Showing posts with label Mingo Balaguer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mingo Balaguer. Show all posts

Monday, October 9, 2023

Mingo & The Blues Intruders - Goin' West

Album: Goin' West
Size: 97,9 MB
Time: 42:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front

1. Mad About My Baby (3:51)
2. Little Dog (5:21)
3. Can You See (4:54)
4. Chiles Con Carne (4:41)
5. Garbage Man (3:07)
6. E Boogie (2:39)
7. Take It Easy (5:22)
8. Mistery Train (4:02)
9. Shake Your Boogie (4:08)
10. Got Cha (4:23)

More than 30 years on stage and 17 albums released, endorse Mingo Balaguer's experience as a harmonica player and blues singer, not only in his own country, but also beyond its borders. He was a member of the legendary Caledonia Blues Band for ten years, during which time he performed with outstanding musicians such as Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Winter, Charlie Musselwhite and Magic Slim, among others.

Caledonia Blues Band played in such iconic venues as Chicago (July 1994), Hanover and Hamburg (November 1995). At the beginning of 2000, Mingo Balaguer founded The Blues Blasters, and a year later the Big Bang company from Granada, released their first CD "Keep The Blues Alive". With this band they had the great opportunity to do a two week tour along the East Coast of the United States (Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Baltimore), highlighting the concerts at the Kennedy Center Millennium (Washington, D.C.) on July 25, 2002, and in 2002 Artscape (Baltimore) on July 27.

After his experience in bands like Caledonia Blues Band, Blues Machine and Blues Blasters, Mingo Balaguer made the decision to lead a quartet called Mingo And The Blues Intruders. His objective was to cover a wide range of styles within the field of blues, like the West Coast blues, Chicago electric blues, jump blues and Texas blues. In March 2008 the first CD and vinyl of Mingo & The Blues Intruders called "Goin’ West" was released, and later in November 2010, the Cambaya/Karonte companies released the second CD of the band, called "Fun To Visit", a CD recorded completely live at the Cambaya blues club. That CD was produced by the legendary British producer Mike Vernon.

Personnel: Mingo Balaguer (vocals, harmonica); Quique Bonal (guitar); Fernando Torres (bass); Juan De La Oliva (drums).

Goin' West mc
Goin' West gofile

Friday, October 6, 2023

Cat Squirrel - Blues What Am

Album: Blues What Am
Size: 147,5 MB
Time: 63:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front, back

1. I Feel So Good (4:56)
2. What Might Be Your Name (5:03)
3. Cat Squirrel (4:33)
4. Sugaree Sugaree (4:00)
5. Out On A Limb (5:09)
6. Heart of Gold (4:05)
7. My Baby's Gone (4:30)
8. Tell Me Mama (3:22)
9. What The Blues Will Do (3:27)
10. All She Wants Is Me (3:53)
11. You Got Me Dizzy (4:00)
12. Baby Please (4:15)
13. One Minute (5:31)
14. Let The Boogie Rip (6:39)

In a remarkable return to his blues roots, Mike Vernon MBE, a mainstay in the global blues scene, is back with an exciting new project called Cat Squirrel, paying tribute to Doctor Ross’s 1961 track of the same name (Fortune Records, 1961). After more than six decades in the industry, a handful of albums and a roster of collaborations with icons such as Rory Gallagher, Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix), Leo Lyons (Ten Years After), David Bowie, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Buddy Guy, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie King, Edwin Starr and more, Vernon is ready to unveil “Blues What Am”, a project that revisits the era of the blues masters from the late ’50s and early ’60s.

In fact, the title of the album (a secret until now) is the title of a song written and recorded by William ‘Jazz’ Gillum for RCA Victor in the 1940s. According to Mike Vernon himself, “Gillum was one of the most popular recording artists for Victor during the postwar years, along with Big Bill Broonzy, John Lee Williamson and Tampa Red. I always thought Blues What Am to be an interesting song title… probably a colloquial expression of those times to describe the ‘real’ blues… who knows? I decided to use it as the CD title as it does, to my mind, describe that this collection is most definitely blues, and nothing but the blues! Grammatically incorrect for sure… but I think it works!”

Throughout his prolific career, Mike Vernon, celebrated as a producer and musician, has worked alongside a multitude of blues legends, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. The new album showcases Vernon’s collaboration with the talented guitarist Kid Carlos, whose autodidactic journey from a young age has led him to share the stage with renowned blues musicians and earn his place in the band. United by a serendipitous encounter, their musical chemistry is undeniable, giving rise to new compositions culminating in «Cat Squirrel, promising to infuse the blues with an innovative touch while paying homage to its timeless roots.

The project also features the legendary Spanish harmonica player Mingo Balaguer, whose decades-long dedication to the blues, alongside the likes of Johnny Winter, Magic Slim, Charlie Musselwhite or Hubert Sumlin, have earned him respect and admiration in his homeland and beyond. Balaguer’s harmonica prowess on Cat Squirrel adds an authentic and passionate touch to the sound of the album. Completing the ensemble are bassist Oriol Fontanals and drummer Pascual Monge, both accomplished musicians in their own right. Their rhythmic contributions infuse the music of Vernon, Kid Carlos y Mingo Balaguer with a solid and energetic backbone.

According to Carlos, “It is an honor for me to be part of this exciting new project working alongside two legends of the blues world. Mike Vernon produced many of the albums that I listened to when learning to play the blues and, at that time, I could never have imagined that years later I would find myself actively working with him as part of Cat Squirrel. And then, the legendary Spanish Blues harmonicist Mingo Balaguer – for me the best in my homeland. It has also been a pleasure to work with Pascual and Oriol in the studio – their high levels of musicianship permeates the whole of our debut album – a truly exquisite rhythmic base!”

