Luther Badman Keith
Thunder In My Blues
BMB Records 100903
Luther Badman Keith performs various styles of blues. By far, he is more contemporary than traditional. Keith became a musician
later in life. He didn’t play guitar until he was past 30. In fact, if it wasn’t for purchasing Luther Allison’s Love Me Mama, this Detroit
News editor may never have picked it up. For his 2nd release, he has surrounded himself with 11 reputable musicians. Many of them
are from his regular band. Together they mix blues, rock, soul and funk on 13 original songs.
The danceable title track contains a deep funk groove with heavy, pulsating horns. Keith’s humor is depicted on "Six Figure Salary".
However, cliché-filled lyrics like ‘I’m so broke I can’t even pay attention / my last cheque didn’t bounce it did a dance’ beg for originality.
"Fevers And Chills" is a masterful modern meld of soul and blues. Here, the solo, performed on his customized guitar, is an outpour
of emotion, while the words are sung manically, like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Throughout the album, Keith intonates and inflects his
tenor voice and achieves a dramatic effect. A touch of Latino exists on "Blues Gonna Fall". "The Last Bluesman" contains a repetitive
medley that gets lodged in your mind. The tune’s lyrics are thought provoking. It will encourage you to ponder who will be the last
bluesman or rather, who has been the final one? The song’s words could be a biography about any one of America’s real deal blues
players. Keith shares the vocals with drummer Milton ‘Heavyfoot’ Austin on "What’s The Use".
Keith’s guitar playing is good, but not award winning. He freely admits to that fact. "I’m a decent guitar player, but my thing is writing
songs and performing". What works well, on this hour long disc, are the funky arrangements, attractive rhythms, social commentaries
and ensemble of the sensational band. As he states on the title cut, ‘I’m a force of nature’, and no one will dispute the fact that thunder
is present in his blues. In fact, Keith’s powerful music may contain an entire thunderstorm, but it isn’t out-of-control like a hurricane.
This is contemporary music with impact rather than devastation. It can’t be considered strictly blues.
- Tim Holek -
Southwest Blues CD Review - April 2007
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