Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm – Ike’s Instrumentals – Ace Records CDCHD 782

Twenty-two instrumental cuts recorded in Los Angeles, California, Clayton, Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, Clarksdale, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana from a very fertile period spanning 1954-1965 present Ike Turner’s vast guitar proficiencies with the outstanding sound quality, colorful, informative packaging, and overall superior value that Ace Records is known for throughout the music collecting community.

Turner’s ability to be highly skilled on such a broad range of styles is astounding, as this exemplary compilation highlights.  There is not a track on this grand portrait of Turner’s immense guitar dexterities that doesn’t capture the attention of the listener and hold them captive from the track’s first note until its last.  His startling expertise across many differing varieties of music makes repeated listening of this lofty collection a requirement; it’s simply difficult to grasp the proficiency presented at first enjoyment.

This compilation reminds this writer of Freddie King’s reputation as a master instrumental craftsman.  Why Turner didn’t, in his day, and now, enjoy the same status escapes me.  Whether romping on a Latin-themed outing, firing-off a twist-based frolic, or getting down to business with a hard blues pursuit, Turner’s six-string adeptness across all types of music is eye-opening.

This is a highly-remarkable collection, one that is sure to be a revelation to many blues and Ike Turner enthusiasts.  A huge “thank you” goes out to Ace Records for having the wisdom to convey Turner’s instrumental guitar brilliance to the fore.

Seek this one out!  Highly recommended!