The Jeff Golub Band - Three Kings

The Jeff Golub Band - Three Kings
2011, Entertainment One Music

Jeff Golub made his name in rock n roll, touring and recording with Rod Stewart for seven years, and then performing similar duties for Billy Squier across seven albums and three world tours.  As a solo artist, however, Golub has returned to his first love, the blues.  Golub's most recent album, Three Kings, pays tribute to music of Albert, B.B. and Freddie King.  Golub is joined by Henry Butler on piano and vocals; Andy Hess (Gov't Mule) on bass and Josh Dion on drums, percussion and vocals.  Special guest appearances by Robben Ford and Sonny Landreth augment a dynamic musical experience that was recorded live and accentuated with very few overdubs.  Three Kings was produced by Golub and Bud Harner and recorded in Brooklyn, New York.

To call Three Kings a blues album isn't as descriptive as it might be.  This is a solid mix rhythm and blues album, mixing vibrant instrumentals with rollicking numbers that are blues in form but rock n roll in spirit.  The highlights of the album generally involve Henry Butler on vocals ("Let The Good Times Roll", "Born Under A Bad Sign",
and "Three Kings").  Sonny Landreth's slide guitar work on the instrumental "In Plain Sight" is brilliant, as is dual guitar work of Robben Ford and Golub on "Side Tracked".  Butler steals the show on piano in "I'm Tore Down", but the entire ensemble is hot on what turns out to be the standout track of the album.

Jeff Golub hits mostly golden notes on Three Kings.  His guitar work is outstanding throughout, even if the energy on a couple of tracks falls a bit flat.  All new students of blues/rock should include Three Kings in their early education, as The Jeff Golub Band knows their craft and interpret the numbers here with pizzazz.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Jeff Golub Band at http://www.jeffgolub.com/ or on Facebook.  Three Kings is available on Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.