Uh, oh, Curt again is presenting a piece on something other than a blues artist profile!  He must be bored with that feature!  He’s running out of blues artists to write about!  He’s getting lazy!  He is finding the American blues scene lackluster!  None of these statements could be any further from the truth!

Last week I presented an exhaustive list of blues collections that any beginning blues fan may want to consider when starting to build a blues collection.  Though a long piece, I really had fun with it, and the feedback on that information has been generously positive.  Thank you!

I’ve decided that once again this week I’m going to veer away from presenting a blues artist profile (that feature will return next week) and present a brief list of overseas-based blues talent that I think you should be aware of.  What drove this desire to present this overview?  Well, the other day I was listening to the great Tomi Leino Trio’s “Rough Ride Woman,” was really enjoying the driving tune, and I decided more should know about his unit’s music.  The, I realized that I have never done a list of  transcontinental-based blues bands and artists before, the ones that most impress me and whose music I have in my collection and often play, and I decided that should let others in on their great music.

I will exclude blues artists who made their marks here and became expatriates later in life (think Champion Jack Dupree, Louisiana Red, and Memphis Slim, as examples).

So, here we go!  Please seek out the music of these superb artists!

• Bernard Allison – Based In France – Son of blues great Luther Allison – Guitarist – Has done a lot of recording with Ruf Records, JSP Records, and Cannonball Records, among other labels
• B. & The Blues Shacks – Based in Germany – R&B and soul group – Broad recording history with the Stumble, Crosscut Records, and Rhythm Bomb Records labels
• Bharath And His Rhythm Four – Based in Montreal – Harmonica player – Has offered a self-produced collection and one on the Regal Radio Records imprint
• Eric Clapton – Based in Great Britain – Extremely influential guitarist – Long history of blues reverence and collaboration with various bands and the genre’s greats including The Yardbirds, John Mayall, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy, among many others, and via his Crossroads Guitar Festival concerts – High regard for Delta blues legend Robert Johnson – Has recorded for many labels
• Lluis Coloma – Hails from Spain – Piano player – Numerous recordings for the Swing Alley label, and featured with American great Erwin Helfer on The Sirens Records imprint – Boogie woogie master
• Al Cook – Located in Austria – Guitarist – Works in a traditional acoustic solo format and with the Al Cook Blues Band – Numerous recordings for the Extraplatte and Wolf Records labels
• Downchild Blues Band – Hail from Canada – Have recorded for Special Records, Attic, and the Stoney Plain Records imprints
• Cristiano Ferreira – Based in Brazil – Guitar player – Highest profile recording is on the Chico Blues label
• Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters – Gonzalez is from Texas and the band is comprised of European musicians – Music with Texas roadhouse blues, swing, and rock-n-roll sensibilities – Recorded for Stumble, Continental Blue Heaven, and Crosscut Records
• Flavio Gumaraes – Based in Brazil – Harmonica player – Records for Chico Blues
• Igor Prado Band – Based in Brazil – Prado plays guitar – Have recorded for the Chico Blues, Pepper Cake, and Delta Groove Music, Inc.
• Jo’ Buddy (also Jo’ Buddy’s Trio Riot) – Based in Finland – Plays guitar – Recorded for Ram-Bam Records
• Big Joe Louis & His Blues Kings – UK band – Louis is/was a guitar player (difficult to determine if he is still alive and active) – Recorded for the Blues Horizon, Tramp Records, and Ace labels
• Raoul & The Bigtime – From Canada – Raoul Bhaneja plays harmonica – Recordings on the Big Time Records and Undercover Brother Ent., Inc. labels
• Mike Sanchez – Based in Britain – Plays guitar – Recordings on the Doopin’ Music label and other imprints
• The Beat From Palookaville – From Spain – Rhythm & Ska style group – Have made recordings for Sleazy Records and a few other labels
• The Headcutters – From Brazil – All blues – Have made records for the Chico Blues label plus on a Delmark Records collaboration with bassist Bob Stroger
• The Kokomo Kings – From Sweden – Rocking roots music that is blues-infused – Have recorded for Rhythm Bomb Records label
• Tomi Leino Trio – Scandinavia is their home – Blues and roots music – Leino plays guitar – Have recorded for Homework Records
• Raphael Wressnig – Based in Austria – Hammond B-3 organ player – Broad recording history for labels including the Extraplatte, ATS Records, Pepper Cake, BHM Productions, and ZYX Music labels

These are certain of the overseas-based blues music artists and groups I have in my blues collection and frequently turn to, and they wouldn’t be there if their music wasn’t of the highest quality.  I find exciting music from all these musicians and bands!  Hopefully this list will spur you to reach outside the U.S. for your blues music enjoyment.  Happy shopping!