Robben Ford

Robben Ford is a man in motion. Scan the five-time Grammy nominee’s back catalogue – a half-century hot-streak that darts between jazz, rock, fusion and blues – and you’ll find a musician in a constant state of metamorphosis. Ford grew up fast, backing Mississippi harp wizard Charlie Musselwhite. By the late-’60s, Ford’s skills were being showcased across Los Angeles with jazz giant Jimmy Witherspoon, before he fell in with the fearless adventurism of esteemed ’70s fusion outfit, The L.A. Express. The groups skills saw them recruited by Joni Mitchell for two classic albums before Ford stepped out with rock royalty on George Harrison’s Dark Horse tour. That collaborative streak would continue throughout his career, from Bonnie Raitt to Bob Dylan. Ford’s solo career began with 1977’s The Inside Story (backed by the group who would become the Yellowjackets) and gained global notice with 1988’s Talk To Your Daughter. Ford's new album was loosely sparked by his move to London, where his antennae picked up the echoes of a sadly departed British blues-boomer. He felt the burning urge to explore the instrument’s outer limits. Loading into Eastcote Studios with engineer George Murphy, the chemistry is palpable, with Ford’s guitar and vocals leading a first-call band that takes in drummer Ianto Thomas, keys man Jonny Henderson, bassist Robin Mullarkey, and a brass section comprising of Paul Booth (saxophone), Ryan Quigley (trumpet) and Trevor Mires (trombone).