© Bluestronomical Publishing Inc. 2010

John Hammond 
Rough & Tough
Chesky SACD346

With a recording career spanning roughly 45 years, John Hammond is one the most distinguished blues artists working in the blues field today. Working primarily as a solo act, Hammond accompanies his vocals with his impressive guitar work and often blows a harmonica mounted on a neck rack. Hammond has also found success working in a group setting with Little Charlie & the Nightcats backing him, and received great acclaim for an album of Toms Waits covers that he released in 2001. Hammond has recorded for a wide variety of record labels and Rough and Tough represents his first release on the Chesky label. Recorded live at St. Peters Church in New York City, Rough and Tough gives listeners the opportunity to catch a close approximation of a Hammond live show.

Never a prolific songwriter, Hammond has made a career out of performing classic blues songs from other writers and this disc is no exception. Over the course of the disc Hammond covers tunes written by artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, Jerry McCain, Blind Willie McTell and Tampa Red. Hammond has also contributed two self penned songs to the effort. Highlights on the disc include a solid take on Muddy Waters’ “Still A Fool”. On “My Time After Awhile,” best associated with Buddy Guy, Hammond takes a more modern post-war approach on guitar that offers a nice contrast to his guitar work on the rest of the album. Hammond turns in a funky, lowdown cover of Bo Diddley’s “I Can Tell” that also works very well.

Overall, Rough and Tough offers a generous selection of 13 classic blues tunes and two originals performed in an intimate setting with superb sound. The performances are also first rate as Hammond is one of the more accomplished musicians in the business, and has been performing in this type of intimate setting for the majority of his career. A highly recommended new release.

- Barry Gober -


Southwest Blues CD Review - March 2010

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