Band Trouble Is … (Revolution) (star) (star)
Chris Duarte Group
Tailspin Headwhack (Silvertone) (star) (star) (star)
On 20-year-old guitar wunderkind Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s sophomore effort, no amount of six-string flash can hide the fact that his licks sounded fresher when Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy first played them. Unabashed SRV-isms permeate originals like “King’s Highway,” while the obligatory Hendrix cover (“I Don’t Live Today”) is less than revelatory. Texan Chris Duarte, another SRV- and Hendrix-influenced guitarist, shows that a bit of maturity and a whole lot more soul equals a much more listenable album. Duarte’s sinuous lines drip with bluesy funk on standouts like the title track, “Cleopatra” and “Crazy,” while a post-modern take on “The Thrill Is Gone” displays a welcome sense of innovation.