Slideways

Blues producer and slide-guitar virtuoso Roy Rogers's eighth solo outing continues his exploration of roots music with an all-instrumental selection. Nearly an hour's worth of slide guitar is a rich confection, but the variety of styles and tones adopted here will keep the aficionado amused. A few of the cuts are simply grooves, rather than artfully prepared tunes, but the majority are blues based, and all are raunchy and uptempo. The opening "Avalanche" is a gloriously sweaty blueswailin' stomp. Other highlights include "Duckwalk," a rocking tribute to one of the unsung heroes of the slide guitar, Chuck Berry, and "There Is Only You," which climaxes in a manner reminiscent of some of Ry Cooder's best soundtrack instrumentals. Meters drummer Zigaboo Modeliste lends a New Orleans flavor, and Snortin' Norton Buffalo's harmonica is a key foil for Rogers's slide throughout. --Rob Stewart