Robin Trower (featuring Sari Schorr) – Joyful Sky
Renowned and revered guitarist Robin Trower has, since the new Millennium, immersed himself in a prolific period of writing, recording and releasing acclaimed blues albums.
The upside to such prolific production from the six-string talents of Robin Trower is self-evident, yet that also becomes the issue – there are instances of one album being an extension of the next, or a variation on a blues toned theme, albeit there is no question previous album No More Worlds To Conquer, featuring the soulful voice of Richard Watts, is one of 21st century Trower’s blues best.
For his latest album Robin Trower has added a new shade of blues in the vocal shape of New York songstress Sari Schorr, a vocal powerhouse who made an immediate impact in the UK & Europe in 2016 with her Mike Vernon produced debut album, Force Of Nature.
It's an inspired partnership because Robin Trower, in the vocal company of one of the best in the blues-rock business, has delivered an exceptional blues/ R&B album where Sari Schorr gives voice (and the female perspective) to a top-notch collection of Trower-penned numbers.
Linked by the same manager, Alan Robinson, and following a conversation between Trower and Robinson about the guitarist’s next musical move and who he might be interested in working with (leading to Trower sending a couple of demos across the digital pond for Sari Schorr's consideration), a meeting of the blues loving minds was set.
The combined results are Joyful Sky, the quality of which is further enhanced when you come to realise Robin Trower clearly and purposely wrote many of the songs with Sari Schorr in mind, including the keys they were written and played in, and their arrangements.
The slow blues of opener 'Burn' is soul-smooth, but it also shimmers; Sari Schorr’s relaxing but insistent vocality fits the lyric of someone trying to calm their partner down and take a breath perfectly, while Trower’s guitar remarks, and his deft touch, add atmosphere.
The upside to such prolific production from the six-string talents of Robin Trower is self-evident, yet that also becomes the issue – there are instances of one album being an extension of the next, or a variation on a blues toned theme, albeit there is no question previous album No More Worlds To Conquer, featuring the soulful voice of Richard Watts, is one of 21st century Trower’s blues best.
For his latest album Robin Trower has added a new shade of blues in the vocal shape of New York songstress Sari Schorr, a vocal powerhouse who made an immediate impact in the UK & Europe in 2016 with her Mike Vernon produced debut album, Force Of Nature.
It's an inspired partnership because Robin Trower, in the vocal company of one of the best in the blues-rock business, has delivered an exceptional blues/ R&B album where Sari Schorr gives voice (and the female perspective) to a top-notch collection of Trower-penned numbers.
Linked by the same manager, Alan Robinson, and following a conversation between Trower and Robinson about the guitarist’s next musical move and who he might be interested in working with (leading to Trower sending a couple of demos across the digital pond for Sari Schorr's consideration), a meeting of the blues loving minds was set.
The combined results are Joyful Sky, the quality of which is further enhanced when you come to realise Robin Trower clearly and purposely wrote many of the songs with Sari Schorr in mind, including the keys they were written and played in, and their arrangements.
The slow blues of opener 'Burn' is soul-smooth, but it also shimmers; Sari Schorr’s relaxing but insistent vocality fits the lyric of someone trying to calm their partner down and take a breath perfectly, while Trower’s guitar remarks, and his deft touch, add atmosphere.
'I’ll Be Moving On' brings out the best of both artists and superbly showcases their blues simpatico.
Soulful and smouldering, the song is part R&B, part film noire, with a purposeful vocal (and powerful, controlled vibrato) from Sari Schorr.
Kudos here too for Adrian Gautrey’s organ keyboard work and the sparingly used but highly effective backing vocals.
'The Distance' hearkens back to that moody mid-tempo rock style of Robin Trower as he morphed from the blues-fusion 70s to the early 80s rock vibe.
The slower and broodingly reflective 'Peace Of Mind' then steps back a little further to those Long Misty Days (you can almost hear the late & great Jimmy Dewar backing Sari’s Schorr’s husky blues vocal).
