Bernard Allison
Energized (Ruf Records)
Like Father, Like Son, (07/26/06)
This live two-CD set captures the energy of Bernard Allison in concert, recorded live at The
Musa in Gottingen, Germany, in October 2005. Opening with a funky instrumental, "Another
Ride To The City," co-written with Dan Fields, the whole band is in on the groove, Allison on
guitar; Mike Vlahakis on keyboards; Jassen Wilber playing bass; and, Andrew Thomas on
drums.
Allison immediately jumps into the George T.Crockett/Jack Daniels authored "It's A Man Down
There," which has become a Bernard Allison signature tune. The vocal and extended guitar solo
are especially notable here. This first dics also includes "A Woman Named Trouble," the Bettye
Jean Crutchert/Robert Manuel song that is another of the younger Allison's classics.
Allison sings three compositions by his legendary father, Luther Allison: "Bad Love," "Into My
Life," and "Too Many Women." The band cooks and heats it up rather well throughout. "This is
Blues Rock" and Luther Allison would be proud as his son does a great job of carrying on the
Allison tradition. He closes the first CD with his own "The Way Love Was Meant To Be."
The second CD begins with three Bernard Allison-authored instrumentals: "The Walk," "Step
Down," and "Talking Guitar." "Snake Bit Again" is co-authored by Daniel Gene Diefenderfer and
Anders Osborne and it is one of the vocal highlights of this second disc. Mike Vlahakis'
Hammond B-3 builds suspense on Allison's version of his father's "A Change Must Come."
Halfway through Vlahakis switches to piano and solos nicely.
This album is proof positive that Bernard is doing it the way his father did. Luther built his
reputation in Europe for being a terrific live performer. Later in his career Luther Allison returned
to the states and finally earned the success as a headliner that he so long deserved. "Too Cool"
is a Bruce Bertness McCabe song and is another tune associated with Bernard. Bernard then
offers us two more originals, "Wah Wah Action," a Jimi Hendrix-influenced guitar instrumental,
and his "Don't Be Confused." Bernard means it when he sings, "See my daddy taught me how to
be strong/He expects us all to carry on."
Allison encores with "I Just Came Back to Say Goodbye" and closes the CD. Stevie Ray
Vaughan and Luther Allison created the kind of Blues Rock heard here. There are imitators, but none are as
Energized or as determined as Bernard Allison.
Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor at BluesWax
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