Hubert Sumlin might be the best-known bluesman that you’ve never
\nheard of.<\/p>\n
The longtime guitarist for Howlin’ Wolf has influenced so many
\nmusicians’ styles, but unless you’ve really followed the blues
\nclosely, you might not have been aware that he has maintained a
\nsolo career for some time now. (I remember playing songs from his
\nalbum
\nHeart And Soul<\/i> when I was in college radio.)<\/p>\n
Now, Sumlin storms to the forefront with
\nWake Up Call<\/i>, his latest solo effort. Sumlin shows he can
\neasily be considered one of the best guitarists in an older-style
\nform of blues – the style that is sometimes the hardest to develop
\na taste for.<\/p>\n
Sumlin kicks off things with a touch of slide guitar on “I’m
\nGoing Home,” possibly tipping his hat to the late Hound Dog Taylor.
\nSumlin’s vocals are smooth, even on the rough edges, and his
\nplaying is powerful without being overtly flashy. When Sumlin lets
\nhis guitar do the talking for him, such as on “Makes Me Think About
\nThe One I Had” and “Let Your Fingers Do The Talkin'”, the formula
\nclicks quite well. A solid backing band, including rhythm guitarist
\nJimmy Vivino, help Sumlin’s case.<\/p>\n
When the band vamps on one or two chords for the entire song,
\nhowever, the formula tends to break down quickly – again, Hound Dog
\nTaylor comes to mind. Songs like “Gonna Move” and “I Just Need Your
\nLove” don’t hit the target like they could have. In fact,
\nWake Up Call<\/i> isn’t always the easiest album to get through
\nin one sitting when the sound changes from 12-bar blues to the
\nsingle-chord vamping.<\/p>\n
\nWake Up Call<\/i> still is a very solid showcase for Sumlin –
\nfrom what I remember, this album is much better than anything I had
\nheard from him almost ten years ago – and his live show is
\nsupposedly incredible. And although it’s occasionally difficult to
\nget through, this is an album that is worth putting the effort into
\nlistening to.<\/p>\n
Sumlin might not have all the polish that other blues artists
\nseem to have, but the vibe of this album is genuine. To an artist
\nlike Sumlin, honesty isn’t in getting a take perfectly with lots of
\noverdubs, it’s pouring your all into the one take and leaving it as
\nis, flubbed notes and all. That is a refreshing change of pace –
\nand I’m not insinuating that this album is sloppy; no, it is very
\nwell performed.<\/p>\n
\nWake Up Call<\/i> is an album you might have to do some searching
\nfor, and is an album you’ll have to listen to more than once to
\ntruly appreciate. But in the end, it’s a journey worth taking.<\/p>\n
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