Robben Ford, whose album Blue Moon is a typically hard-hitting modern blues-and-soul collection, has one of the most bewitchingly loose-limbed and attractive guitar tones in the business. Coupled with his effortless technique and penchant for honest-to-goodness blues phraseology, that makes him one of the most pleasing guitarists on the circuit. The fact that he's a decent singer and accomplished songwriter, as well as an eagle-eyed spotter of talent for his supporting bands, means you've got a pretty safe bet that he's going to serve up superior blues-drenched music with a light dose of modern soul. Blue Moon delivers on the bet, being a beautifully produced, lean and hungry set of performances that never strays far from the mother lode. It doesn't matter whether the drummer is Vinnie Colaiuta or Tom Brechtlen, the bassist Roscoe Beck or Jimmy Earl, each performance cooks, and not a note is wasted. With a blues style that is both modern and traditional and production values that are second to none, this is a very welcome release indeed. --Keith Shadwick