It's ironic that some of the people who swear up and down that they don't like jazz will get into
Robben Ford, whose career has as much to do with jazz as it does with blues, pop, soul and rock. Though
Ford was never a "jazz snob," his jazz credentials are quite solid. Jazz, blues and rock are all primary ingredients of
Sunrise, a CD that was released in 1999 and contains live performances at Los Angeles and London venues in 1972. Back then, the singer/guitarist was in his early twenties and hadn't yet become famous, but those who were hip to
Ford knew that he was a unique young talent who had considerable promise. This unpredictable and highly enjoyable collection ranges from the hardcore instrumental jazz of
Miles Davis' "Eighty One" (which finds
Ford playing the sax) and jazz-rock fusion of "Miss Miss" to spirited performances of
Willie Dixon's "Little Red Rooster" and
Peter Chatman's "Every Day I Have the Blues." The latter finds
Ford performing a vocal duet with blues singer
Jimmy Witherspoon, who is the only vocalist on "Ain't Nobody's Business." The late
Witherspoon thought the world of
Ford, and it's easy to see why they got along so well -- like
Ford,
Witherspoon was an eclectic, unpredictable artist who held jazz and the blues in equally high regard. Whether you're into jazz, blues or rock -- or all of the above --
Sunrise is a CD to savor. ~ Alex Henderson