20 illinoisentertainer . com april 2017
B
ritish blues-rock guitarist Robin Trower is a living legend . If you haven ’ t heard of him by now , add his classic discography to your musical bucket list .
Respect is properly due , because Trower has become the workman , prototype British blues guitarist including his start in Procol Harum in the late ’ 60s to a successful solo career beginning in the ’ 70s along with projects collaborating with Bryan Ferry and Jack Bruce , in between . Since 1971 , Trower has redefined blues guitar playing . His powerhouse trio modeled after threepiece bands such as Taste ( featuring Rory Gallagher ), the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the rock ' s first 3-piece supergroup , Cream , influenced thousands of guitar slingers . Trower ’ s second album , 1974 ’ s Bridge Of Sighs , took the world by storm , settting the standard for progressive blues albums . It single-handedly influenced a slew of American blues guitarists for years to come .
On the soon-to-be released album Time and Emotion , Trower proves he still has the magic touch when it comes to wailing on his signature Fender Stratocaster . The 11 fiery tracks that grace the album follow the blueprint of Trower ’ s distinct guitar style while the production contains a vibrant mix that allows each instrument to magically shine throughout . “ I think the whole thing really is based around getting a good guitar sound ,” Trower began . “ Then obviously , the drum sound is very important . I played a lot of the bass on it as well , so I got a good sound I like on the bass . It all has to fit well . A great guy named Livingstone Brown mixed the album and that ’ s a big part of why it sounds so good .”
Throughout Trower ’ s career , he ’ s been surrounded by stellar vocalists such as Gary Brooker , James Dewar , Bryan Ferry , and Jack Bruce . Not normally known as a singer , Trower admirably handles all of the vocals on Time and Emotion . It ’ s a trait that he has become much more comfortable with now that he ’ s been singing lead for the last couple of albums . “ In the last two years I ’ ve started to write more songs that I felt are more personal to me ,” Trower stated . “ So I decided I would try to do the vocals on them . I enjoy doing it because it ’ s so much a part of the writing and the creating of the actual music .”
Trower loves playing in the States and will return for a six week run starting on April 26 in St . Paul , Minnesota . Making a stop at the Copernicus Theater on April 29 , the 70-year-old Trower admits his fondness for Chicago audiences and the US in general . “ Chicago is one of my favorite places to play because the audience really seems to get into what I do ,” he said . “ The response is always very rewarding . I just love playing in the States anyway because the audiences are so good . I think there ’ s more of a connection with the United States audiences with my music than there is in Europe . I think perhaps it ’ s because my music is so much based and influenced by black American music ; rhythm and blues , blues . I think Americans just key into it better than in Europe . Although , I get very good response in Europe as well .”
Appearing 4 / 29 at Copernicus Theater , Chicago .