Joe Bonamassa

Muddy Wolf At Red Rocks
J&R Adventures

Joe Bonamassa takes a nice little side trip into his blues influences and teaches his audience members, who may not be in tune with blues history, a nice lesson on two of the all time greats. Recorded at Colorado’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheater, Bonamassa pays tribute to Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf quite nicely in this two-CD set.

Covering tracks from the pair of Chicago blues legends, most are well known selections such as the often covered “I Can’t Be Satisfied,” “Killing Floor” and “Evil.” But there are some nice gems that don’t get a lot of coverage too, such as “Real Love” Or “Hidden Charms.” All of the songs are carried through by Bonamassa’s singing guitar, both fingered and slide, as he also trades licks with Kirk Fletcher on some tasty renditions (take note of “All Night Boogie”). Along from Fletcher, the band for these performances is outstanding, including the likes of Reese Wynans on keys, Anton Fig on drums and Mike Henderson on harp.

The last portion of disc two breaks away from the Howlin’ Wolf songs featured and delves into Bonamassa’s own material as an encore, opening with Jimi Hendrix’ “Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)” and offering recent numbers like “The Ballad Of John Henry” and “Love Ain’t A Love Song.” Perhaps the highlight of the encore is capped by an incendiary nine-and-a-half minute take on “Sloe Gin.”

Muddy Wolf At Red Rocks is a nice rockin’ approach to the blues greats and for those fans of Bonamassa it may be a good introduction to the elder Chicago blues masters If they’re not aware of them. The concert is also available on DVD and Blu-Ray. With well over two hours in length, this is a concert recording that fans should find easy to come back to again and again.

Total Time: 127:44

“WE Went Down To The Mississippi Delta . . . “ / Muddy Waters Talking / Tiger In Your Tank / I Can’t Be Satisfied / You Shook Me / Stuff You Gotta Watch / Double Trouble / Real Love / My Home Is On The Delta / All Aboard / Howlin’ Wolf Talking / How Many More Years / Shake For Me / Hidden Charms / Spoonful / Killing Floor / Evil (Is Going On) / All Night Boogie (All Night Long) / Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) / Oh Beautiful! / Love Ain’t A Love Song / Sloe Gin / The Ballad Of John Henry / Mississippi Heartbeat (Opening Title) / Muddy Wolf (Credits)