By Cédric Vernet 
A major figure in modern blues, Robben Ford returns with Two Shades Of Blue, a new album set for release on March 27, 2026 via Provogue / Artone. Conceived as a wide-open playground, the record moves freely between blues, funk, jazz, and ambitious instrumentals, driven by sharp writing and a particularly refined production.
The first track unveiled, Make My Own Weather, the lead single, opens the album on a dry, taut groove. Robben Ford claims a renewed sense of freedom here, with a deliberately gritty rhythm designed to evoke the rumble of a motorcycle. A direct, no-frills blues track that immediately sets the tone.
At 74, the guitarist continues a career defined by movement and constant self-questioning. Over half a century, he has never stopped moving between styles, refusing to repeat himself. Two Shades Of Blue fully embraces this approach. Recorded between the United States and the United Kingdom with two different line-ups, the album took shape session by session, leaving room for experimentation and instinct.
“I’ve always needed to change. When a record starts to sound like the previous one, I know I’m heading in the wrong direction. With Two Shades Of Blue, I wanted to surprise myself again, to reconnect with that sense of exploration I had in the early days.”
The project partly stems from Robben Ford’s recent move to London and an initial desire to pay tribute to Jeff Beck. For the occasion, he picked up a Stratocaster, reworked his pedalboard with Daniel Steinhardt from That Pedal Show, and leaned toward a more pronounced instrumental approach. Three tracks on the album, The Fire Flute, The Light Fandango, and Feeling’s Mutual, reflect this direction.
Listen to the single
On the musicians’ side, the London sessions bring together Ianto Thomas on drums, Jonny Henderson on keyboards, Robin Mullarkey on bass, along with a horn section led by Paul Booth, Ryan Quigley, and Trevor Mires. Other tracks were recorded with Darryl Jones on bass (yes, the bassist from The Rolling Stones), Larry Goldings on keyboards, and Gary Husband on drums, further expanding the album’s sonic range.
This new release fits into an exceptional trajectory. As early as the 1960s, Robben Ford backed Charlie Musselwhite and Jimmy Witherspoon, before joining Tom Scott’s L.A. Express. He later collaborated with Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, and Miles Davis, experiences that helped shape a singular musical identity.
With Two Shades Of Blue, Robben Ford delivers an album free of forced nostalgia, confirming one thing: the constant need to move forward remains at the heart of his playing.
Two Shades Of Blue – Tracklist
- Make My Own Weather
- Jealous Guy
- Perfect Illusion
- Black Night
- Two Shades Of Blue
- The Fire Flute
- The Light Fandango
- Feeling’s Mutual
Release date: March 27, 2026
Formats: CD, LP, digital
👉 More info: robbenford.com
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The announcement of a new Robben Ford album always carries weight, and this one sounds like it’s arriving at exactly the right moment. After years of side projects, collaborations, and the occasional live set that still reminds everyone why his name is shorthand for tasteful fire, a proper studio record feels like an event.
What I’m most curious about is how he’s handling the production side this time. Ford has never been one for chasing trends – his tone is timeless because it’s built on feel, not gear lists – but the last decade or so has seen him lean into cleaner, more open arrangements that let the spaces between notes do as much work as the notes themselves. If this new one keeps that thread while bringing back some of the grit from his early fusion days or the bite of Talk to Your Daughter, it could be one of his strongest statements yet.
The anticipation makes sense: he’s one of the few players left who can still make a slow blues feel dangerous without resorting to volume or speed. That’s rare. In an era where so much music is compressed into instant hooks, Ford’s approach – patient, conversational, almost architectural – is the opposite of disposable. It demands listening, not just hearing.
Looking forward to hearing the first track. If it’s anything like the previews hinted at, this might be the record that quietly resets the bar for what blues guitar can still say in 2026.
Thanks for the heads-up. This is the kind of news that gets the headphones out early.