Ronnie Baker Brooks — “Blues In My DNA” — Alligator Records (Oct. 11 release)
I’ve seen Ronnie Baker Brooks many times. He’s a fixture on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise with his band, and in the Legendary late night jams, and I caught a land-locked club show years ago in Pittsburgh. Brooks never disappoints. In fact, he never fails to stimulate my own blue genes, so the blues in his DNA seem almost like a match for my own.
“Blues In My DNA” does not disappoint either. In fact, this is a gutsy, bluesy, smartly done session that highlights Brooks’ Chicago heritage with some nods to adjacent influences — Memphis soul, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, and deep Chicago blues. It’s also just plain great listening.
This is only Brooks’ fifth album, despite a performing career that stretches back to 1986, when he joined the band of his legendary bluesman father, Lonnie Brooks. That doesn’t mean that he hasn’t kept busy, writing songs, playing fierce guitar, touring and performing, and winning lots (I hate those technical terms) of critical acclaim. As a tribute to his father, this album cover has Brooks holding the same guitar his father held on the cover of “Bayou Lightning,” Lonnie’s 1979 Alligator debut. This also happens to be Ronnie’s Alligator debut, closing a musical circle with his dad. Musicians on this album of original songs include rhythm guitarist Will McFarlane, electric pianist Rick Steff, bassist Dave Smith, and drummer Steve Potts.
The album roars to life with the funky blues and tough guitar of “I’m Feeling You.” Then “Lonnie Brook’s Blessing” offers a brief recording of Lonnie Brooks’ exhorting Ronnie “to keep these blues alive.” That’s followed hard by the autobiographical title track, “Blues In My DNA,” the album’s focal point, and a song Brooks calls “a bridge between me and my audience.” Its fiery blues solos punctuate the song’s lyrical intensity in describing Brooks’ tale of overcoming racism and poverty: “I’m not complaining, I’m just explaining, I got the blues in my DNA.”
“My Love Will Make You Do Right” follows and adds Clayton Ivey on the Hammond B-3, whose riffs are always welcome in the blues. “Accept My Love” is a sweetly styled, soulful ballad and a tribute to Brooks’ mother, Jeannine Baker, who passed away in 2023. “All True Man” chugs right into the tasty shuffle of “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul,” followed by the hard licks of “Instant Gratification.”
“I Got to Make You Mine” features some inventive guitar work, and “Stuck On Stupid” revives an older original blues with a fierce guitar intro and solos in its eight powerful minutes. “I Found A Dollar Looking For a Dime” and “My Boo” round out the album without any drop-off in passion or power.
Brooks says of his music: “I grew up witnessing and learning from the legends of the blues. I’m excited to continue to create Chicago blues as part of my family legacy and our shared history. I’ll always carry on and represent the blues in everything I do. Dad started the fire, Albert Collins poured the gas on it, and Koko Taylor put the grill on.”
This is a powerful contemporary blues album. Ronnie Baker Brooks is not only keeping the blues alive, he’s pouring himself into his music so that we can share his passion.
Here’s the title track, “Blues in My DNA”
Tracklist & credits:
1. I’m Feelin’ You
2. Lonnie Brooks’ Blessing
3. Blues In My DNA
4. Make You Do Right
5. Accept My Love
6. All True Man
7. Robbing Peter To Pay Paul
8. Instant Gratification
9. I Gotta Make You Mine
10. Stuck On Stupid
11. Looking For A Dime
12. My Boo
All songs by Rodney Dion Baker (Ronnie Brooks Music, BMI) except “All True Man” by Rodney Dion Baker & Todd Park Mohr (Ronnie Brooks Music, BMI / Todd Park Mohr Publishing admin. by Bug Music, BMI)
Ronnie Baker Brooks Vocals and Electric Guitar
Will McFarlane Rhythm Guitar
Dave Smith Bass
Steve Potts Drums
with Lonnie Brooks Vocal (2)
Rick SteffElectric Piano (3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)
Clayton Ivey Hammond B3 Organ (4,5,9,10)
Brad Quinn Tenor and Baritone Saxophone (5,8)
Drew White Trumpet (5,8)
Trenicia Hodges and Kimberlie Helton Background Vocals (9)
Blues Roadhouse 