Matthew Robinson & the Jelly Kings

Matthew Robinson & the Jelly Kings

Born in Austin in 1948, Matthew Robinson remains a rare breed: genuine Texas bluesman. His first new music in more than a decade, Work That Jelly! preserves Robinson's guitar style as round yet still piercing. His trio of Jelly Kings lay down dependable backing, while guest W.C. Clark adds some funky guitar of his own on a couple of tunes. Robinson's vocals are the primary attraction, however, his warbles sliding into their own stratosphere but never without expressing his feelings with a gut force. There's some interesting song choices, blues standards from Taj Mahal, Jimmy Reed, and Howlin' Wolf with an atypical slant. A version of Reed's "Going to New York" feels especially slippery. The blues ain't on its death bed as long as Work That Jelly! shakes with irrefutable spirit.