The language of the blues is available to everyone, and probably more to the guy who helped invent rock & roll with 1951's "Rocket 88" than to most people--though Tina's ex-husband might have thought twice before in... more »cluding quite so many lyrics on his comeback album about how women keep leaving him and he doesn't understand why. Even so, the whammy bar on Turner's Stratocaster has lost none of its sting. He bangs on the piano like a man a quarter his age, too, and when he manages to dodge the curse of modern electro-percussion, Here and Now has the drive and verve of the records he made half a century ago. Turner even reaches back for remakes of "Rocket 88" and a few other jump-blues faves, like Albert Ammons's arrangement of "Swanee River Boogie." --Douglas Wolk« less
The language of the blues is available to everyone, and probably more to the guy who helped invent rock & roll with 1951's "Rocket 88" than to most people--though Tina's ex-husband might have thought twice before including quite so many lyrics on his comeback album about how women keep leaving him and he doesn't understand why. Even so, the whammy bar on Turner's Stratocaster has lost none of its sting. He bangs on the piano like a man a quarter his age, too, and when he manages to dodge the curse of modern electro-percussion, Here and Now has the drive and verve of the records he made half a century ago. Turner even reaches back for remakes of "Rocket 88" and a few other jump-blues faves, like Albert Ammons's arrangement of "Swanee River Boogie." --Douglas Wolk
deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 04/18/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Abusive, addicted, arrested and convicted. As if that were not enough, his woman left him and, as he sat for years in a drugged stupor, that woman reached mega star status, fame and fortune. If that is not the story of a man born to sing the blues, I don't know what is! Could Ike recover and put together any semblance of a thriving career? Only time will tell. On "Here and Now", Ike attempts to put his past behind him and releases his first all-new recording in over 20 years. It's a CD serving up a little Blues garnished with a touch of R&B, funk, country and swing. A sampling of the songs will show the diversity of the recording. Perhaps the most interesting song on the disc is "I Need A-Nuddin'" which appears to be a tongue-in-cheek rendition of the excesses that plagued Ike during his earlier days. Whether you like him or not, it would be hard to deny that he has poured his heart and soul into this fine release."
I Like Ike
David Cornish | Philadelphia, PA United States | 06/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is a hoot with Ike back in a serious R&B groove! Check out "Ike's Theme" and "Cold Day in Hell". His versatility is on full display in this collection with Ike exhibiting his prowess on guitar and piano along with his mangy, low-down vocal style best displayed on "You Can't Winnum' All". A funkier piano styling than "Swanee River Boogie" is hard to find. Five stars (*****) for this back-to-the-roots tribute to R&B and the very birth of Rock n'Roll. (Check out the liner notes for more on the evolutionary development of the genre)"
Ike returns with a taste of the blues.
musicnu | Deerfield, IL | 07/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Hard to believe but true - Ike Turner is back. Here and Now is a return to the blues that Ike was cutting in the 50's and early 60's before Tina. Ike's voice is a little raspier than it was in the 60's. However, his driving piano boogie and whammy guitar have never sounded better. This CD is a mix of vocals and instrumentals. Ike has always known how to get a band into the groove and with his new Kings of Rhythm, the groove never lets up. This is a very fun CD, a nice step back into time."
It's been a long time coming.
thefallingman | Sackets Harbor, NY | 03/28/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ike Turner is (mostly) back in form. This is a straight up rocker from his days before drugs and stupidity nearly cut his life short. A main course of roots rock with a side of blues and R&B, "Here and Now" is what Ike should have been doing all this time."
Old School Rhythm & BLUES!!!
Joseph Brown | St. Louis, MO. | 01/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These guys played a long time ago at George Edick's "Club Imperial" in North St. Louis. Brings back a lot of memories. Good dance music for us 'Old Timers'.
George S. Edick
This story was published in Metro on Thursday, June 13, 2002.
By Lynn Venhaus
Of The Post-Dispatch
George S. Edick, who helped boost the careers of Chuck Berry and Ike Turner and Tina Turner, died Tuesday (June 11, 2002) of congestive heart failure at his home in Jennings. He was 86.