It would be inaccurate to suggest any one artist is the "house band" at New London's Garde Arts Center.

But in terms of frequency of appearances and sustained approval, blue-rock musician Robert Cray is certainly deserving of a permanent "Welcome back, Bob!" banner that can be unfurled when the guitarist returns to the Garde stage, as he does Friday.

Here's an excerpt from a review I wrote of the Robert Cray Band at the Garde 22 years ago.

"Cray is possibly more thought of as a soul/blues singer than a guitar wizard — an understandable impression. But the concert stage is a different vehicle altogether than radio airplay. And while his attention to catchy song structures and his world-class pipes certainly came across in the live context, Cray's marvelously intuitive and dexterous guitar work shone incandescently."

Keep that in mind and NOW give a listen to Cray's latest album, "That's What I Heard," which suggests that he's only continued to get better. That's saying a lot.

Robert Cray Band, 8 p.m. Friday, Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; $38-$58; www.gardearts.org, (860)444-7373.