New Role Soul

get everything he's done a true master of blues/soul

I am more than satisfied with all of these products. Thanks very much!!!

Robert Ward died this Christmas. His name is not as well known as Lonnie Mack's, (the other guitarist famed for use of the thick vibrato effect on the old "Magnatone" amps), but Ward's been around at least as long as Mack & has been heard by all of us, as the guitarist on Wilson Pickett's performance of "I Found a Love" w/the Falcons, & has been "out there", playing clubs & sessions, ever since. A major loss to the blues/roots music scene.

Robert Ward was the leader of the Falcons (Wilson Pickett's original group). Ward resurfaced after years of absence in the early 90's. New Role Soul is his newest release and a great CD to get acquainted with Robert Ward. New Role Soul is more R&B than blues, however this is R&B much like Little Milton or some of the Stax recordings in the 60's. Ward as always offers a very distinctive voice as well as guitar sound. The sound is full thanks in part to the B3 organ of Kevin McKendree which is a nice accomplice to Ward's guitar playing. The songs are a mix of new and some lesser known R&B classics. The last song on the disk is "Somethin Funky's Goin' On". Yes Robert there sure is and it is New Role Soul.

ROBERT WARD PLAYS MUSIC WITH A CONVICTION THAT IS SO POWERFUL THAT YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER IN HIS VOICE AND GUITAR. CD CONTAINS 13 TRACKS WITH 9 ORIGINALS AND COVERS OF KENNY BURELLS "CHITTLINS CON CARRE" AND ALBERT COLLINS "I AINT DRUNK"

i feel i have to correct a couple of reviews here. if you like his other albums from the 90's, then you will also love this one. if you have the other albums you will know what to expect, this album is every bit as good as his others. great soul / blues playing.

This album, a much later addition to the small but high quality blues guitar-driven soul that Robert Ward has produced in his later solo career, disappoints somewhat. His earlier work, notably Fear No Evil and (less so) Black Bottom were of such a high standard that it was perhaps inevitable that there would be a slide once the well started to flow a bit slower.He leaves behind a legacy that is to cherished, so this is worth getting to complete the anthology, but it will disappoint anyone expecting material with the same impact as his work in the early 90's. You are left with the impression that his sudden reappearance in the 90's had stored up a lot of good material since the early 70's that suddenly was given an means of reaching a wider audience. Once that died back down and Ward approached his own 60's, there was a drop in quantity (as well as quality, I guess). I'm personally very happy to have this in my collection, but it's one for the already committed fan.

Not as powerful as the first two albums, but still worth it. this man is all about his sound. I was lucky enough to see my namesake live at the South Bank. He had a unique sound and spirit.