The more contemporary 'Change It,' a funky, Trower-toned cry in support of self-empowerment, adds yet another colour before the title track offers itself up as heady mix of classic era Trower and Bond Theme.
It’s also another that brings out the best of both artists – Sari Schorr is lyrically and vocally expressive while Robin Trower underlines, quite emphatically, why he is the Strat-master and Godfather of Tone.
The rhythmic and pseudo-funky 'Need For You' (Trower’s bass and drummer Chris Taggart in perfect, groove driven harmony) is another contemporary offering, one that makes for the most interesting song on the album.
A true highlight, and certain to become a firm favourite with the back in the blues fusion day Robin Trower fans, is the seven-minute 'The Circle is Broken.'
Formed around two distinct but complementary parts, the song stands strong as classic, mid-tempo Trower until, following Sari Schorr’s emphatic "with one kiss, the circle is complete" sign off, the number outros on plaintive and beautifully melancholic guitar-play that reminds of bluesier daydreams and sighing bridges.
Sublime.
The finger pointing 'Flatter To Deceive' then brings things back to the present with a lyric that decries the art – make that disease – of celebrity and the dark side of popular culture and social media.
The album closes out with the ballad 'I Will Always Be Your Shelter,' lifted from No More Worlds To Conquer. (Special to Robin Trower, it’s also the song he told Alan Robinson he’d love to hear Sari Schorr sing).
Richard Watts’ softer, soulful vocal worked beautifully on the original version but Schorr’s considered and lyrically impacting take (the new recording has a more rock ballad arrangement), gives every line meaning:
"I’m the light across the water, when you’re far from the shore…"
Joyful Sky. Joyous Synergy.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Click here for FabricationsHQ's interview with Sari Schorr speaking about the making of the album and working with Robin Trower.
Soulful and smouldering, the song is part R&B, part film noire, with a purposeful vocal (and powerful, controlled vibrato) from Sari Schorr.
Kudos here too for Adrian Gautrey’s organ keyboard work and the sparingly used but highly effective backing vocals.
'The Distance' hearkens back to that moody mid-tempo rock style of Robin Trower as he morphed from the blues-fusion 70s to the early 80s rock vibe.
The slower and broodingly reflective 'Peace Of Mind' then steps back a little further to those Long Misty Days (you can almost hear the late & great Jimmy Dewar backing Sari’s Schorr’s husky blues vocal).
The more contemporary 'Change It,' a funky, Trower-toned cry in support of self-empowerment, adds yet another colour before the title track offers itself up as heady mix of classic era Trower and Bond Theme.
It’s also another that brings out the best of both artists – Sari Schorr is lyrically and vocally expressive while Robin Trower underlines, quite emphatically, why he is the Strat-master and Godfather of Tone.
The rhythmic and pseudo-funky 'Need For You' (Trower’s bass and drummer Chris Taggart in perfect, groove driven harmony) is another contemporary offering, one that makes for the most interesting song on the album.
A true highlight, and certain to become a firm favourite with the back in the blues fusion day Robin Trower fans, is the seven-minute 'The Circle is Broken.'
Formed around two distinct but complementary parts, the song stands strong as classic, mid-tempo Trower until, following Sari Schorr’s emphatic "with one kiss, the circle is complete" sign off, the number outros on plaintive and beautifully melancholic guitar-play that reminds of bluesier daydreams and sighing bridges.
Sublime.
The finger pointing 'Flatter To Deceive' then brings things back to the present with a lyric that decries the art – make that disease – of celebrity and the dark side of popular culture and social media.
The album closes out with the ballad 'I Will Always Be Your Shelter,' lifted from No More Worlds To Conquer. (Special to Robin Trower, it’s also the song he told Alan Robinson he’d love to hear Sari Schorr sing).
Richard Watts’ softer, soulful vocal worked beautifully on the original version but Schorr’s considered and lyrically impacting take (the new recording has a more rock ballad arrangement), gives every line meaning:
"I’m the light across the water, when you’re far from the shore…"
Joyful Sky. Joyous Synergy.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Click here for FabricationsHQ's interview with Sari Schorr speaking about the making of the album and working with Robin Trower.