Stony Plain

A true musician’s musician, Ronnie Earl means as much to the legacy of modern jazz-blues as Steve Cropper does to Memphis soul – and like Cropper, his clean, bell-ringing guitar
sound is instantly recognizable. Never one to shred or showboat, Earl is known more for his artful restraint and soulful delivery, whether it’s on a jazz classic like “‘Round Midnight” or an original down-home blues vamp like “Robert Nighthawk Stomp.” The latter, a gigging staple for the last 20 years, is once again a standout on Just For Today, recorded live with the stalwart Broadcasters – Dave Limina (piano, Hammond B3), Jim Mouradian (bass) and Lorne Entress (drums) – in Earl’s home state of Massachusetts. Part heroes tribute and personal statement, the album hits all the right notes; “Heart of Glass,” written for Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green (and first recorded in 1997 for the Tom Dowd-produced The Colour of Love) grips tight with a mood of nostalgia and reflection, while “Blues for Hubert Sumlin” is a rousing pilgrimage that speaks for itself. The best way into Ronnie Earl’s music is to experience him live, and Just For Today just about takes you there.