Musicians have come and they?ve gone, but Roomful of Blues has played on.
The eight-member band has seen the replacement of about 50 members since its 1967 beginning, but its music always seems to improve.
A well-known blues critic wrote:
“There aren?t any bands to compare to Roomful, because they are not only a great swing band but they have a strong dedication to the blues,” said Diana Shonk, of The Blues Audience newsletter. “They move fluidly from blues to jazz and know how to really rock, but their first love and strongest genre is the blues.”
Even if you?re not a blues aficionado, you?ll want to hear this band.
Chris Vachon, the band?s leader, guitarist, and producer of its last several albums, said it was the solid artistry of the band that compelled him to audition for and work with the band for seven years before he became a permanent member in 1990.
“We love what we do,” he said. “We absolutely love the type of music we play. It?s something we can?t live without.”
Not that the band hasn?t made any missteps. The 2003 album, “That?s Right,” endured criticism for not containing any original material. “We had replaced five [of eight] guys just before we had to make this record,” Vachon said. “It really just couldn?t have happened any other way.”
And when the band steered its sound to a bit more rock, such as in the song “How Long Will It Last,” it wasn?t well received, Vachon said.
“We have sort of stepped out of the box a bit and realized it wasn?t a good idea,” he said. “We learned to keep the main theme the main theme.”
But the Grammy-nominated band more than redeemed itself with the 2004 release “Standing Room Only,” which included several jewels.Roomful?s next album, which Vachon said the band will start work on fairly soon, promises more of the same. For right now, though, the band is concentrating on its tour.
“We look forward to this tour,” Vachon said. “We love to go out and play the music we play. We just want to play music that gets people up and dancing.”
IF YOU GO
Roomful of Blues
» Venue: Rams Head on Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis
» Time: 7 p.m. Tuesday
» Tickets: $25
» More info: 410-268-4545 or tickets.ramsheadonstage.com
