eOne Music [Release date 29.09.17]

It takes a brave musician to oversee a mostly unplugged, all star duo and trio compilation album spanning over 30 years. But West coast pianist Mitch Woods is as fearless as he is musically talented on an album of career highlights from 1984 onwards.

His own presence shines like beacon on ‘Friends Along The Way’, an all star affair, with guests including John Hammond, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Ruthie Foster, Taj Mahal Joe Louis Walker, Marcia Ball, Charlie Musselwhite and more.

Woods is a multi-style piano player, equally at home playing boogie woogie, blues, jump blues and jazz. He radiates positivity, bonhomie and a real love of the blues.

He’s a lighting conductor of the blues who when not busy illuminating a track with dexterity and feel, is an equally attentive accompanist who brings out the best in his guests.

Listen for example, to the joyous interplay with James Cotton on ‘Chicago Express’, a piece that ebbs and flows as the duo unravel the dynamics of the song, but never once overplay.

It’s Mitch’s consistent musical presence over decades that gives the album its signature touch, as evidenced by his call and response exchange with John Lee Hooker on ‘Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive’. Hookers exclamatory ‘hey’ in the middle of the track is effectively an appreciative acknowledgment of his musical partner.

‘Friends Along The Way’ finds Woods equally happy as a band leader, soloist, accompanist and blues catalyst, as he celebrates the joy of communicating through the blues.

His pairing with Cyril Neville, and Taj Mahal on the simply titled ‘The Blues’ is essentially a mission statement for the genre and the project as a whole: “The blues is the gospel of the common man.”

It’s his pivotal role as pianist and catalyst that glues the album together. He sparkles on down-home tracks such as the ‘Mother In Law Blues’ duet with John Hammond. The combination of rolling piano and national steel riffling is raw blues at its best.

Then there’s the unrefined beauty of the way his deliberate notes wrap themselves round Charlie Musselwhite’s earthy harp and close to the mic vocal, before the duo enjoy a drifting interplay on the most delicate of endings. Marvellous stuff.

There’s no pandering to cliché and each artist rises to the occasion by playing to their to their strengths as they bounce off Woods’s piano playing.

Listen to the opening brace of cuts with Van Morrison and Taj Mahal, as the trio indulge themselves in a master class of feel, space and time.

On ‘Take This Hammer’ Morrison exemplifies the joy of phrasing, before the guest duo stretch out on a vocal duet on ‘C.C. Rider’. Taj’s husk is offset by Van’s unfettered timbre, as Mitch tinkles the ivories.

The great Elvin Bishop adds humorous phrasing to the Jump feel of ‘Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket’. His spindly guitar line perfect straddles both vulnerability and edge, while by Woods’ solo gives the song its drive.

Ruthie Foster brings poise, a hint of reggae and perfect phrasing to Woods’s delightful fills on ‘Singin’ The Blues’, before Mitch reverts to his boogie persona with Joe Louis Walker’s steely guitar on Champion Jack Dupree’s ‘Nasty Boogie’.

Kenny Neal also adds a triple vocal, harp and guitar input on the seamless shuffle ‘Blues Mobile’, as Woods plays the bass part before an eloquently solo.

Each guest brings a different colour to 16 tracks that are rounded off by a two hander with Marcia Ball, who adds a fun vocal duet, on a track that fades all too soon.

This album is an absolute delight and thoroughly recommended. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

Pete Feenstra presents his Rock & Blues Show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Tuesday at 19:00 GMT, and “The Pete Feenstra Feature” on Sundays at 20:00

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 6 April (Fifth Anniversary!)

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 23 February 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 25 February 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 10 March 2025

THE SOUL REVIVAL Outlaw (indie)
WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 10 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.