• NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from Blues Scene about music & art.

An Q&A with Otis Taylor, New Album ‘BANJO’ Out Now

March 29, 2023

Marty Stuart Releases New Song, ‘Sitting Alone,’ From First Album in Six Years

March 29, 2023

Debra Devi, Danielia Cotton, Katie Henry, The Outcrops to Play at Bowery Electric NYC

March 28, 2023

Eric Bibb’s Latest Masterpiece Exudes Humility, Courage, and Truth

March 27, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
  • NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
Home»News»John Mayall Comes Alive on ‘Three for the Road’
News

John Mayall Comes Alive on ‘Three for the Road’

Barry KerznerBy Barry KerznerFebruary 27, 2018Updated:April 9, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

John Mayall has always been the master of the understated. The best aspect of Mayall is that understated doesn’t mean underwhelming. Whether he’s knee deep in rock, blues, jazz, or gospel-infused delights, Mayall never fails to surprise, nor satisfy.

For over five decades this Blues Hall of Famer has been a pioneering musician and entertainer. With any of a myriad of stellar guitarists that included Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Coco Montoya, Walter Trout, Buddy Whittington, and most recently, Rocky Athas, Mayall and company forged new paths of aural discovery and wonder.

Here on Three for the Road, out on Forty Below Records, there is no guitarist. Mayall says, “I’ve been using the trio format for our live shows for a year already, and the reason for that came about quite accidentally when my guitarist Rocky Athas wasn’t able to make a festival gig due to airline cancellations. Since then, I found that the interplay and dynamics have created a more personal upfront sound in my live performances. I can’t speak too highly of bass player Greg Rzab and drummer Jay Davenport, who have been my bandmates for the last ten years or more. Their Chicago roots are to the fore every time we get onstage together.”

Produced by Eric Corne, Three for the Road features ten live tracks (the first being an Introduction) recorded in March of 2017 in Stuttgart and Dresden, Germany. Aside from the new trio format and the live presentation, what adds exponentially to this experience is the mix. It’s ambient, raw, sparse, and immediate.

Throughout the album, the musicianship is inviting and steals our attention from the very first. Hearing this trio perform so movingly, creating a sonic palette that is so full will surprise many.

We enjoyed these performances immensely, and of course, we did have favorites. Sam Hopkins’ “I Feel So Bad” sings as Mayall’s bright, catchy piano steps on out, while Curtis Salgado’s “The Sum of Something” woos us with a winning bass line and some deft keyboard magic from Mayall.

Mayall‘s own “Streamline” proclaims that the ’70s are back with organ so smooth, so engaging, it gave us goosebumps. Henry Townsend’s “Tears Came Rollin’ Down” features a raw vocal, and Mayall’s piano is glorious. The up-tempo “Congo Square” (Sonny Landreth/Dave Raonson/Mel Melton) closes out the album, recalling the early Bluesbreakers but with more urgency, and once again the piano stands tall, lifting the music up.

Don’t miss out on experiencing a true master flourishing in a new format. Hit “Play” on your device of choice and see what the excitement is all about!

Three for the Road by John Mayall
Tracks:  10
Label: Forty Below Records
Running Time:  60 Minutes
Release date: 23 February 2018

John Mayall

John Mayall on Facebook

Forty Below Records John Mayall Three for the Road
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleMichelle Malone Fires ‘Slings & Arrows’ and Strikes Gold
Next Article Elise Legrow Reimagines Classics with ‘Playing Chess’
Barry Kerzner

Related Posts

Marty Stuart Releases New Song, ‘Sitting Alone,’ From First Album in Six Years

March 29, 2023

Exclusive: Dean Zucchero Premieres New Single ‘Big Boss Boy’ ft. Johnny Rawls

March 14, 2023

Nick Schnebelen Releases ‘What Key Is Trouble In,’ Premieres New Video

March 10, 2023

Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen Premiere New Folk-Leaning Single ‘Embers In The Ash’

March 10, 2023

Comments are closed.

Advertisment
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Videos
  • About

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.