Elvin Bishop Source: Blues Bytes Date: 10/2008 Writer: n/a

Elvin Bishop's latest release, his first for the Delta Groove label, is The Blues Rolls On. On his new release, Bishop pays tribute to all of his influences as well as a number of current standard bearers, many of which stop by to lend a hand. Like all Elvin Bishop albums, the end result is a rollicking set of good-time blues that will put a smile on
your face and a hop in your step.

The disc kicks off with the title track, penned by Bishop, which basically sets the theme of the disc, and features him with Kim Wilson on harp andWarren Haynes on guitar. John Nemeth and Angela Strehli handle vocals on "Night Time," Bishop's nod to Ray Charles.  Nemeth is the unsung hero of the album, providing razor-sharp vocals on this and two other tracks. "Yonders Wall," which Bishop originally recorded with Paul Butterfield, was recorded on the 2007 Legendary R&B Cruise off Mexico and features Ronnie Baker Brooks and the Tommy Castro Band, and a remake of Bishop's 70's classic, "Struttin' My Stuff," really catches fire with a funky arrangement and the six-string interplay between Bishop, Haynes, and Derek Trucks.

Bishop sits down for a short, but lively discussion with B. B. King before they tear into a swinging version of Roy Brown's "Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket."  "Who's The Fool," a lost Motown treasure, features Bishop on slide with Norwegian transplant Kid Andersen and Mighty Mike Schermer taking turns at lead guitar.  Next, Bishop takes it down south to Louisiana with R.C. Carrier and Andre Thierry for Clifton Chenier's Zydeco classic, "Black Gal,"before doing a solo turn on his own autobiographical composition,
"Oklahoma.”

The Homemade Jamz Band join Bishop for a rousing take on Junior Wells' "Come On In This House."  Another hidden gem, Wells' "I Found Out," features Nemeth and Strehli on vocals and Chicago legend James Cotton on harmonica, and Hound Dog Taylor was surely smiling in Blues Heaven when he heard Bishop and George Thorogood rip through "Send You Back To Georgia."  The final cut, Jimmy Reed's "Honest I Do," is an instrumental with Nemeth on harmonica.

Despite the revolving door of guest stars, there's an underlying cohesiveness to the disc.  This is basically a group of the guys getting together to play the music that they love and that is obvious from the first note.  I don't think Elvin Bishop can do it any other way.