Programme > Artists > Robben Ford (USA)

Robben Ford (USA)

Fans of guitarist Robben Ford often cite a quote from Miles Davis, which, should it be true, must have been said in the summer of 1986: “It’s a sad day today, because this is the last time Robben Ford’s playing with us...” At that time, after spending a few months with the uncrowned king of jazz, the prominent guitarist left to finally start a band of his own. Even though Davis was very interested in keeping Ford’s dynamic and intelligent playing close to himself. But at that time, the guitarist was already thinking up a concept of getting back to his roots, electric blues, only largely enriched by his widening musical experience.

Already as a teenager, Ford accompanied harp player Charlie Musselwhite and singer Jimmy Witherspoon in the ‘70s. Afterwards, he got together with keyboardist Rusell Ferrante and together they founded Yellowjackets, a fusion band from whom Ford later separated and for a time stuck to playing at Los Angeles recording sessions. He also recorded and played with Joni Mitchell, Ricky Lee Jones or George Harrison - in fact, he was at a time considered as a replacement for Mick Taylor in Rolling Stones. But his interest in electric jazz continued and when he decided to update blues, his album Talk To Your Daughter (1988) represented a breakthrough. Exceptionally arranged standards were played so impressively and contemporarily that they brought both critical success and positive response from the audience.

In the next twenty years, the singing guitarist and gifted composer continued the path he set out for with his first record and he assembled a band called The Blue Line, which features bassist Roscoe Beck and drummer Tom Brechtline. Together they recorded a handful of excellent albums and both musicians also contributed to Ford’s solo records - currently, the band’s repertoire is based on Ford’s latest recording, called Truth (2007). Four time Grammy nominee Ford is an exceptional musician, fusing the traditional with modern in a way that’s both refreshing and modern. And as a guitarist, he belongs to the world’s very top.