The recording process took place in Sevilla, Spain, and the results are nothing short of sensational. Energetic and authentic, Cat Squirrel offers a delightful, foot-tapping blues experience that pays homage to the genre’s greats while forging a distinctive path of its own.

For Mike Vernon, Cat Squirrel is a kind of full circle in his musical career, rediscovering the passion and inspiration that led him to the blues in his formative years, and sharing it with a new generation of blues lovers as the quintet redefines and revitalizing the genre. “I am now totally re-energised both mentally and physically and convinced that this project with Cat Squirrel hits all the spots” says the soon-to-be octogenarian. /Jessica Jacobsen, Dirty Rock

Blues What Am mc
Blues What Am gofile

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Mingo Balaguer - Blue Shadow

Size: 112,1 MB
Time: 48:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

01. Toxic Woman (4:10)
02. My Little Girl (3:42)
03. Happy To Meet My Baby (2:59)
04. Keep On Knockin' (4:08)
05. You're Nearly Killing Me (6:30)
06. Unemployment Blues (4:02)
07. Early In The Morning (6:04)
08. Down To The Liquor Store (4:23)
09. Don't Let Me Fall Behind (4:29)
10. Party Animal (4:42)
11. Sputnik Boogie (3:16)

He was a member of the legendary «Caledonia Blues Band» for ten years, during which time he performed with outstanding musicians such as Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Winter, Charlie Musselwhite and Magic Slim among others.
Caledonia Blues Band played in such iconic venues as Chicago (July 1994), Hanover and Hamburg (November 1995).

At the beginning of 2000, Mingo Balaguer founded The Blues Blasters, and a year later the Big Bang company from Granada, released their first CD «Keep The Blues Alive». With this band they had the great opportunity to do a two-week tour along the East Coast of the United States (Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Baltimore), highlighting the concerts at the Kennedy Center Millennium (Washington, D.C.) on July 25, 2002 and in 2002 Artscape (Baltimore) on July 27, 2002.

After his experience in bands like «Caledonia Blues Band», «Blues Machine» and «Blues Blasters», Mingo Balaguer made the decision to lead a quartet called «Mingo The Blues Intruders». His objective was to cover a wide range of styles within the field of blues, like the West Coast blues, Chicago electric blues, Jump – blues and Texas blues. In March 2008 the first CD and vinyl of “Mingo & The Blues Intruders” called «Goin’ West» was released, and later in November 2010, the Cambaya/Karonte companies released the second CD of the band, called «Fun To Visit», a CD recorded completely live at the Cambaya blues club. This CD has been produced by the legendary British producer “Mike Vernon”.

Mike Vernon has produced the vast majority of British blues bands and a large number of American blues artists such as The Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, Duster Bennett, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green, John Mayall, Ten Years After, Freddie King, Lazy Lester, George Hca. Smith and many others in the 1960s.

The last CD of “Mingo & The Blues Intruders” called «Wild Wild Women» was released in February 2013. Mingo Balaguer has currently released 17 CDs throughout his musical career and has had the privilege of playing with international musicians such as Charlie Musselwhite, Carey Bell, Gary Primich, Sugar Ray Norcia, Kenny Neal, Jr. Mischo, Bruce Ewan, Miguel Rios, Raimundo Amador, Bobby Radcliff, Charlie Sayles, Paul Lamb, Jerry Portnoy, Sherman Robertson, Otis Grand and Lurrie Bell among others.

Mingo Balaguer has been working for many years as a freelance musician, alongside the most prestigious blues musicians on the national scene, which has allowed him to have the opportunity to play in blues festivals in many countries such as France, Germany, Indonesia, Georgia (Tbilisi) and Sofia (Bulgaria) to name but a few ,often with the backup of local blues bands in those countries.

Blue Shadow MP3
Blue Shadow FLAC

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Blues Train - Con Mingo Balaguer Y Alex Caporuscio

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:06
Size: 89.5 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. 40 Days
[3:51] 2. Crazy For My Baby
[4:38] 3. Help Me
[3:10] 4. Walking By My Self
[4:12] 5. Little Red Rooster
[2:42] 6. I Want To Be Loved
[3:56] 7. Sittin'
[3:55] 8. Too Late
[3:42] 9. Sloppy Drunk
[5:09] 10. The Thrill Is Gone

BLUES TRAIN, the strongest and most powerful backing band was born to be the "rearguard" of luxury first class bluesmen. A very well-oiled machine to make Blues, formed by musicians and programmers of impeccable trajectory in the national scene of Blues and Rhythm & Blues, and members of bands already consolidated, that have united to start up this train.

BLUES TRAIN is a project, a journey from here to there, itinerant, both in its members and in the repertoire: the train always moves by its engine, the luxury backing band that makes it up and, each trip, in each tour, the artists that will accompany them will change. Always great soloists, national and international, of the Blues. Different shows, different themes, and always with the best seal of quality that can be offered.

A repertoire based on classics and great songs from the electrifying Blues of the 50's and 60's. From Chicago to Memphis; from New Orleans to Texas. Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Jimmie Rogers, Freddie King, Howlin 'Wolf, B.B. King, Little Walter ... In short, an unbeatable setlist, a great success of electric blues by everyone known, a band rock solid and with much, much rhythm. Fun and spectacle insured. (Translated from Spanish.)

Con Mingo Balaguer Y Alex Caporuscio mc
Con Mingo Balaguer Y Alex Caporuscio zippy