One of the most powerful crossroads in the blues tradition is the place where blues, R&B and soul come together. Put a heavy backbeat on the traditional blues structure and charge it with the emotional jolt of gospel music, and the result is something visceral and compelling. Look no further than the music of titans like Sam Cooke, James Brown and Al Green for proof. Guitarists/vocalists Tommy Castro and Lloyd Jones and harpist/saxophonist/vocalist Jimmy Hall celebrate this fine tradition with the release of Triple Trouble, a collection of eleven tracks that indulges their longtime affinity for a classic sound. Castro, Jones and Hall are joined by Double Trouble, the legendary rhythm section (keyboardist Reese Wynans, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton) that helped put Stevie Ray Vaughan on the map and have become a highly reputable session unit since SRV’s passing more than a decade ago. Triple Trouble encompasses the rollicking and smoldering extremes of R&B and soul, and makes several stops in between. Jones opens the set with a roadhouse rocker called “Sometimes,” while Hall contributes a range of original material: the driving “If That Ain’t Love,” the funky “Love Will” and the melancholy “Midnight to Daylight.” Castro adds further fuel to the fire with the Texas-styled “Mamma Jamma” and the Philly-flavoured “Whole Lotta Soul."