The Luxury of being Ronnie Earl is not having to rely on a career of being tied to a certain decade or time period.
Mercy Me his latest album sounds timeless because the emotional center is still the sound of his guitar.
The album especially on the instrumentals has a unique power of oneness.
The beauty of the instrumental songs Soul Searching, A Prayer For Tomorrow with piano man Anthony Geraci and Blues For Duke Robillard are really at the heart of Earl and the band.
On these songs the playing and band dynamics are almost spiritual.
The 12-song album features the absolute killer work of Dave Limina on piano and Hammond B3.
Diane Blue is a great vocalist and gets it down and earthy on the chestnut Please Send Me Somebody To Love while Mark Earley, baritone sax and Mario Perrett, tenor sax are featured on the album and blow solos on the Dave Mason cover Only You Know and I Know
Forrest Padgett on drums, and Paul Kochanski on electric and upright bass. guitar keep the groove harnessed while Earl and Limina explore.
The cover of Higher and Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) is in Diane Blue’s R & B wheelhouse and differs from both the widely known Jackie Wilson and Rita Coolidge versions.
Elsewhere Earl covers the John Coltrane classic Alabama possibly one of most emotional jazz songs of all time in his own inspiring take.
This album is quite different than 2020’s Rise Up but will satisfy Earl’s audience in a big way.
Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters will release Mercy Me, his 14th album in partnership with Stony Plain Records and his 28th career album April 15th 2022.
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, musician, Post Media contributor, Juno Awards Judge and also works with The Toronto Blues Society.
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