Bobby Manriquez
In the 21st Century, the latest blues releases tend to be more of a history lesson than a progression of the movement. In some circles, the Blues has been relegated to the mantric stage that classical music has suffered from for centuries.
That's why it was such a relief to hear the latest effort from Bobby Manriquez; Prayin' the Blues. Riding high on the accolades of his previous release, Another Shade of Blues, Bobby continues to push the blues envelope in his truly unique way. Once again, his, not so typical, arrangements and his absolute command of the guitar make for a wild ride. Ardent blues purists might scoff (because they always do) but no one can deny that Bobby Manriquez is an artist of limitless talent who's love for a Higher Power has obviously been returned in spades.
Although it's clear Bobby's lyrical message is a spiritual one, the musical side of this release is all business. As in his last effort, Bobby's guitar work is stellar but he also plays many of the other instruments throughout: Even using some sampling here and there. When he does utilize the talents of his guests, he does it with Divine inspiration.
Featuring appearances by musical giants like, Nils Lofgren, Bob Margolin, and Mark Wenner of the NightHawks - among others, Prayin' the Blues has something to offer everyone. From the mostly traditional sound of, 'Find that Love' to the gospel influenced, 'G-Blues' all the way to the experimental, 'FT-3', Bobby's original take on arrangements and his flawless guitar work heighten the listeners experience. His love of funk is evident throughout and listening to the entire cd, one can see the threads that tie blues and funk so closely together. Wenner's harp work on 'My Heart to Give' is spot-on and the result is one of the hardest, gut wrenching blues tunes released this year.
Prayin' the Blues is one of those cd's you re-visit again and again because each time, you hear something new. It's refreshing in it's originality and bold in it's musicality. The cd may not be filled with the obvious progressions and hooks that make up popular blues music but ""popular"" music has typically had little to do with the advancement of any musical genre.
Perhaps what makes Prayin' the Blues so successful is Bobby's sanguine message of hope and faith that resonates throughout his lyrics and arrangements, as well as his willingness to push the boundaries of traditional blues toward an equally hopeful future.
Buy two copies, you'll want to turn on a friend.
--Phillyblues.com |
