Giles Robson – Nine Blues Originals
A must listen album to those who like to hear an original and creative voice working within the deep and rich tradition of the blues
Giles Robson – Nine Blues Originals
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital
Label: Independent
Release: 2026
Release date: July 3, 2026
After two acclaimed and award-winning interpretive albums of legendary blues songs, 2024’s ‘Seven Blues Classics‘ (A Downbeat Album Of The Year) and ‘Ten Chicago Blues Classics‘ (USA’s Blues Blast Acoustic Album Of The Year feat Muddy Waters’ last lead guitarist John Primer), Giles Robson, the internationally acclaimed harmonica virtuoso and singer returns with an album of nine all original blues tunes
Rooted deeply in the blues tradition and seasoned with his own original harmonica style that ranges from the powerful to the delicate and his emotive singing, these nine blues originals reflect the intimate songs, acoustic sound, spontaneity and detail that feature in his 5-star smash hit intimate blues show “Up Close With The Blues” which sold out ten nights at the celebrated Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It’s a show which he now tours nationally and internationally in characterful “up close and personal” music rooms.
He reunites with much celebrated guitarist Manny Fizzotti, who won intense praise for his contributions to 2024’s “Seven Blues Classics” and who is described by legendary Alligator records boss Bruce Iglauer as a guitarist “with real blues feeling, lots of talent and a lot of good taste, a really good musician who can play blues and variations on blues in many styles with taste and credibility”. Manny adds a gloriously subtle, percussive and textural acoustic guitar foundation to “Nine Blues Orginals”.
Amongst an array of freshly penned new material, covering a wide range of subject matter, including “Cheap & Blended”, “Me & My Righteous Girl”, “I Ain’t Got A Dog In That Fight”, “Never Too Clever For The Blues”, “Miss Heaven & Go To Hell” Robson includes two audience favourites of his original songs previous albums “Your Dirty Look & Your Sneaky Grin” and “The G.R Shuffle”. Recorded originally with a full band, audience members requested that the duo versions they were enjoying immensely at the shows were committed to disc.
He also tips his hat to two of his greatest blues heroes Memphis Slim & Joe Louis Walker. Here Robson reworks Slim’s “Boogin’ & Bluesin’” as “Town To Town” (With his hectic tour schedule of over 18 countries a year, Robson could fully identify with Slim “Boogin’ and Bluesin’” from “Town to Town” and Robson illustrates some of the formative experiences he’s had along the way including in Chicago, Memphis and the Mississippi). For Joe there is a moving instrumental that closes the album. Robson organised and performed on Joe’s last ever tour before his passing in 2025. A pivotal force in Robson’s career and a great friend and mentor, Joe told Robson they “Were musical brothers” and that Robson had “Created his own musical world”. Robson will be forever grateful to Joe for all of the wisdom and musical expereice Joe gifted him.
Blessed with glorious sound through the efforts of Arnaud Fradin, of Mojo Hand Studios in Nantes, France who mixed and mastered the album, ‘Nine Blues Classics’ will fast become a must listen album to those who like to hear an original and creative voice working within the deep and rich tradition of the blues.
Website: https://gilesrobson.com/
Tracks:
01. Cheap & Blended
02. Me & My Righteous Girl
03. I Ain’t Got A Dog In That Fight
04. Town To Town (For Memphis Slim)
05. Your Dirty Look & Your Sneaky Grin
06. Never Too Clever For The Blues
07. The G.R. Shuffle
08. Miss Heaven & Go To Hell
09. Blues For Joe Louis Walker