Yes, that Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy. The same one most universally recognized for his silver-screen portrayal as the lead guitarist of Jake and Elwood Blues’ band, the Soul Food Cafe’s cook, and husband of Aretha Franklin’s character in The Blues Brothers (1980). 1998’s Blues Brothers 2000 as well as the stack of associated records likewise featured his fretwork.
But as True Blues Brother uniquely demonstrates, Murphy was vastly so much more.
The story goes that Murphy holed up in a recording studio for what would become his final work. However, his passing in 2018, at age 88, left only a few cuts and an unfinished project. That’s him—more precisely, that’s his guitar—carving through “Matt’s Boogie” with nimble haste, then jazzfully buttering “Matt’s Shuffle” with oh-so-cool notes that melt into the warm chords rising off Bruce Bears’ Hammond organ. “Tired of Sleeping Alone” sports a Ricky “King” Russell vocal. That totals three tracks with Murphy. True Blues Brother’s 21 other tracks are in honor of Murphy.
The posthumous double-disc tribute offers a non-traditional, wide-angle lookback at his legacy. Because what may seem like (and can be fully appreciated as) a wonderfully eclectic gathering of songs is actually an interesting game of connect the dots—where the dots can represent songs associated with those artists with whom Murphy had ties. Except the songs get newly covered by his famous friends and associates. No less than 72 musicians convened, making quite the setting for stargazing. But be prepared to work yourself, since the Blues Hall of Famer’s résumé doubles as an impressive laundry list of fellow legends.
To get you started: How about “Think”? Yup, a loop back to the aforementioned Aretha Franklin, except Toni Lynn Washington now issues the cautioning finger-wags. Try: “You Never Can Tell.” Answer: Chuck Berry, for whom he helped blanket many a Chess session. Here, the zing from the Mitchfest Horns frames the singing Roomful of Blues alum Dave Howard. “I Can’t Quit You Baby” tags Otis Rush, another of Murphy’s clients as a Chess guitar-for-hire sideman. Except reimagined using Led Zeppelin’s, rather than Otis,’ blueprint. Ike Turner receives his nod via the peacocking “Shake a Tail Feather.”
And dots keep getting connected. Bob Margolin’s slide guitar goes bonkers for “Evil,” Howlin’ Wolf’s bone crusher, with so much craze as to bait in Jerry Portnoy’s harp, making for a mini-Muddy Waters Band reunion. “Suffering Soul” and Memphis Slim’s “Lonesome” host another reunion: Roomful of Blues, with the comings and goings of Duke Robillard, Al Copley, Ronnie Earl, Ron Levy, Greg Piccolo, etc. Into the gutbucket go guitarist Joe Beard and harpist Billy Boy Arnold to pull out “You Wasn’t Doin’ Too Bad.” Christine ‘The Beehive Queen’ Ohlman fulfills the Etta James connection by forcefully blasting “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” against the wall. And “Way Down South,” the title track off Murphy’s 1990 solo debut, keeps mesmerizing under the relaxed flow of Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne’s soundalike croon, Steve Cropper’s guitar and Lee Oskar’s harmonica. Noted fretsmen Doyle Bramhall II and Bill ‘Titan of The Telecaster’ Kirchen, Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe, vocalist Tracy Nelson, and the piano of honorary Rolling Stone Chuck Leavell are also in on Murphy’s spectacular farewell.
Label: Nola Blue
Release Date: 6/21/24
Artist Website: https://www.nola-blue.com/truebluesbrother
Reviewed by Dennis Rozanski
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