Release Date : May 5, 2025
It’s
been a big year for Bob Stroger. The ninety-four-year-old blues legend was
inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame this year in Memphis, Tennessee.
To help celebrate his induction, Stroger was invited to throw the first
pitch at Wrigley Field, in Chicago on April 5th. On top
of all that, he has a new CD release called Bob is Back, and it is a fabulous
slice of classic Chicago blues. This twelve-track record features Stroger
front and center on bass guitar and lead vocals with Joe Marhofer on
harmonica, Ricardo Maca on guitar, Arthur Catuto on bass, Leandro
Cavera on drums, and Ben Levin on piano and organ.
The album opens with an attention-grabbing cover of Elmore James’ “Look Over Yonder Wall”. Stroger’s vocals are strong and authentic, with Marhofer’s searing harp performance superbly backed by Levin’s barrelhouse piano. This track sets the perfect tone for the rest to come. Over a tight and hot rhythm, Stroger claims “Jazz ain’t nothing but a blues-man blowing his horn” on his smokin’ original “Jazz Man Blues”. The walking bassline solo is a grand one. I really dig their cover of Tampa Red’s “Don’t You Lie to Me”. The song is played to perfection, with amazing performances from Maca, Levin, and Marhofer. It’s a treat to hear special guests Candice Ivory and RenĂ©e Gros accompany Stroger on backing vocals for “Love You Baby”. In a groovy burst of Stax mojo, the funk-laden instrumental “Bob is Back” slides into the mix for an absolutely fabulous listen. For the closer, Bob wisely reminds us all to “Let the Good Times Roll”. I can’t help but sing along with this party song.
I was able to catch Stroger perform at the Pinetop Perkins Boogie & Crawfish Boil a couple of months ago at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. To be up close to blues royalty of this caliber felt pretty damn good. It’s great to see Stroger still performing on stage, and recoding new tracks. Blues fans will definitely want to pick up a copy of Bob is Back. It’s an instant blues classic indeed.
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Bob Stroger at Pinetop Boogie & Crawfish Boil
Ground Zero Blues Club
Clarksdale, Mississippi
May 10, 2025
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| Photo by Phillip Smith |
