A dynamo of talent, a virtuoso harmonica Player with a beautiful blend of elements in a
synergetic pattern of performance. Greia still comes close to becoming 'the Perfect
Storm'.
Jefferson Goncalves, the Brazilian harp master and Blues Time Records artist, reached
international recognition as virtuoso of the harmonica. His fluidity and original style
turned him up as one of the most important personalities on his native country’s
harmonica scene, playing in countless recordings from blues to rock, MPB, pop, jingles
and soundtracks, as well as hundreds of live performances. Jefferson is former member of
one of the best Brazilian blues bands ever, the BASEADO EM BLUES that had 3 CDs released.
Sponsored by the Harmonicas Hering since 1996, Jefferson works hard to promote and spread
out the use of the harmonica. He’s style took the US magazines American Harmonica
Newsletter (Oct/96) and Big City Blues Magazine (Jan/00), to point him as one of the
great new bloods of the new generation of instrumentalists.
In August of 1998, Jefferson teamed up Brazil in SPAH - Society for the Preservation and
Advancement of the Harmonica, in Detroit, USA, where he shared the stage with the German
guitar slinger Chris Jones in the official 35 years celebration concert of SPAH. Back to
Brazil, Jefferson put together the acoustic trio Blues Etc., releasing their debut album
in 2001. This CD was considered the best acoustic blues recording in this year.
Since 1999, Jefferson tours with the American act Peter Madcat, playing in the best
venues on the Rio / São Paulo scene, related to the Hering Blues Night project and to
Blues Time Records, the blues label that he runs with the Brazilian blues guitarist Big
Joe Manfra.
Jefferson has recorded with a lot of artists and bands like: Big Gilson, Belchior, Victor
Biglione, Celso Blues Boy, Peter Madcat Ruth, Vanessa Barum, etc...
In 2002 he released 3 video lessons where he teaches all the technics of the instrument.
Jefferson’s first solo album GREIA was released in 2004 by the Brazilian blues label,
Blues Time Records, featuring, some very special guest as Airto Moreira, Norton Buffalo,
Peter Madcat Ruth, Jamie Wood, Big Gilson, Johnny Rover, Zé da Flauta, Tavares da gaita
and Carlos Malta, among others. Also produced in the same year a CD for the CARUARU
artist, Tavares da Gaita.
In August, 2005, he joined the guitar slinger BIG GILSON and he’s band Rio Dynamite,
featuring the British old time blues shouter THE WOLF on their American tour.
With all the knowledge on touring and performing in hundreds of shows, recording sessions
and clinics, Jefferson GonÃ*alves is a reference in harmonica blues in Brazil and as
endorser of HERING HARMONICAS, has his own signature harps.
The elements of 'Greia' come together like three fronts smashing into one another to
create the perfect storm.
Peter 'Madcat' Ruth, Norton Buffalo and Jamie Wood w/ Johnny Rover are three of the
better known supplemental factors that merge together with the harmonica mastery of
Jefferson Goncalves to create a powerful, versatile typhoon of musical diversity.
Track one begins with Peter 'Madcat' Ruth and Jefferson Goncalves "Rolling' Along" in
rhythmic Seiche of harp and vocals. Track two picks up a rising current of trills and
vibrato creating a thermal of Blues and Rock that eventually becomes an upper level
disturbance.
Goncalves never lets up throughout the entire CD. He releases a Downburst of Country
Blues and then follows it up with a Heavy Gust from the Delta.
One of my personal favorites is Jefferson's version of Bob Dylan's - 'Watchtower', (track
6). This is a Jet Streak of performance that enhances the entire compilation. I have to
believe that Dylan would openly welcome Goncalves into the House of Hendrix after
listening to this one. What a great rendition!
Norton Buffalo is no Gustnado when he steps up to the mic. He's always the complete
Tornado. "Walkin' With The Danger", (track 7), gives us Norton on vocals and He and
Jefferson together on harp. Norton may be singing, but he definitely lets the harp do
some takin' here.
With her swingin', tasty, talented vocals and Johnny's solid lines of thunderin' harp,
Jamie Wood and Johnny Rover get you back in the Blues with; III Fated Woman Blues, (track
11).
What a testament to diversity! What dynamo of talent! What a beautiful blend of elements
in a synergetic pattern of performance. Hey, it may not be the movie, but Greia still
comes close to becoming 'the Perfect Storm'.
~ John Francis ~
the Best Li'l Harp House
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