players together. The title track opens the CD, and features Bishop, with Warren Haynes on guitar, and Kim Wilson on Harp. It is a rocking tune that features a lot of the names of players past and present who have kept the blues alive. John Nemeth and Angela Strehil sings the classic Night Time Is the Right Time. Nemeth is one of the new and upcoming singers who has created quite the stir down at Blues On Grand in Des Moines. Younder's Wall has a really great guitar break where Elvin, Tommy Castro, and Ronnie Baker Brooks, trade off guitar licks! It is a cool and much too short part of the song. Brooks in my mind was the best of the three, but it is probably because I love those classic Chicago blues licks. (also wanted to make a quick note that Scott Sutherland plays bass on the track, and he is a former Iowan:-) Struttin' My Stuff, is a great tune featuring Elvin on vocal and guitar, with the help of guitarists, Derek trucks, Warren Haynes, Johnny V Vernazza, and Mike Schermer. The next song Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket, features the guitar work of BB King, and a short interview between BB, and Elvin. The song is an old Roy Milton tune, and is the topic of the brief conversation before the disc. BB only plays guitar on the track, but is his usual "king of the blues" although at the end of the song he reminds Elvin that he has never called himself the king of the blues:-) John Nemeth returns to sing Who's The Fool, while the zydeco Black Gal, features R.C Carrier and Andre Thierry. Oklahoma is all Elvin and is the story of his career in the blues and features verses about his days in Chicago, and playing with southern rock bands. Come On In This House, is a cool song that features the young Homemade Jamz Band. They are a bunch of kids from Mississippi who can play the blues as good as anyone four times their age!:-) Nemeth returns again to sing I Found Out, which also features the harp work of James Cotton! Send you Back To Georgia features George Thorogood, and was recorded live at the Voodoo Lounge in Kansas City. The final song Honest I Do is an instrumental with Nemeth on harmonica and Bishop on Lead Guitar.
This is a great disc, and Bishop showcases a lot of great talent. If you have any money laying around with this bad economy then do yourself a favor and buy this disc!