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About his 2010 album, "Back Around Here," I wrote that Rob "Stone treats the (Chicago Blues) idiom as not simply history, but as a living tradition to be celebrated." About his next album, I further found that "Stone's strong performances and the wonderful band on "Gotta Keep Rollin'" provide us with another terrific Chicago blues recording." It has been some six years since then, and he returned with an acoustic setting for his blues vocals and harmonica. On "Trio in Tokyo," Stone is joined by Japanese pianist Elena Kato and bassist Hiroshi Eguchi.
As Bill Dahl relates in the liner notes, The trio first recorded, among other songs, the Solomon Burke classic "Got To Get You Off My Mind" and an old Louis Jordan recording, "Jack You're Dead." Returning to the States, he played the songs for Big Jay McNeely, who at the time Stone was working with. McNeely convinced Stone to go back to Tokyo and record more songs in the same vein. Among the songs subsequently recorded was "There Is Something on Your Mind," a big mid-fifties hit for McNeely with Little Sonny Warner's vocal. It was meant to be a vocal duet with McNeely, but the tenor sax legend passed before this could happen.
There is a nice selection of material that Stone delivers in this stripped-down format opening with a rendition of Johnny Ace's "No Money," the melody of which might suggest "T-Bone Shuffle." Stone sings in an appealing, heartfelt, straightforward manner and is an outstanding, swinging harmonica player. Although unamplified, his playing may lack a little punch. Ms. Kato also showcases her very capable and deft piano while Mr. Eguchi anchors the performances with his steady bass. There is an affable rendition of the Solomon Burke hit referenced above, followed by a touch of urgency in the vocal on Walter Davis' "Come Back Baby," a performance modeled on Ray Charles recording. Ms. Kato shines on her accompaniment as well as solo.
Other selections on this album include a wry cover of Willie Mabon's "Poison Ivy," a soulful rendition of "There Is Something on Your Mind," Amos Milburn's blues ballad "Money Hustlin' Woman," the jumping jive of "Jack You're Dead" and Chuck Willis' classic "What Am I Living For." After a lively instrumental original, "Blow Fish Blow!," the album closes with a nostalgic rendition of Leadbelly's "Goodnight Irene." This is not a recording that will electrify listeners, but one to relax listening to the honest, well-played performances that is a refreshing change of pace.
I received my review copy from a publicist. Here the trio performs "Got To Get You Off My Mind."
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