VOA标准英语2013--Stony Plain Records Releases New Electric Blues Albums

 

Stony¹ Plain Records Releases New Electric Blues² Albums

With veteran guitarist, singer and bandleader Duke Robillard you indeed get a healthy dose of blues, but you’re also treated to his signature blend of R&B, rock, jazz and Tex-Mex.  Duke’s guitar riffs are front and center on “Strollin’ With Lowell and BB” from his new album, “Independently Blue.”

Duke hails from Rhode Island where he co-founded the modern jump blues band Roomful of Blues.  He was a member of the Fabulous³ Thunderbirds and also played alongside Tom Waits, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Dylan and many others.  2013 marks his 20th anniversary as leader of the celebrated⁴ Duke Robillard Band.  Over the years Duke has earned two Blues Music Awards for Best Blues Guitarist, and he’s picked up two Grammy nominations⁵: one for Best Traditional Blues Album and another for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

So, at age 64, is Duke finally slowing down?  Not a chance.  In a quote from the liner notes to his new album he says, “These days I tend to gravitate towards material that reflects my age and stage in life.”  He adds that he does his share of blues “bragging” in the track “Slow Groovin’" which features guest guitarist “Monster” Mike Welch.

Also new from Stony Plain comes the live album “Just For Today” by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters.

Bluesman Ronnie Earl took a serious interest in the guitar after seeing a Muddy Waters concert while attending Boston University.  After college he performed with various bands in Chicago, New Orleans and Austin, before replacing Duke Robillard as the lead guitarist in Roomful of Blues.

In 1988, he formed his band The Broadcasters, naming it after the very first Fender guitar, The Broadcaster.

Ronnie wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on “Just For Today,” including tributes to the late bluesmen Hubert Sumlin and Robert Nighthawk.  He recorded the album at three distinctive⁶ venues⁷ in Massachusetts: the 97-year-old Regent Theatre in Arlington, known locally as “Arlington’s Show Place of Entertainment”; in a former firehouse preserved as the Center for the Arts in Natick; and along the waterfront district at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River.

Now 60, Ronnie admits he has more passion for music today than ever before.  He told Stony Plain Records that “Playing, for me, is a very emotional experience,” adding, “I put every particle of my soul into it.” 

1 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。

2 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

3 fabulous   

adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的

参考例句：

• We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
• This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

6 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

7 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网