Duke Robillard sounds hungrier than he has for a long time. The founder of Roomful of Blues, former Fabulous Thunderbird, and all-around New England blues and roots man sticks to the straight stuff on this release, howling out vocals on winners like Freddy King’s "Use What You Got" and burning the strings on the guitar rave-up "Stratisfied." Robillard’s work for Stony Plain includes a jazz disc with Herb Ellis and inspired session work behind old-timers (including an excellent comeback disc by Rosco Gordon), and he usually incorporates swing and other elements into his own recordings. But this is as straight a shot of blues as he’s let loose in a while. With Sax Gordon Beadle and other blues stalwarts in tow, Robillard digs into tracks by B.B. King, Little Milton, Brownie McGhee, and other lions, including songs he’s been playing live for decades but never recorded. Maybe that’s why he sounds more at home and just plain tougher than he has on other recent discs.
(Duke Robillard celebrates the release of Living with the Blues next Friday, May 31, at Johnny D’s. Call 617-776-2004.)