Customer Reviews
The Best of Blues & Jazz 
2007-12-23
I have been a fan of Ronnie Earl for over ten years and have seen many of his live performances. This guitarist has the best combination of blues and jazz than any other musician. In spite of the fact that most of these tunes on this cd have been previously recorded by Ronnie, his nuances in performing then is outstanding. Hopefully, he will continue recording and performing.
Ray C.
Could have been better... 
2007-11-28
I have followed Ronnie Earl's career since his start with Roomful of Blues and through his solo career. I've seen him play a number of times as well as buying all his CD's. His talent is undeniable. This disc could have been a lot better. It just plain suffers from poor pacing. The first 3 songs are great, but then he and the band get bogged down playing slow song after slow song. I found it very tedious listening. Things don't pick up again until the last 2 songs. Give a listen to his live in Europe release from a few years back, that one smokes! I realize and respect that other people may like this disc, but I found it overall to be a tiresome listen.
The soulman is back! 
2007-11-20
There are very few guitarists who can absolutely make your hair stand on end, or soothe you to into an extended bliss. Ronnie Earl is one of those rare artists-
I remember one frozen evening back in the winter of 1994 at a now defunct blues club in NYC- Manny's Car Wash, where I witnessed the most intensely emotional performance I have ever seen any musician grace an audience with. 3 1/2 hours of Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters in an orgy of searing blues and passionate jazz influenced stylings. Magic...
This is one cat who plays from the absolute depth of his soul- if you have followed his career and have seen him live, you know what I mean. If not, take the leap, because this is what Ronnie is all about- laying his soul out on the ground and asking you to join in with your heart.
Having followed his career for the last 15 years, I can heartliy recommend this new project. A mix of the old and new, its a wonderful document of an extraordinary talent. I for one am ecstatic to see him back.
Welcome back Ronnie!
Both established Ronnie Earl fans and newcomers will be pleased. 2007-11-20
Ronnie Earl dances on the dividing line between jazz and blues so deftly on his latest live release, "Hope Radio," that it seems pointless to force this live all-instrumental set into one genre or the other. Playing once more with the Broadcasters, it seems clear that each brings out the best in the other. Here, in a live set recorded before a studio audience, Mr. Earl and his band, plus some guest musicians, offer up a savory batch of remakes mixed in with a handful of new tracks. The CD is nicely packaged and features great liner notes, too.
I had a chance to hear an advance copy of this CD, about 10 days ago. At its best, the results are a heady brew of soulful blues and spiritual jazz, though sometimes the tunes hit a tepid stretch for a bit. Regardless, both established Ronnie Earl fans and newcomers will be pleased.
Best Guitar Album These Ears Have Heard 2008-06-12
I have heard many a guitar player, and often been less than blown away by them. That is not the case with Ronnie Earl.
It pains me to say this, but I can no longer claim that Stevie Ray Vaughn holds my number one spot anymore.
While I enjoy Earls earlier work, I am not a follower of jazz, so it takes a bit more getting used to. This one leans more towards the blues direction.
The notes this man churns out are unbelievable. He has a great tone, and uses it to his advantage. He also has a good ear for the different stylings of blues.
While its hard (and not fair) to assume what SRV may have sounded like today if he survived, I would make the case that it would not be much different than this. I almost want to say Ronnie Earl takes over where SRV left off.
While it is true that this album hits some slow spots, his sound and overall ability make those moments more tolerable to listen to than most other bluesman who are stuck in the same rut.
Opening track "Bobbys Gospel Groove" is an exciting jam beginning to end, with a healthy dose of organ that brings to mind classic Santana.
"Bobbys Bop" keeps the flow going. From here, Earl experiments with some mellow, tasteful "noodling". How you feel about these tracks largely depends on how you feel about guitar music as a whole.
Overall, its the best guitar album I've heard yet. Of course, its largely a matter of personal taste. But he constantly hits on all the styles and techniques I want to hear in blues, covering all the bases I could ask for.
Great Blues Instrumentals 2008-03-26
Very hot album of powerful blues instrumentals from Ronnie Earl. He plays a nuanced lead guitar (not always showy), but the tunes here are powerful and varied. May well be his best album--and certainly a good place to start if you don't know Ronnie Earl.
Mr. Intensity is back! 2008-02-10
Let me say that I am a huge fan of Mr. Earl since the very first time (many years ago) I heard him playing on the radio. I have more or less all his album, and in his variegated offer, I have always liked the best the ones that are more blues oriented. In my view Hope Radio is one of the best of the all bunch. Ronnie is back playing live in studio with some of the fantastic musicians who shared with him part of his music carrier and the result is excellent. The album is entirely instrumental and 100% blues. Ronnie demonstrates, beyond any doubts, that he is still one of the best white blues guitarists alive. His performance is constantly superb throughout the entire concert. Songs like Blues for the west side, Wolf dance and the outstanding Blues for Otis Rush should be played at every music school to teach how electric blues is meant to be played. In an entirely electric album there is also space for an acoustic number (Katrina blues) fact that is not very common in Mr. Earl works. In conclusion a very good CD that surely deserves five stars and that should please Mr. Earl's old fan but also every one who love the blues.
Ronnie's best blues yet! 2008-01-30
Ronnie Earl is as good a blues guitarist as I have ever heard. Hope Radio is a return to the instrumental format that is all Ronnie. If you especially enjoy slow extended moving blues jams that touch you to the core, you'll love this album. It is a retrospective compilation of Ronnie's music catalog done live in studio in front of a small audience. It is audiophile level recording from a four-piece band, including hammond organ support throughout. Ronnie's sound is full and sweet as he hits just the right note each time. Much of what is featured here is from "Language of the Soul", a favorite of mine.
Ronnie Earl is the best. Check out his entire catalog of great blues. The CDs closest to this one, in terms of tone and style, are "Language of the Soul" and "Grateful Heart". "Blues Virtuoso Live in Europe" and "Now My Soul" are also favorites. He has some earlier instrumental blues in the Amazon catalog as well.
Another frustrating beautifully played CD 2008-01-03
A beautiful sounding album from Mr Earl - but frustratingly this album sounds like the one's before and if he is not careful will soon end up as supermarket background music. The lack of variety is a little downer as one song seems to morph into the next. But, given the lack of real alternatives I will just keep buying his stuff.
