Jubu Smith – Jubu
Little Village – 2024
10 tracks; 61 minutes
With Jubu (2024), multi-instrumentalist and guitarist Jubu Smith, assembles an impressive lineup in the goal of creating a “authoritative groove guitar album”. Smith, who entered the limelight as a guitarist for Tony! Toni! Toné! in the early 1990’s and has gone on to show considerable chops as a studio musician, with hundreds of credits to his name, places guitar front and center on this LP.
Smith’s background in blues and R&B bleeds through on every track. Throughout the album, the band, including Grammy nominated producer and guitarist Charlie Hunter, and Grammy winning drummer Calvin Napper, show themselves to be completely in synch.
On “Jubu’s Poem”, the second track, guitar notes slide slow and deep in a soulful intro. It sounds like the guitar is gently weeping; like a sad, beautiful poem. Smith on guitar and Hunter on hybrid guitar engage in an intimate musical conversation, providing complimentary riffs and melodies. Guitar chops are on display in an impressive solo, with guitar notes fluttering like butterflies suspended in the air. Smith has recorded with George Benson in the studio, and Benson’s influence shines through on the track.
Upbeat shuffle guitar kick off “Carroll Drive”, an upbeat dance number with dominant drums from Napper. As the catchy guitar progressions swing by, stomping your feet is a natural response. In the carefree guitar bop, a tenderness bleeds through. With lyrics, this could easily be a top blues hit.
Another, super groovy tune, “Organization’s Sake”, closely resembles Booker T and the MG’s. As elsewhere on the album, the group tends to stretch the music out, expanding on a groove, moving the music with a fluid and energy much like jazz cats or jam bands. Napper delivers a torrential downpour of percussion with skill.
The guitars collaborate, working in harmony, to create a rich sonic tapestry on “Kwik-Way Nostalgia”. Guitar solos in the middle highlight significant prowess as the group moves into strange musical territory, filled with delicious grooves. Smith and Hunter slide up and down scales, moving with the music, as if one symbiotic organism dedicated to one thing and one thing only; the groove.
“At Long Last” features gentle, tender guitar with clear technique. Notes ring out longer it seems, like pain lingering in the body or grief clutching onto a heart. A deeply sad, yet calm song, perhaps the song tells the story of watching a loved one pass from terminal illness- showing the pain and the acceptance. “At long last”, they have passed.
Saucy guitar notes dish out a funky vibe on “McLeansville Blues”, a straight blues tune stretched out in service of the groove.
Smith, Hunter, and Napper finish the album strong with “Totally Convicted”, a slow burning, badass tune with fiery notes calling out. Smith and Hunter stretch out moaning blues notes, delivering something damn right gnarly, followed by a crescendo of notes as the song picks up and gains energy. The song culminates with fast guitar progressions and wailing notes.
While some songs are comparatively weak and the poet inside me craves lyrics and stories to this instrumental album, Smith delivered a soulful, funky blues guitar album centered on the power of the groove. Jubu crosses genres, offering much for fans of R&B, Blues, Jam Bands, and Jazz.
