Jack Broadbent - Ride (Album Review)
Jack Broadbent’s 2019 album ‘Moonshine Blue’ was an impressive release that found the singer and guitarist dabbling in various genres. Jack wasn’t a slave to his reputation as an excellent slide guitarist and bluesman and seemed content to go wherever his muse took him to showcase his talents as a singer, songwriter or, as I put it, folky troubadour. For his latest release, at least at first glance, he’s seemingly sticking to the blues, but there are still plenty of twists and turns along the way on what might well turn out to be his best and most cohesive release yet.
JACK BROADBENT photography by Jeff Fasano
This tight eight-song, thirty-five minute ‘Ride’ might have been an entirely different beast as Jack originally planned a record of solo acoustic material. Working with Quebec based drummer Mark Gibson, who shared the production duties, the sessions took a harder bluesier turn resulting in a more rock ‘n’ roll themed album. Jack handles vocals, guitars, keys and harmonica and completed the album with his dad, Mick Broadbent, recording his bass parts remotely, as is often the case when getting together in one room is not always practical, especially during a pandemic. The resulting album is leaner and meaner sounding than ‘Moonshine Blue’ when the approach to the songs and arrangements benefited from additional keys and saxophone. Here the trio does a great job crafting the musicianship to complement the material. Sometimes things might require a few more bells and whistles, but in the case of ‘Ride’, less is more.
Jack’s vocal is at its most guttural, the guitars thick as molasses, on the title track that opens the record. Playing this track in the car might not be a great idea as you’ll soon be way beyond any speed limit. ‘I Love Your Rock ‘N’ Roll’ is as infectious a bluesy stomp as you might expect from the title. If your foot doesn’t tap to this, I’d be checking my pulse. ‘New Orleans’ keeps the quality and the musical range interesting via a relaxed, easy swagger that’s a perfect fit for The Big Easy. Jack slows things down, just a little, with a terrific vocal and even more impressive slide work as ‘Hard Livin’’ reaches a crescendo.
Jack exudes relaxed cool on ‘Midnight Radio’ a blues, country hybrid tied up with a swinging, jazzy bow. ‘Baby Blue’ allows Jack plenty of room to let his guitar do the talking, and it does, but the thing that grabs me about this one is Jack’s vocal as it switches from deeper tones to a ragged falsetto. Next up, we’ve ‘Grace’ with its references to water “Now I’m gonna live by the water” bringing to mind images of starting over, spirituality and thoughts of baptism. I’m probably overthinking this, but if we put all that to one side, the harmonica playing is a great addition here, and by this point in the album, Jack is preaching to the converted. ‘Ride’ concludes with the impressive ‘Who Are You?’ where a seemingly standard bluesy stomp takes an interesting detour via an unexpectedly ethereal “Who are you?” vocal refrain, and a cleverly executed backing vocal, adds subtle light and shade to proceedings.
‘Ride’ is another in a string of fine records from the talented Jack Broadbent. Hopefully, we’ll see these songs performed live in the UK later this year at the Black Deer Festival (a highly recommended festival) or in Europe when Jack opens for Richard Thompson in July.
LIVE IN THE UK
18.06.22
BLACK DEER FESTIVAL
(Eridge Park, Kent)
FURTHER UK DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
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EUROPEAN SHOWS WITH RICHARD THOMPSON
01.07.22 HAMBURG (DE) Elbphilharmonie
02.07.22 GRONINGEN (NL) Spot
03.07.22 AMSTERDAM (NL) De Waalse Kerk
05.07.22 ANTWERP (BE) Open Air Amphitheatre
06.07.22 EINDHOVEN (NL) Paterskerk
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