Dudley Taft - Guitar Kingdom (2023) [CD Rip]

Cincinnati guitarist Dudley Taft is a bonified gunslinger having attended Berklee school of music and spent time in Seattle grunge bands, Sweet Water and Second Coming, tours internationally and produced eight of his own albums and lives in a house he bought from Peter Frampton. It makes perfect sense that his new album, Guitar Kingdom, is a celebration of his greatest passion “The Guitar.” The ten new tracks and a bonus cover song are a reflection of his influences from classic blues riffs and driving rock with a hint of metal and country.

Recorded mainly at the Taft’s home studio that Frampton built, Taft is bolstered by cracker jack rhythm section players, Kasey Williams on bass, drummers Alex Dungan and Nick Owisanka, and keyboards from Andy Smith with backing vocals from Dudley’s daughter Ashley Charmae along with special guests, radio host and bassist John Kessler and renowned percussionist, Walfredo Reyes, Jr.

“Black And Blues” opens the set with one of the aforementioned driving riffs and lyrics that could be speaking to a lover or his faithful guitar. Taft tells his story and gives us fun loving insight to the source of his musical affection, or addiction if you want to call it on “Old School Rocking.” He calls out his lady to get out and have some fun on “Oil And Water,” a rollicking rocker with flavors of classic Deep Purple. The passionate ballad, “Still Burning,” is a sophisticated mix of blues and power pop. Taft spells out his mantra on the title track “Guitar Kingdom,” declaring “Guitar’s a way of life, it’s where my spirit guides and it makes me feel alive.”

The ode to a working man, “Get Stoned,” rumbles along with intricate drum fills from Dungan that match Taft’s guitar leads note for note and the foot stompin’ “Favorite Things,” details the virtues of the toys and tools Taft loves the most - cars, guitars, and his best gal. Some fine acoustic picking opens the contemplative “Darkest Night,” revealing a softer side to the self-professed rocker. The album quickly gets back to business on the spunky “I Want More (Wild Young Days),” and its subtle socio-political message. The Seattle Rock influence is felt on the heavy psalm, “The Great Beyond,” with its big drums and super fuzz guitars.

Taft closes Guitar Kingdom with an inspired reading of Tinsley Ellis’ epic “A Quitter Never Wins,” adding muscle to the Atlanta bluesman’s best-known tune. ~Rick J Bowen