Blues may be an ageless music, but most players ease into old age with relaxed grace. Not Buddy Guy, who sounds as distinctively piercing on “Skin Deep” as on his classic '60s Chess Records cuts or his early '90s comeback albums.

At 72, Guy still cuts shards of razor-sharp glass from his Fender Stratocaster, and his voice remains an anquished cry. “Skin Deep” follows the modern formula for legendary figures by pairing the Chicago blues master with acolytes. In this case, he duets with Eric Clapton (on the groovin' “Every Time I Sing The Blues”), steel guitar standout Robert Randolph (the swampy “Out In The Woods” and the hip-shaking “That's My Home”), young guitar ace Derek Trucks (the sweetly soulful “Skin Deep”) and Trucks and his wife, singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi (the fierce “Too Many Tears”). This album marks the first time he has recorded all orginal tunes.

But the real inspiration for Guy seems to be the band assembled by producer and drummer Tom Hambridge. With rock veteran Willie Weeks on bass, Texas kingpin David Grissom on rhythm guitar and Stevie Ray Vaughan sideman Reese Wynans on keyboards, Hambridge's core band gives Guy and his guests a deep, solid foundation. Guy responds by ripping inspired solos every chance he gets, fighting mortality with every ferocious note.

CHECK THIS OUT: “Lyin' Like A Dog” sets up Guy with a wicked groove, with roadhouse accents by Wynans on piano, and the guitarist replies with in-your-face solos that burst with swagger and inventive ideas.