Elvin Bishop, The Blues Rolls On
Featured Album
A 60s veteran pays homage to past greats and shares the stage with future legends
An eminently likable but nonessential veteran of the '60s blues revival, Bishop describes this album as his attempt to pay homage to his mentors and influences while providing moral support to more contemporary acolytes. It's hardly surprising that the best cut is the relaxed, rolling version of Roy Milton's "Keep a Dollar in Your Pocket" that shows off the good-timing side of B.B. King. Much of the other memorable stuff here comes from Bishop's revivalist peers — Kim Wilson's urban/rural harmonica blend on the title track, Angela Strehli's finessed vocals on "Night Time Is the Right Time" — as well as Elvin's own jagged, shattering slide guitar on the self-effacingly autobiographical "Oklahoma." But just as often the kids are alright, too; Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes stage a raunchy, shrieking guitar duel on the remake of Elvin's "Struttin 'My Stuff," John Nemeth sings "Night Time Is the Right Time" with verve and conviction that belies his youth and positively wails harmonica on the instrumental take of Jimmy Reed's "Honest I Do" and Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule scorches Elvin lick for lick on the slide guitar eruption that is "The Blues Rolls On." It's almost enough to make you think that the last half-century of blues does represent continuity rather than disruption.
