The Duke Robillard Jazz Trio – Wobble Walkin (Blue Duchess Records 2012)

From the liner notes by celebrated author Jim Carlton: "In this collection, Duke pays homage to a number of our greatest composers and artists. We're treated to Cole Porter's, "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You," made famous by The King Cole Trio, "I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me, recorded by Billie Holiday back in 1933, and the everlasting standard "All of Me," a tune that became a staple for virtually every major music act in the 1940s from Bing to Billie, to Benny. And "Back Home Again In Indiana," first introduced as a Tin Pan Alley pop song in 1917 was one of the first jazz records to sell in a big way. In addition, Duke honors his declaration, "I like riff-based tunes," by choosing perhaps the most iconic riff tune of all, Mercer Ellington's "Things Ain't What They Used To Be." And I mustn't forget to mention the trio's rendition of the Oscar-winning Gershwin tune, "They Can't Take That Away From Me." "We're also privy to a number of Robillard originals. Duke's title tune "Wobble Walkin," with its infectious and memorable riff sets the tone for this collection and serves as a cool harbinger of what's to come. Duke again pays his blues dues with the languid "Jesse's Blues" a cool culmination to the set in which the guitarist discloses his story with a smoldering and soulful solo." THIRTEEN SWINGING, CRYSTAL CLEAR TRACKS: 1. Wobble Walkin' 6:50 2. I Can't Believe You're in Love With Me 3:30 3. They Can't Take That Away from Me 5:45 4. Sunday Mornin 4:06 5. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You 4:07 6. Skippy's Dream 5:32 7. All of Me 5:45 8. Things Ain't What They Used to Be 4:28 9. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to 4:24 10. Hi-Heel Sneakers 7:02 11. If I Had You 6:49 12. Back Home Again, in Indiana 3:23 13. Jesse's Blues 5:38 Visit us at www.blueduchessrecords.com or www.dukerobillard.com
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