James Solberg Band L.A. Blues Atomic Theory 1138

"For Luther" reads a delicate script on the back of James Solberg’s L.A. Blues. Fans will recognize Solberg’s name: James Solberg was a long time running buddy of Allison’s. Solberg’s band was Allison’s U.S. backing band. Solberg and company were recognized, along with Allison, for multiple W.C. Handy awards again this year, including band of the year.

When Allison passed on in August of 1997, James Solberg lost his musical soul-mate. They had played together since 1973. Though there were some breaks in their musical partnership, the bond between the two held fast. With Solberg at his side, Allison began a triumphant U.S. comeback.

L.A. Blues is Solberg’s aching good-by to Allison. The title track is the most obvious homage to his departed musical partner. Solberg’s jagged guitar style has some of the same biting, wicked rawness that was characteristic of Allison’s playing, but Solberg is his own man — the solos on "Bubba’s Boogie" are a sure-footed proclamation of that. And Solberg’s vocals are forthright, brittle and potent, almost startling at times in their intensity. Hear him snarl his way through a haunting interpretation of Bob Dylan’s "Ballad of a Thin Man."

"Must Be a Reason" and "Say Goodbye" are the other two tracks obviously dealing with Solberg’s loss of a friend and partner. "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" may seem an unlikely choice, but, rendered in the blues-rock style characteristic of the Allison/Solberg partnership, it’s perhaps the most touching tune here. It’s significant for Solberg since it’s the last tune on which he jammed with Allison. Four days later Luther lapsed into a coma.

"The very last thing we did together was ‘Just a Closer Walk With Thee.’ That’s the last note he ever played," Solberg writes in the liner notes. "Nobody can do what Luther did and there ain’t nobody can do what I can do. Luther will be with me through every damn note I play."

Grief has given Solberg a poignant gift: L.A. Blues is a tough-but-tender recording that is certainly Solberg’s own emotional and artistic journey but surely blessed with the presence of Luther Allison’s soul within the notes.