Tom Hambridge – Blu Ja Vu
Quarto Valley Records
13 songs – 44 minutes
One of the foremost tunesmiths, producers and drummers in blues music, Tom Hambridge, is usually more content working in the background for others rather than let the spotlight shine on himself. But every time he steps into the studio for an album of his own, it’s a treat. And that’s never been more true of than this one, a star-laden set that shows why he’s earned dozens of awards in his career.
A Buffalo native who’s been based in Nashville for decades, Hambridge worked out of Boston with Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and others, earned acclaim in 1998, when in was at the controls for Susan Tedeschi’s debut release, Just Won’t Burn. He’s written more than 1,000 songs in his career and produced more than 100 albums, earning six Grammys – three for Buddy Guy and one each for Keb’ Mo’, James Cotton and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – in the past 12 years alone. An in-demand percussionist, he’s spent a large part of the past few years touring the world with Buddy, too.
Tom’s first CD under his own name since The NOLA Sessions, a tribute to New Orleans that included Allen Toussaint’s final session, this long-awaited follow-up features guest appearances from several friends, including Buddy, Kingfish, Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith on guitars and vocals, Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers/Sea Level on keys and a never-previously-released track that features Cotton on harp.
Like the title infers, Blu Ja Vu revisits material recorded when Tom was producing for others in the past, many of whom repaid him by making contributions to his work, too. Hambridge penned all 13 tracks on this one, most in partnership with longtime friend Richard Fleming, and recorded them at Ocean Way, Soundstage, Black River Studio and The Switchyard in Nashville.
Tom handles percussion and vocals throughout with backing from a core ensemble that includes Music City heavyweights Rob McNelley and Bob Britt on guitars, Tommy MacDonald on bass, Kevin McKendree and Jon Coleman on keys. Glenn Worf guests on bass on one song, and Emil Justin provides backing vocals throughout.
“Ain’t It Just Like Love,” a sprightly shuffle that celebrates both the highs and lows of romance, kicks off the action with Tom sharing vocals with Buddy, who lays down guitar licks like only he can. “That’s My Home” delivers a somewhat harder, blues-rock edge with Bonamassa on board. It’s a treatise that any traveling musician can understand because home – in this case – is anywhere in the world the artist sets down his suitcase for the night.
Hambridge takes center stage alone for the first time “Wear You Out,” a rock-steady, 2/4 pleaser that pays tribute to a ’54 Stratocaster, a Cadillac Eldorado and a woman who “can’t be satisfied” before giving way to “Blues Don’t Care,” a number that features Kingfish and states the music is indifferent no matter what your state or who you hate, noting: “You try to run, but there’s no escape. It’s the middle finger on the hand of fate.”
“Sick With Love,” a fiery rocker, gives McNelley space to shine before “Automatic” heaps love on a V-8 ’65 Ford Thunderbird, while the percussive “Symptoms of Love” describes trips to the doctor and preacher only to discover that there’s no cure for what’s ailing him other than the healing hands of a good woman. Cotton joins forces on chromatic harp for the burning instrumental, “Brother John Boogie” in what was one of his last sessions, then gives way to “Get Outta Town,” an uptempo two-step with barrelhouse appeal, and “Smarter Than I Was,” the realization on a cold, dark night that a lady’s not coming home. It features Smith laying down tasty six-string runs in the mix.
Three more pleasers — “Johnny Winter,” which questions why the bluesman isn’t in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame; “Meet Me in Chicago,” a rocker that features McNelley and sings praise for the city; and “End of the Line,” a simple complaint about being the last to leave after a night of musical merriment – bring the disc to a close.
Tom Hambridge is a superstar in the control room, but he’s also a star on stage, too. Give this one a listen, and you’ll agree.
