A great CD, obviously a great night.
author: Blues in Britain
Big Gilson comes from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has been playing the Blues and producing ten albums over there. Now we get to see and hear him in the UK.
The album as it suggests from the title was recorded at the Blue Note in New York, and rather than using his regular Brazilian band - Rio Dynamite - he's on stage with Bruce Ewan (harmonica) and the Solid Senders. A guest guitarist arrives for one number as well.
The album starts off with a "Tribute To Roy Buchanan" and an introduction to the band, before going into one of his own compositions "Cab Driver Blues", followed by "Ghreen's Boogie" co-written with Al Ghreen. The sound is tight and sharp. The album has ten tracks, four written by Gilson and Ghreen. Big Gilson takes the vocals on five of them and Bruce Ewan on three. The two instrumentals are both Roy Buchanan related with a great cover of "Messiah Will Come again" complete with "crying" guitar, appearing as track six in addition to the opening track. One of Big Gilson's great loves is the work of Little Walter Jacobs, this CD contains a deliciously slow "Blue and Lonesome" with some excellent laid back guitar and of course harmonica from Bruce. The second track is the up-tempo "I Got To Go". Bobby Radcliff joins the band on guitar for Elmore James' "Shake Your Moneymaker" and well worth it is too. The harmonica of Bruce Ewan leads into a steady beat version of "Judgement Day" (Snooky Pryor) with Bruce on vocals. It's slide guitar to the fore on "Hey Doc". The Album, and the evening ends with a nine minute version of Elmore James' "Drivin' Wheel"
A great CD, giving us the chance to hear what was obviously a great night. Big Gilson tours the UK with Blues Dynamite in March, April and May - worth catching.
Rated 9
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This show should be well worth catching.
author: DIGITAL BLUES
Big Gilson, the Brazilian Bluesman has released a prolific number of CDs in his home country and paid his dues over the last 14 years gigging both at home and in Argentina, the US and Europe during the course of which he has opened for Stevie Winwood, Johnny Rivers and BB King. Now, TopCat Records, the home of Texas Blues, releases this live collection recorded at the famed Blue Note in New York back in 2000. This CD sees Big supported by harmonica player & vocalist Bruce Ewan with the Solid Senders (Marty Baumann on guitar, Steve Shaw on bass and Bob Berberich on drums).
Being a live CD, many of the 10 tracks are lengthy which means that there is far greater freedom in the songs and the interpretation and which, for me, adds to the enjoyment. There is a nice mix of material with Big’s own songs sitting very well alongside some great covers including Little Walter’s ‘Blue & Lonesome’ and ‘I Got to Go’, both of which give Bruce a chance to dazzle with some great down & dirty harp playing, Roy Buchanan’s ‘Messiah Will Come Again’, a great guitar led track and the aforementioned Elmore James classic ‘Shake Your Moneymaker’ which features some really excellent playing from guest guitarist Bobby Radcliff.
Big pays his personal tribute to Roy Buchanan with the opening track, a nice guitar led instrumental entitled ‘Tribute to Roy Buchanan’ and follows this with two more originals, ‘Cab Driver Blues’, a nice guitar and harp fest, and the up tempo ‘Ghreen’s Boogie’ which all the contributors really appear to enjoy!
The final track is a great 9 minute epic take on ‘Drivin’ Wheel’ and serves to round off this excellent CD in fine fashion, all in all a very enjoyable record ofwhat sounds as if it was a great evening.
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This is what I call blues !!!
author: Saleco
This boy from South America tears it up on this live performance. The DC based band of the harpist Bruce Ewan gave him support to brake it down.
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author: James Mathy
Pleased with the cd. Will be buying more soon. Thank You.
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