Royal Tea

Album review

Recorded in the legendary Abbey Road studios, Royal Tea introduces the American guitarist the legendary London venue which gave birth to While My Guitar Gently Weeps, the prolific collaboration between the Beatles and Eric Clapton in the summer of 1968. Realising a long-term ambition, Joe Bonamassa finds himself in the perfect environment to pay homage to one of his major influences: the British Blues Boom headed by legends Clapton, John Mayall, Peter Green and Jeff Beck. For the occasion, the bluesman is surrounded by guests and a variety of instruments. In addition to Kevin Shirley as guest producer, we note the presence of Berne Marsden from Whitesnake, Cream singer Pete Brown, Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart and Jools Holland on keys. The modest vintage instruments used on this record were carefully chosen on Denmark Street, famous for its vintage guitars. This languid blues-rock album, composed of ten tracks, reaches its emotional climax with Why Does It Take So Long to Say Goodbye, in which JoBo’s solos are backed by feminine choirs. A work that will fit well among the guitarist’s impressive discography as his virtuosity never ceases to improve and who’s debut album A New Day Now turns twenty years old in 2020! © Charlotte Saintoin/Qobuz