Album Review of
True Blues Brother: The Legacy of Matt "Guitar" Murphy

Written by Duane Verh
May 19, 2024 - 7:04pm EDT
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With a pack of guest artists bursting at the seams, producer/drummer Bob Christina supplemented what became departed blues legend Matt “Guitar” Murphy’s final studio sessions with a collection of good-vibes lineups populated with colleagues and admirers of the master axeman.  Solid instrumental play is to be found everywhere starting with Mr. Murphy’s own features, a pair that serve as leadoff tracks for the double-disc package.  Others delivering as one might expect include Bob Margolin, Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl and Blues Brothers partner Steve Cropper.  Speaking of the movie, vocalist Toni Lynn Washington serves up a nice reading of Aretha Franklin’s “Think”.  Unsurprisingly, Tracy Nelson provides a moving vocal on Don Nix’s “Same Old Blues”.  Other tracks of note include Doyle Bramhall II’s feature- Magic Sam’s “Give Me Time”- and Willie Dixon’s “Evil”, highlighted by Bob Margolin’s inspired sounding slide work.