Robben Ford
Talk To Your Daughter

Robben Ford's American dream is truly a beautiful one: a Californian and son of an artist, he has been studying the guitar since he was 13 and, with his first instrument, acquired at the age of 18, he immediately joined his father Charles's blues band.
Gradually, but apparently without excessive difficulty, he reached the top: he formed his own band and began recording in '72 ("Discovering The Blues"), simultaneously, like any respectable jazz musician, he engaged in an intense session-man activity with numerous illustrious collaborations, the most significant of which is certainly the tour with Miles Davis in 1986.
By the late '80s/early '90s, he achieved international popularity.

Ford has a very personal guitar style, which combines fundamental blues with jazz virtuosity indicating his formal training; combining these features with the undeniable skill of bassist Roscoe Beck and top-notch drummers, he has led the band to excel in the fusion music scene. Additionally, it's worth noting that both for Robben and Roscoe Beck, Fender provides customized and signature instruments.

Talking about the album, I'll start by saying that I have listened in its entirety only to this one, "Handful Blues" and "RF & The Blue Line".
I decided to review this one because I find it less predictable, less easy-listening and more intense (a view seemingly widely shared, as this album was a gold record in 1988).
It's an album equally divided between jazz, traditional blues, and slightly more driven tracks, leaning towards rock 'n' roll, among which we include the second track "Wild About You" and the fast "Got Over It", the shortest in the tracklist.
Also interesting are the two covers: "Help The Poor" by Charlie Singleton and especially "Born Under A Bad Sign" by Albert King, here redone in a rhythm 'n' blues version with accompanying horns.
There are also nods to the roots with "Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues", slow nightclub rhythm, and sophisticated solos.
However, the masterpiece of the album is found on the jazz-fusion front, "Revelation" is a concentration of technique and melody that involves the listener on an ecstatic level, delivering refined emotions.

About four years ago, I was lucky enough to attend a Robben Ford concert at the Teatro Smeraldo in Milan. I remember there were some important figures from the Milanese and Italian blues scene, with the great Fabio Treves at the forefront, but that doesn't matter much.
The show was impressive, even though I was left with the impression of an artist with extraordinary technique, but a somewhat precious attitude.
Having said this to clarify, I conclude by saying that I find Robben Ford both pleasant to listen to and useful for educational purposes, even for the bass parts by the masterful Roscoe Beck, and furthermore, he seems like an excellent reference point for many aspiring musicians.