Pete Feenstra chatted to Robin Trower for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 30 June 2024.

Provogue Records [Release date 27.10.23]

The Robin Trower and Sari Schorr pairing looks great on paper, while in real time it’s a smouldering combination which much like Trower’s guitar tone constantly bubbles up with intent, but sometimes keeps us waiting for a pay off.

‘Joyful Sky’ is also a significant title, in as much as if look hard enough you will find plenty of artistic reward.

It’s a meditative album on which the music supports the song, but also often defines it, leaving vocalist Sari Schorr just enough room to mould the songs to her own end.

Trower has pointed to the way Sari handled the closing ballad ‘I Will Always Be Your Shelter’ as the key to the album’s collaboration.

She’s finds herself singing well within her range on a number of songs, meaning that when she does burst through it’s like an emotional tidal wave.

In many respects Trower and Schorr are two similar minded souls in need of emotional depth, spiritual substance and musical excellence. Their shared values lie at the core of a restless search for the right material to match their creative sensibilities and artistic integrity.

Sari Schorr has been so busy on the blues-rock scene that you almost forget that this is her first studio album for 5 years, though given her excellent performance you would never know that.

Trower meanwhile has enjoyed something of a renaissance as an elder statesman of rock/blues, while successfully changing his style. And though he’s long moved on from being a post-Hendrix disciple, the ethereal tones to be found on Procol Harum’s 1971 ‘Song For a Dreamer’ (his homage to Hendrix) and his carefully structured solos still resonate over 50 years later.

Not for nothing was his 2009 solo album called ‘What Lies Beneath’, as it could be interpreted as a mission statement for his ongoing spiritual quest.

Schorr’s versatility in handling rock, blues, ballads and her ability to illuminate lyrical meaning is the perfect foil a guitarist who primarily communicates through his sumptuous tones.

That said, the album succeeds because of her ability to dig deep and make the kind of musical connections she thrives on.

Once she finds her equilibrium on songs like the lead single ‘Burn’, the heavier ‘Flatter To Deceive’ and the almost brusque ‘I’ll Be Moving On’ the combination of Trower’s deep grooves and her own intuitive phrasing gives the album its organic feel. As a result her voice becomes an extension of Trower’s aching tone.

You could argue that as a vocalist she has big boots to fill in the slipstream of James Dewar, Jack Bruce, Davey Pattison and even Maxi Priest, but that would be to overlook Trower’s own vocal efforts which started shakily, but have over time aligned themselves with his more laid back and sometimes introspective material.

And therein lies the big change, as Sari brings a fresh energy and a natural vivacity to bear on some angular chords, as evidenced by her jazzy tinged presence on ‘Burn’ which leaves Trower to add his extra tonal voice.

He also adds some sculpted tones on the chunkier groove of ‘I’ll Be Moving On’, which leaves enough room for her to characteristically give full vent to her vocals.

‘The Distance’ is built on portentous chords, a treacly tone and pounding drums. It is everything you hoped this collaboration might be, while the stop-start arrangement of ‘Peace of Mind’ creates a restless feel as if looking for the kind of balance to be found in the song title.

Sari sparkles on the wah-wah driven and early chorus of ‘Change It’, complete with call and response bv’s which totter on the brink of submerging the subtle dynamic they seek to create.

The insistent funky groove again connects with lyrics which deal with lifestyle choices, while Trower adds growling tones before a somewhat perfunctory finish.

The title track moves from a psychedelic dreamy opening to the sudden ascending animated titular hook. Trower adds brooding chords and subtly woven silky tones on a slow building piece.

Sari again provides contrast with a grittier vocal on the percussive funk of ‘Need For You’, which is a fine meeting of voice, double tracked guitar and a tight rhythm section.

The balance between Trower’s tonal variety and different tempos, and Schorr’s mix of intensity and intuitive phrasing gives the album its variety and velocity.

‘The Circle Is Complete’ is different again, being two contrasting pieces of the same song, conjoined by a pregnant pause. The first part finds Schorr’s booming attack somewhat smothered by annoying bv’s which compromise a potential rocker. The latter instrumental section finds Trower in exploratory tonal mode on a piece which fulfils the same function as Peter Green’s ‘Oh Well (Part Two).’

The composite also acts as a bridge between Trower’s 70’s style and his more recent introspection. It also appears to reflect the meaning of the song title, as in a journey ended.

In sharp contrast ‘Flatter To Deceive’ is an exuberant percussive groove complete with handclaps, on a song that would not be out of place on a Sari album.

She dominates the track with an exuberant vibrato, as Trower takes a back seat before finishing with a short solo full of touch, taste and of course the thickest tone.

‘Joyful Sky’ reaffirms the qualities of a truly great guitar player who delivers enough quality songs for Sari Schorr to transform them into a slice of mature, groove laden rock- blues. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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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 3 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

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