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Blues.

It’s tempting to describe guitarist Rick Vito as an incredibly accomplished backing musician best recognized by those who scour small print credits on their favorite CDs. And while he has supported dozens of headlining names led by Bob Seger (that’s his famous solo on “Like a Rock”), Bonnie Raitt and John Fogerty, anyone who replaced Lindsey Buckingham and toured with Fleetwood Mac for four years can hardly be considered obscure.

Vito was also a member of Mick Fleetwood’s Blues Band, a side project that nonetheless was GRAMMY nominated. He has also released about a dozen albums under his own name, starting with 1992s debut, and also designs Art Deco and Modernistic guitars. And he’s a better than credible singer, further proving he exceeds the depiction of “the ultimate session guy.”

That’s confirmed by ‘Slidemaster,’ released April 3. One of just a few instrumental slide guitar albums (Ry Cooder’s soundtracks also fit that description), Vito grabbed a handful of previously released songs, remastered and remixed them, then recorded another seven adhering to the concept for this 40-minute set.

It’s about tone and touch; two aspects emphasized in these performances. While there are a few instances of rocking out, particularly on the opening Bo Diddley chugga-chugga appropriately titled “The Big Beat,” and the gospel rave-up “Vegas Jump,” this finds Vito in more subtly provocative waters.

Unlike Duane Allman whose legendary slide prowess was generally more aggressive, Rick eases his approach for a more pensive, calming, often delicately chilling sound. He wanders the darkened, rain-slicked backstreets on “The Danger Zone” like a cat prowling its prey on a tune perfect for any film noir detective flick. He goes full blues on “Slide the Blues,” one of the older compositions, slowing the shuffle tempo while ramping up the heat on his expressive guitar. He shifts from glistening to apprehensive and ringing, taking the listener on a trip through his different methods, all on a single track.

You won’t miss Sam Cooke’s iconic vocal on Vito’s cover of “A Change is Gonna Come” as his sweet, trembling playing sends shivers even without the famous lyrics. He takes Jimmy Hughes’ words on the classic “Steal Away” and translates them to his fingers on a succulent, even sexy cover of that timeless soul nugget.

Vito once named an album ‘Rattlesnake Shake’ in tribute to founding Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green. Two Green standards are interpreted with stylish versions of “Albatross,” one of the few times he played slide in Mac, and “The Supernatural,” which displayed his pre-FM talents in John Mayall’s band. Vito handles these carefully, sticking closely to the initial arrangements while amplifying and focusing their already ghostly qualities.

On “Soul Shadows,” Vito replicates the titular gloomy feeling in another selection perfect for placement in a foreign film. And despite “Red Hot Baby”’s implications, the easygoing Texas shuffle saunters and slinks its way through some honeyed blues changes. Closing with “The Lord’s Prayer” ends ‘Slidemaster’’s refined deep dive into Rick Vito’s prowess on this aspect of his instrument, displaying his technical and emotional mastery of the style.

Tracks:
01. Vegas Jump
02. Steal Away
03. The Big Beat
04. The Danger Zone
05. Red Hot Baby
06. Albatross (2026 Remaster)
07. Soul Shadows (2026 Remaster)
08. Slide the Blues (2026 Remaster)
09. A Change is Gonna Come (2026 Remaster)
10. River of Blues (2026 Remaster)
11. The Supernatural
12. The Lord's Prayer

Staat er compleet op, 10% pars mee gepost. Met zeer veel dank aan de originele poster. Laat af en toe eens weten wat je van het album vindt. Altijd leuk, de mening van anderen. Oh ja, MP3 doe ik niet aan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_APjGdAQU0