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WHAT SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING
ABOUT THE JEFF GOLUB BAND featuring HENRY BUTLER'S "THE
THREE KINGS" (eOne Music):
"Thirteen tracks of
pure pleasure, Golub really sinks his teeth into this
record, with chops and technique to die for, and
uncommon soul and depth as well." (David
Malachowski/Daily Freeman)
"...an excellent
vehicle for the guitarist to strut his stuff....he lets
loose on solos with an edgy abandon...the appearance of
guest pianist/vocalist Henry Butler -- who also gets
star billing on the disc's cover -- fellow jazz/bluesman
Robben Ford, and slide wizard Sonny Landreth go a long
way to making this Golub's most incisive guitar outing.
Horns pop up occasionally, adding Memphis soul to 'I'm
Tore Down' and 'Oh Pretty Woman,' and a jump/big-band
influence to 'Everyday I Have the Blues.' Butler
takes the sound down to New Orleans on his original that
sums up the concept in 'Three Kings' as Golub adds fiery
if short solos. The guitarist also contributes the
self-penned 'In Plain Site,' a second-line beat-driven
instrumental that gives him and Landreth room to stretch
out...He also opens up on Freddie's 'Side Tracked,'
tossing off Clapton-styled licks that are both fluid and
sharp, then slows things down with 'Freddie's Midnight
Dream,' a terrific and relatively obscure find that
provides Golub with plenty of space to solo within its
gospel-styled framework, providing what is arguably the
disc's finest moment. Golub's an established pro, but
with 'The Three Kings', he's expanding his vision into
roots music that shows off his talents far better than
the more commercialized approach he has built his
reputation on." (Hal Horowitz/All Music
Guide)
"Great guitar, piano, fine vocals
highlight "The Three Kings" ...filled with great music
that honors some blues masters with rich and imaginative
interpretations of their music...These guys know their
stuff, and it shows. From the opening guitar chords and
horn riffs of the classic 'Let the Good Times Roll,'
Butler's vocals inject the familiar lyrics with drive
and power. Butler also does magically smooth things on
'Have You Ever Loved a Woman' (with a nicely stinging
solo by Golub)....Golub, Butler and the band obviously
love the music and the talent to pull off an album that
makes old hits sound fresh again...great music-making."
(Jim White/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
"...a
rising star...dynamic guitar player [Golub] has put
together a hot band featuring piano legend, Henry
Butler. With the addition of a horn section and some
talented guest stars, old becomes new again... Golub’s
guitar licks are sparkling, and Butler’s husky vocals
and horn and back up vocal choruses bring the necessary
celebratory spirit to life... 'Everyday I Have The
Blues' is two-and-a-half-minutes of incendiary
jam...Robben Ford adds a spicy touch to Freddie King’s
'Side Tracked'...Another guest, Sonny Landreth, brings
his slide magic to a Golub original, 'In Plain Sight'.
The final track is pure homage to one of blues’ most
influential (especially in the crossover to AOR) pieces,
B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone”. Aided by a string
section, Golub injects soulful heart into his lead, as
Butler executes a brilliant jazzy solo that provides a
warm counter." (Robbie Gerson/Audiophile
Audition)
"Jeff Golub, a longtime sideman
with Rod Stewart and Billy Squier, has compiled the
expected all-star amalgam in this tribute to the blues
stylings of The Three Kings — Albert, B.B. and Freddie.
Yet it is his guitar work, canny and sharp-edged, that
holds everything together. Golub’s playing is
comprehensive in scope — stinging and raw when it needs
to be, then bracing and jazz-infused when you might be
expecting something more overt. Just as
importantly, Golub made varied musical selections, and
followed that up with some intriguing choices in
reworking tunes... Though 'The Three Kings' includes a
number of notable covers from the storied careers of
Albert, B.B. and Freddie ... there are also a handful of
interesting originals...Golub closes with B.B.’s 'The
Thrill is Gone,' but smartly approaches it as an
instrumental, avoiding vocal comparisons with a version
that is so deeply ingrained in the musical
consciousness. The song is also a great example of the
economy and grace that Golub brings to the album.( Nick
DeRiso/SomethingElse Reviews!)
"This is a
solid mix rhythm and blues album, mixing vibrant
instrumentals with rollicking numbers that are blues in
form but rock n roll in spirit. ...Jeff Golub hits
mostly golden notes on 'The Three Kings'. His
guitar work is outstanding throughout...All new students
of blues/rock should include 'The Three Kings' in their
early education." (Wildy Haskell/Wildy's
World)
"freshness and energy....Golub's
approach to leads and solos on tracks such as 'Born
Under A Bad Sign' and 'Every Day I Have The Blues' is
conspicuously devoid of imitation, allowing his
own...contemporary blues voice to be heard...In a genre
where sets of pedestrian originals are all too common
these days, the vitality of 'The Three Kings' is
refreshing." (Duane Verh/Jazz & Blues
Report)
"this album is clearly a labor of
love and respect, meant to honor three of the greatest
artists the blues has ever produced...The guys that make
up the Jeff Golub Band are all very talented musicians
and Golub, himself, is a very good guitarist...There is
a lot of talent displayed on 'The Three Kings'.
The recording quality is topnotch and the playing
is full of life and energy." (J.
Blake/American Blues News)
"...a fresh, new
approach by a group of fine musicians paying tribute to
the best classic blues guitarists in American music
history while at the same time bringing something of
their own to these great songs. Jeff Golub
deserves a great deal of credit for producing this
CD...Under his control, vision and his unifying strength
these great talented musicians joined together perfectly
to produce the great sounds on this CD. Every time
I get to hear Jeff he seems to get better and better.
His guitar phrasing and dexterity is always
creative and clear as a bell." (The Music Man
Blog)
"...a very enjoyable collection." (Ron
Weinstock/In A Blue Mood)
"new &
noteworthy" (Gary Graff/Oakland
Press)
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