Chris Rea - Hofner Blue Notes (2003)

Hofner Blue Notes is the nineteenth studio album by Chris Rea, released in 2003. The album was part of Hofner Blue Notes, a project by Chris Rea which was continued with The Return of the Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes in 2008.
It's completely instrumental ) and the lead-instrument is a bass guitar, but I think it's the best album he's ever made - the perfect chill-out album, jazzy and splendid ( and far better than "Blue Street" ).  You like Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" or stuff like that ? Watch out for this album. Divine music from start to finish ( okay, this is the exaggeration of a fan who's been made happy with this just recently, but it were so, still, without "Detroit" and, especially, "Saudi Blue", two tracks that don't live up to the rest ), inspired and melodic and performed with feeeeeeel... an album to listen, relax and feel good.
This album is a tribute to the essential, but often overlooked ingredient of the modern and, the bass guitar. In fact a bass is the only guitar to be heard on this album, mixing in seamlessly with a sparse piano (almost Basie like in its understatement) shuffling drums with plenty of brushwork and a slight tinge of saxophone. But the Bass is the star of the show, showing how it can both create the mood and drive a record along.

1. Spy  (5:05)
2. Expectations  (3:59)
3. Hofner Blue Notes  (2:52)
4. Paris in Minneapolis  (5:05)
5. São Paulo Blue  (4:58)
6. What Became  (4:44)
7. Detroit  (3:54)
8. Goodnight Joe  (4:15)
9. Take the Mingus Train  (4:24)
10. Alone  (3:39)
11. Saudi Blue  (4:06)
12. Kestrel Avenue  (3:28)

Credits 

Design – Mainartery 

Engineer – Stewart Eales, Stuart Epps 

Instruments [Uncredited], Artwork By [Original Paintings] – Chris Rea 

Producer – Kiadan Quinn* 

Notes

Released: July 28, 2003 

Genre: Blues 

Style: Louisiana Blues, Modern Electric Blues  

Length: 50:32

© 2003

Label - Jazzee Blue Records