Duke Robillard – Blast Off!
Duke Robillard will celebrate his recent signing to Nola Blue Records
Duke Robillard – Blast Off!
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital
Label: Nola Blue Records
Release: 2026
Release date: February 20, 2026
Two-time GRAMMY nominee and four-time Blues Music Award winner Duke Robillard will celebrate his recent signing to Nola Blue Records with the February 20, 2026, release of his label debut album, ‘Blast Off!’
“Over the course of his glorious career, now extending more than half a century, guitarist Duke Robillard has made many superlative albums. Few have captured his versatility any more captivatingly than Blast Off!,” writes esteemed music critic Bill Dahl in the album’s liner notes.
A universally acclaimed guitarist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader, Duke Robillard has released many solo albums, collaborated with iconic artists, and earned numerous awards. A co-founder of the band Roomful of Blues, he also replaced Jimmie Vaughan as a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
For his new album, ‘Blast Off!’ with Duke Robillard and His All-Star Band, the guitar maestro has assembled a varied but mostly very traditional collection of many of the styles he’s known for, including blues, swing, jazz, and R&B. This diversity represents his multi-faceted career and devotion to preserving these roots music styles.
The twelve-track album contains three originals, including two instrumentals and an exciting piece concurrently historic and new: the first recording of a blues composition written by Robillard at the age of 17. He is joined on the project by Chris Cote on guitar and vocals, Bruce Bears on keyboards, bassist Marty Ballou and drummer Mark Teixeira. Doug James and Mark Earley are on sax, Jeff “Doc” Chanonhouse, trumpet on “You Rascal You,” with special guest Billy Novick on clarinet and alto sax.
Website: https://www.dukerobillard.com/
Tracks:
01. When I Get Lucky
02. I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead (You Rascal You)
03. Feel My Cares
04. Lowdown
05. Play Boy Hop
06. Confusion
07. Blast Off!
08. Stand By Me
09. The King
10. Warm And Tender Love
11. Galactic Grease
12. Look A There Look A There
Line-up:
Duke Robillard – guitar (all tracks), vocal (track 2), background vocal (track 12)
Chris Cote – vocal (tracks 1,2,3,4,6,8,10,12), lead guitar (track 10)
Bruce Bears – piano, organ (all tracks), background vocal (track 12)
Marty Ballou – electric and acoustic bass (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 6,12)
Mark Teixeira – drums and percussion (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 6,12)
Doug James – baritone and tenor sax (all tracks except 7,11)
Mark Earley – tenor sax (all tracks except 7,11)
Billy Novick – clarinet (tracks 2,9)
Doc Chanonhouse – trumpet (track 2)