RICK’S PICKS: Robben Ford: Bringing It Back Home (Provogue) / Bassist: David Piltch

The Album: Guitarist Robben Ford returns to his blues roots on this latest release, and assembles an A-list quartet to help out. It’s the music he started with, years before he became a well-known name in the jazz -pop world with L.A. Express, Miles Davis and countless artists. Bringing It Back Home is a magnificent display of economical playing by the entire lineup; the music basks in its simplicity. Larry Goldings accompanies Ford perfectly on organ, and the addition of trombone ace Stephen Baxter as the sole horn player is a brilliant choice, as evidenced on tunes like “Slick Capers Blues” and the Dylan classic “Most Likely You Go Your Way And I’ll Go Mine”. The band delivers an eclectic mix of blues-dripping covers, including two written by the great Allen Toussaint, as well as one Ford original (“Oh, Virginia”). Robben sings nine of the album’s ten tunes — the old gospel standard “On That Morning” the only instrumental– and his passion for this project is clearly evident with every note he plays and sings throughout.

The Bassist: David Piltch is solid as ever, and his upright glues the whole affair together. Together with drummer Harvey Mason, they are an unbeatable rhythm section.

Best Tracks: “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky”, “Oh Virginia”, “On That Morning”, “Most Likely You Go You Way And I’ll Go Mine”