The Free Lance Star
(fredricksburg.com)
March 6, 2008



Accomplished Blues Man's Smooth Vocal Delivery Gives A Marvin Gaye
Touch To Birchmere Show; Cray Adds A Bit Of Soul


Robert Cray played his classics and songs from his new album last
Monday at the Birchmere.

By "Doc" Henley Smythe
For The Free Lance-Star


In the last 25 years, there probably hasn't been a more influential
blues artist than Robert Cray.

Eric Clapton--a close friend and admirer of
Cray's--has made The Robert Cray Band one of his regular touring
partners and a fixture at his "Crossroads" guitar festivals. In fact,
the band's latest album, "Across the Pond," was recorded live at
London's Royal Albert Hall while Cray was supporting Clapton.

Cray also was featured recently in the 2007 documentary "Strat
Masters." The film tells the story of the iconic Fender Stratocaster
guitar, and includes interviews with several other great Stratocaster
players. It's no coincidence that the folks at Fender have a number of
signature Robert Cray Strats available for those of us who wish we
could play like him.

Monday evening, Cray and his band played for close to two hours to a
sold-out audience at The Birchmere and proved why they are the best
blues band in the nation.

What makes The Robert Cray Band different from contemporaries is their
element of soul that just takes the blues feel and the emotion up a
notch. This is due in no small part to Cray's silky smooth but
versatile vocals, and his distinctive guitar style. (I always tell
friends he sings like Marvin Gaye and plays like Albert Collins.)

But don't sell Cray's fellow musicians short. Jim Pugh's keyboards
brought goose bumps to the skin with every swirl.

Karl Sevareid's bass playing was anything but orthodox. Bent over in
ecstasy, his fingers climbing up and down the fret board, Sevareid did
much more than just fill the bottom end--he even treated the audience
to some outstanding upright bass.

On drums, Kevin Hayes perfectly matched the mood of every song, from
brushes and light touches on the cymbals to a tight snare and booming
kick drum on the "funky" tunes, as Cray likes to call some of the more
up-tempo numbers.

From the haunting "Time Makes Two," the rocking '80s classic "Smokin'
Gun" and the artful use of the delay effect on "Poor Johnny" to the
all-out raunchiness of "Phone Booth," everything was perfect.

Hats off here, too, to the folks at The Birchmere who, once again, had
the sound just right--and who always provide a fun and intimate
atmosphere at shows.

At 54, Cray is sounding better than ever. He truly is a master of his
instrument, and fronts one of those few acts that sounds better live
than on record.



"Doc" Henley Smythe is a local DJ and musician. Reach him at
rockwithdoc.com.


Copyright 2008 The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company.

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