All Steve Winwood's various musical guises throughout his career exude something in common -- good musical taste. Nine Lives finds him in "roots" mode with mostly stripped-down exercises in blues, funk, jazz, and R&B -- most seemingly driven by Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Winwood the tunesmith is variable here; but the always soulful, enunciation-challenged voice and tasteful musicianship are still compelling. While not necessarily emulating it, the vibe is closer to late Traffic than anything he's released since going solo for good way back in 1980 -- and no synths, yea! The urban-tinged "Dirty City" features the inimitable guitar backing of old Blind Faith bandmate Eric Clapton. Fans should enjoy this album, though it makes no obvious pretensions of appealing to the Top 40 crowd.