CHILL OUT (724384010720)

CHILL OUT won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.

One of a series of superb Hooker albums recorded in the '90s, CHILL OUT clearly shows that John Lee remains at the top of his game. The opening (and title) track features guitar god and long time Hooker fan Carlos Santana (with his band). Although quite slick sounding, Santana's Latin funk grooves and typically blistering solo fit suprisingly well with John Lee's gutbucket vocals--a testament to the aging blues man's incredible versatility. Roy Rogers (the blues guy, not the cowboy fast food mogul) reveals himself as an adept and sensitive producer and also adds some very tasty slide guitar on four tunes.

CHILL OUT includes several Hooker solo guitar and vocal pieces, some of which are among the best of his career. "Too Young," in particular, is chilling in it's sparseness and intensity. Hooker's voice is in great shape and, for a man known for his "talking" style, he can sing incredibly sweetly and melodically when he wants to. On "Kiddio," which features some truly funky piano from the great Charles Brown, John Lee positively croons. Whether with a full band or all alone, John Lee Hooker's talent burns brightly throughout CHILL OUT.