Devil May Care (Alligator)
Tinsley Ellis
Released January 21, 2022
DownBeat Four-and-a-Half-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lUDdW_Wxs2tDngouXz3riPeTcT7odJ0hQ
Spotify:
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About:
On
Friday, January 21, 2022, world-renowned guitarist, vocalist and
songwriter Tinsley
Ellis will release
his new Alligator album, the propulsive, soul-searching, raw and
cathartic Devil May Care. The album, Ellis’ 20th, will be available on CD
and on red vinyl LP, as well as on all major streaming and download services.
That same day, Ellis will kick off his coast-to-coast North American tour from
his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
Devil May Care features ten of Ellis’ most dynamic original compositions,
mixing muscular rock ‘n’ roll and hard blues into his own instantly
recognizable sound. The emotionally-charged guitar solos soar in full
service to the songs, as if Ellis is living and breathing the sound rather than
simply playing the notes. “The goal,” says Ellis, “was to make the guitar
sing.”
Relix says Ellis’ music contains “powerful spine-tingling guitar and
gritty, soulful vocals …an inspired and passionate fusion of blues and Southern
rock.” Guitar World declares, “Ellis’ playing sparkles with
depth and subtlety. Whether playing deep, slow blues or uptempo rockers, Ellis
rides a gorgeously fat, pure tone.”
While the worldwide pandemic and subsequent shutdown profoundly affected every
musician (and every person), Ellis used his time off the road to write over 200
new songs. In March 2020, Ellis was forced to cancel the tour promoting his
previous release, Ice Cream In Hell, only six weeks into the 60-date run.
He almost immediately began composing on amps and guitars that he hadn’t used
for decades. He explored obscure studio and live recordings from some of his
greatest musical heroes, such as the Allman Brothers, Freddie King, Michael
Bloomfield, B.B. King and beyond, and was inspired by his favorite artists all
over again. Somehow, in the most unlikely of times, Tinsley Ellis committed to
growing his already formidable talent.
As early as April 2020, he began regularly releasing his new material online,
keeping his fans engaged and soaking up their comments and responses. He knew,
thanks to the reactions of his fans to his new songs, that he needed to make a
record and get back on the road as soon as possible. Ellis whittled the
200-song list down to ten, enlisted his friend and co-producer, keyboard master
Kevin McKendree, and headed for Franklin, Tennessee’s famous Rock House
recording studio. The result is Devil May Care, a record Ellis says,
“is for the fans as much as for me.”
Tinsley Ellis has been immersed in music his whole life. Born in Atlanta 1957
and raised in southern Florida, he acquired his first guitar at age seven,
inspired by seeing The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. He took to
guitar instantly, developing and sharpening his skills as he grew up. Like many
kids his age, Ellis discovered the blues through the back door of British
Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream and The Rolling Stones as
well as Southern rockers like the Allman Brothers. One night in 1972, he and a
friend were listening to Al Kooper and Michael Bloomfield’s Super
Session record when his friend’s older brother told them that, if they
liked Super Session, they should go see B.B. King, who was in town that
week. Tinsley saw that show from the very front row. As fate would have it,
King broke a guitar string while playing, and after changing it without missing
a beat, he handed the broken string to young Tinsley. And yes, he still has
that string.
Today, Ellis is among the world’s most celebrated blues-rock performers, and
one of the genre’s most original and prolific songwriters. Blues Music
Magazine says he plays “perfect, and perfectly Southern,
blues-rock.” Vintage Guitar says, “He delivers blistering blues-rock,
soul romps, minor-key blues and shuffles—and it all sounds great.” Ellis has
toured the world non-stop for 35 years. He has captivated and amazed fans in
all 50 United States, as well as in Canada, all across Europe, Australia and
South America. He’s earned a massive, fervent fan base that can never seem to
get enough of Ellis and his music. Fueled by his blazing, every-note-matters
guitar work and his gruff, spirited vocals, Ellis delivers one imaginative and
memorable song after another. Now, with Devil May Care and a new tour
booked, Ellis is more than ready to make up for lost time.
According to Allmusic.com, “Ellis’ playing underscores the emotional depth
in the lyrics. His meaty solos dig deep.” With Devil May Care, Ellis
proves that true again, with ten jaw-dropping, career-topping performances. As
he continues adding more dates to his already packed tour schedule, Ellis will
bring his high-energy Southern blues-rock to fans all across the country.
“It’s been a long 18 months,” he says, “and now folks are ready to have
some fun.”
Track Listing:
1. One Less Reason (Tinsley Ellis) 05:08
2. Right Down the Drain (Tinsley Ellis) 04:59
3. Just Like Rain (Tinsley Ellis) 04:29
4. Beat the Devil (Tinsley Ellis) 03:49
5. Don’t Bury Our Love (Tinsley Ellis) 05:19
6. Juju (Tinsley Ellis) 05:02
7. Step Up (Tinsley Ellis) 04:04
8. One Last Ride (Tinsley Ellis) 06:10
9. 28 Days (Tinsley Ellis) 04:00
10. Slow Train to Hell (Tinsley Ellis) 05:15
Personnel:
Tinsley Ellis, guitar, vocals
Kevin McKendree, organ, piano
Steve Mackey, bass
Lynn Williams, drums, percussion
Jim Hoke, saxophone (3, 4, 7)
Andrew Carney, trumpet (3, 4, 7)
Recorded at The Rock House, Franklin, TN Produced by Tinsley Ellis and Kevin McKendree
Recorded and mixed by Kevin McKendree at The Rock House, Franklin, TN
Assistant Engineer: Yates McKendree
Mastered by Jim Demain at Yes Master Studios, Nashville, TN
Cover art by Steve Johannsen
Photo by Elaine Thomas Campbell
Packaging design by Kevin Niemiec
In memory of William Tinsley “Trey” Ellis III
Review:
After decades in the trenches, Tinsley Ellis and Duke Robillard have secured enduring reputations. The usually overblown tag legend has a strong scent of legitimacy when applied to these two guitarists. Ellis’ Devil May Care is the best of the dozen albums he has made for Alligator since starting a solo blues-rock career in 1988. His singing voice is a casually potent vehicle of expression that age has given a new texture and a mature timbre. When he writes melodies, Ellis demonstrates an inquiring spirit and an ear for the catchy. His lyrics, even those on conventional romantic quandaries, are thoughtful rather than boilerplate. The 10 songs here, each a winner, were picked for the album from 200 he composed while at home in Atlanta for 18 months because of the pandemic. Being off the road so long allowed him to own his music as never before. Years ago, Ellis blazed like a firestorm, but today he’s a model of self-regulated heat who strikes the notes on his guitar with hard confidence and musical intelligence. He taps into a vein of inspiration soloing on the Hendrix-like “Step Up” and the ballad “Don’t Bury Our Love” (a cousin of Al Kooper’s “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know”). Ellis’ guitar seemingly helps him summon the power to confront inner hurt and find a place of solace in the Muscle Shoals-soul of “Just Like Rain.” Striking technical ability goes hand in hand with emotional tenacity throughout the album. Several songs carry the spirit of the Allman Brothers Band. Bonus: Pianist and organist Kevin McKendree, who produced the album with Ellis, enrichens the music with his consummate workmanship.
Frank-John Hadley (DownBeat)
