BUDDY GUY

Living Proof

Silvertone Records

By Geoff Trubow

Buddy Guy has always been unique in the fact the he was young enough to be the son of then-fellow Chess Record artists, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.  Yet he’s not much older than ardent disciples such as Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.  Born and raised in Louisiana, Guy migrated to Chicago at age 21 to break into the blues scene, which was not an easy thing to do.  While at Chess Records, they were not quite sure what to do with him and his wild elevation of what had become the Chicago Blues sound.  As he moved on, Guy was able to carve out his own niche which has influenced countless musicians over the years and established him as one of the most prominent and respected guitarists to date.

One of the factors that contribute to Guy’s greatness is his exciting live performances.  He tours regularly, including his usual month long residency at his club, Legends, every January.  In addition to being a staple at the last two Crossroads Guitar Festivals at Toyota Park, his appearance with the Rolling Stones, as they tore through “Champagne And Reefer” in Martin Scorsese’s concert film of the band, Shine A Light, was definitely the highlight of the show.  At age 74, Guy could easily rest on his many laurels, yet he does not, which is the other main factor that supports his celebrated status -- the steady release of new material.

Since joining Silvertone Records, Guy has laid down some of his finest work.  Perfect examples being Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues in 1991, followed by Feels Like Rain and the 2001 masterpiece, Sweet Tea (which could easily rank in the top five albums released that year, of any genre).  He now returns with Living Proof and again proves he has no intention of letting up.  Joined by a tight set of players including drummer/producer Tom Hambridge, guitarist David Grissom and ex-Stevie Ray Vaughan keyboardist, Reese Wynans, Guy romps through a dozen tunes, almost half of which he co-wrote, further showcasing his musical relevance.

It’s hard to believe Buddy Guy is as old as he is, while listening to his highly distinctive voice as he recounts his own past on “Thank Me Someday” and growling through “Let The Door Knob Hit Ya”.  Equally impressive is his brilliance on the guitar, which has not diminished over the years as evidenced on “Key Don’t Fit”, which comes over as a nice mixture of Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House” and Bo Diddley’s “Before You Accuse Me”.  He also breaks things down with “On The Road” on which he is accompanied by the vaunted Memphis Horns.

He mellows out with guest B.B. King on “Stay Around A Little Longer”, a song in which the blues legends ponder their mortality.  It’s always a treat to hear Guy play with his idol as they playfully rap with each other while trading off their signature licks.  Guy is also joined by Carlos Santana who contributes his distinctive guitar style on “Where The Blues Begins”. 

Living Proof is not an idle boast, but a simple statement of fact confirmed by the blues of which it is comprised.

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