ROBERT CRAY - Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm (CD)

2017 release. Robert Cray has been bridging the lines between blues, soul and R&B for the past four decades, with five Grammy wins and over 20 acclaimed albums. For the Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm album, the Blues Hall of Famer traveled to Memphis with his friend, renowned Grammy Award winning producer Steve Jordan, to make a classic soul album with Hi Rhythm, the band that helped create that sound. The album opens with a driving, soulful version of Bill WithersÆ ôThe Same Love That Made Me Laughö that sounds as if it was originally from an old Hi Rhythm recording. When Robert chose two Tony Joe White songs for the album, White, a big fan of Cray, came up from Nashville to sit in. First up is the moving ballad ôAspen, Coloradoö (the sister song of his ôRainy Night in Georgiaö). The other end of the spectrum is the swirling psychedelia of ôDonÆt Steal My Love.ö The tribute to O.V. Wright and Hi Rhythm is the horn-driven version of ôYou Must Believe in Yourself.ö Known for writing ôMustang Sallyö and many other songs, Sir Mac RiceÆs ôI DonÆt Careö follows on the album with an unforgettable hook, and RiceÆs funky ôHoney Badö features more guitar brilliance from Cray. Moving into early R&B from the 5 Royales, Robert performs ôIÆm With You Pt. 1ö then turns the guitar loose on ôIÆm With You Pt 2.ö