I love finding blues from around the world. A while back I blogged about Paul Batto Jr. from Slovenia and how impressed I was with his talent. Paul recently contacted me to inform me that some new videos of his had been posted. I just have to share this one and then send you off to see the rest on Paul Batto Jr’s Myspace page. What an incredible talent Paul is. Enjoy and thanks Paul for sharing with worldofblues.com.
Today I came across the sweet sound of Paul Batto Jr. on myspace. Paul’s a great guitarist with a wonderful voice. Just what I needed this morning. So I wrote Paul to thank him for entertaining me this morning and he wrote us a nice little note to introduce himself. I’d like to invite you to watch and listen to this video and read the introduction Paul sent which follows:
Paul writes: I was born in 1967 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. When people ask me if I’m from the south I say YES - south of Europe. Growing up in a non-musical family I had to walk in through the back door, so to speak, but all I ever knew was I just had to do this. I have been asked many times about my decision to make noise for a living and my answer has always been - for lack of a better idea. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.
My father observed how i always reacted to music as a kid and bought me my first guitar at the age of 5 - I strummed the thing with my thumb, got a huge blister and put the thing away for seven years. Picked it up again at about twelve and never put it down again.
Discovering the blues was a big thing and once it grows on you it never lets you go. I have been messin’ around with music for twenty some years now - singing gospel music, big band music etc. but I always end up back with with the blues. Someone once said to me : “It’s like coming home. You may go many places but you always come back to your good ol’ easy-chair”
Thanks Paul, that was well put.
Those who know me know I have a passion for blues and also a keen curiosity about the blues all around the world. But, this was not what attracted me to seek out Paul. I didn’t really know anything about him other than the music on his myspace page. I was in the mood for some mellow jazz and Paul really struck that chord for me with the tunes on his myspace page.
Thanks Paul, we’ve never met but you made my morning coffee very enjoyable this morning. I hope we hear lots from you in the future. Keep us all posted here at the worldofblues.com.
I have to thank Gavin on Twitter for bringing Oli Brown to my attention. According to Gavin, Oli is only 19 years old, and I have to say I’m impressed! Oli has been featured on classic rocks track of the day *(high praise), has a signature guitar in production by Vanquish Guitars in the UK his debut 2008 album was named as one of the Top 10 Albums of the year by Blues Matters Magazine. Check out this live performance:
Is that smoking hot guitar playing or what? So I could, and will, go on with a few more links but here is one bit of bad news. Oli’s CD is only available as an import at $38 in North America from Amazon (my side of the pond). But the MP3’s are available from amazon at just $0.99 for one or $0.89 for each of the others from the link to the right. Also you can order directly from Ruf Records for $15 US. Gotta Love the internet eh!
We’re bound to hear lots more from Oli Brown in the coming years. The band is signed with Ruf Records and that’s a whole other story I plan to do a post on real soon. In the mean time Oli is super accessible on the net (as you’d expect from any 19 year old I guess). here a just a few places to hear and learn more about Oli Brown and the Oli Brown Band.
Mountain Men was formed when a guitar playing Mr. Mat from France and harmonica playing Barefoot Iano from Australia joined forces in 2005. Their first album “Mat with Iano - Mountain Men” was released in October 2005 and when the stock was depleted they decided not to re-release because their style was evolving so quickly. However, you can get still get it directly from Barefoot Iano’s website. I’ve been waiting for their new release for a while now but I just can’t hold back on sharing this music any longer. Check this out:
Whew - now I bet there’s a few of us waiting for that new album to be released. The album was due to be released in spring of 2009 so I’m hoping it will be any day now.
For those who can’t understand the“Mr Mat …. Mountain Men” Myspace.com page (it is in French), I can tell you that the duo states they draw on influences of the pioneers of blues including Robert Johnson, Son House, Charlie Patton and Skip James as well as new bluesmen including Keb Mo’ and Eric Bibb. Thats a fine list of influences and I have to respect the fact they mentioned this list of people in particular. The styles and sounds can be heard through out everything I’ve heard by them.
While you and I may not have heard much from these people I can tell you that those who have been aware of them have paid them the recognition they deserve. Mr. Mat … Mountain Men went from meeting in 2005; recording in 2005; wining the band challenge at the 2006 Blues Sur Seine festival in France; invited to perform at the 2007 Montréal Festiblues and then represented France in in the Blues Foundation 2008 “International Blues Challenge”. That’s a pretty impressive progression from from 2005 to 2008. I can’t wait to hear their new album and I’ll be sure to announce it to everyone so stay tuned.
Being an acoustic guitar blues musician and fan myself I am in awe of Mr. Mat’s playing and vocals so I’ll leave you here with this solo performance:
I’m very happy to introduce the newest Blues Society I’m aware of The Croatian Blues Forces (CBF). Here is the introduction as they sent it to me:
The Croatian Blues Forces (CBF), affiliation of Blues Foundation, held their first meeting on 22.9.2008 in Zagreb, Croatia to elect presidency and to do some concrete steps in preserving and promoting blues music. Croatian Blues Forces was legally founded in June 2008. Newly elected president Mr. Tomislav Goluban has informed all that came to the meeting about his participation in “1. European blues conference” in Parma (Italy) where he made first personal contacts with other Blues Foundation members. Blues Foundation was particularly pleased with new CBF logo which incorporates recognizable Blues Foundation sign. In this short time CBF has lAunched web site (www.croblues.hr) and managed to secure Blues evenings/concerts (BlueSax) for Croatian blues bands which will be held in famous Sax Club in Zagreb every last Monday in month. We also make video and audio records and we are planning to make a DVD compilation in order to present our members. The photos that we make will also be used for 2010 CBF calendar.
I must make a point at one of the legend of blues - Jerry Ricks, who lived last years in Croatia and which we helped him to get hospitalized and get the treatments. Our subsidiary from Rijeka helped him in all possible ways, including the last one, the decent funeral in Kastav. At the local cemetery, with numerous Kastav people and blues lovers attending, he was payed the final respects on 18th December 2007. His ashes in an urn were placed at the spot generously given by a local family. Honoring this great blues artist, there’s a modest memorial stone board for all the accident visitors to the cemetary saying: «Clarence Gerald Ricks 1954-2007». Now with agency „Dobri Duh rock’n rolla“ who brings rock and blues artist in Croatia working toghether at promotion and the first concerts that we made was Eric Sardinas supported by members of CBF. For october we are planing to do a first Croatian Blues Challenge where we gona have the winners of group and solo/duo category which will go to Memphis IBC at 2010.
WOW - now there is a blues club doing it right! Philadelphia Jerry Ricks is not a name I was familiar with. It seems his time was cut short and my what a shame. This video is also cut short and thats also a shame but its so apropos I just have to post it.
The Croatian Blues Forces now has more than 50 bands as members. Check these CFB members doing it right in Croatia. I’ll post as many as I can find here - I’m telling you it warms my heart to think what these people have been through and to see the music coming through it all. Thanks Croatian Blues Forces (CBF) for being a friend of Worldofblues.com and for your incredible support of the blues.
If you want more information on Blues in Croatia or information about these great bands be sure to check out Croatian Blues Forces (CBF)
If you want any more information about blues in Croatia or any of these incredible bands head on over the Croatian Blues Forces (CBF) website and tell them that WorldofBlues.com sent you.
I have to thank 
