Robert Cray Band performing at Orleans

You can save all that spandex and "Wedding Singer" '80s nostalgia for the return of Adam Ant. Robert Cray's "Strong Persuader" was one of the big albums of 1987, but it proved to be timeless.

That album's hits that made a star of the 58-year-old guitarist -- "Smoking Gun" and "Right Next Door (Because of Me)" -- settle right next to the sophisticated, soulful blues of any Cray album that followed, right up through 2009's "This Time."

Cray is reported to be in the studio recording a new album with producer Kevin Shirley, who has worked with everyone from Led Zeppelin to the Black Crowes.

Those who have criticized the guitarist's recorded work as overly slick will be encouraged by Shirley's quote in a promotional announcement for the project: "My goal and challenge with this record, is to tap into the edgy vitality and spontaneity of a live Robert Cray performance, and wrap it up as a studio recording, with a big blues bow!"

In the meantime, Cray and his band visit The Orleans for shows on Saturday and Sunday.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.