Rico Blues Combo
House Of Blue Rags
© 2005 Rico Blues Combo
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
Great mediterranean blues from Italy; special guest Sugar Ray Norcia, Mike Turk, Matt Leddy, Alberto Marsico, Mauro Ferrarese and David dal Pozzolo.
tracks
- 1 Kill the Coffee
- 2 Don't Say No
- 3 Return to the Sixth Road
- 4 I'll Go Insane
- 5 Why You' Re Doin' Me Wrong
- 6 When My Father Met Charlie's Uncle
- 7 Goin' Down Slow
- 8 Let's Shave
- 9 Kidney Stew
- 10 I Won't Leave My Home No More
- 11 So Sharply
- 12 Cross Eyed Cat Swing
- 13 T-bonelli Shuffle
- 14 Take My Hand
- 15 Pick Up My Rags
- 16 Sicilian Heart
try this
albums you will love
genres you will love
By Location
Recommended if you like ...
links
notes
The Rico Blues Combo is the natural result of a journey taken in the late '70s by Riccardo Migliarini, on the musical path of the Blues. Riccardo, nicknamed "Rico" for his Mexican looks, is one of the best known blues players in central Italy. In 1985, he meets Maurizio Pugno, one of the best and original guitar player in Italy.
Their love child is named the 1/2 Blues Band, and they set themselves to measuring up to the repertoire of urban Chicago blues.
From 1986, and for roughly ten years, Rico and Pugno gain important experience by playing in the Wolves Blues Band, a blues and R&B band with a solid and tight horn section. "Last Nite" recorded on 1993 for the Egea label is the most important work and it was well received by critics, and got excellent reviews in music magazines.
Towards the end of 1995, " Rico " and the "Maestro" play acoustic blues in duo on the Italian circuit. This is a return to the roots, if you will: a rediscovery of origins. It turns out to be an act of regeneration, a last minute act of packing for a new voyage, a new adventure.
Together, in 1996 with Mirco Capecci on the bass, and Giuliano Bei on the drums, put their new project into practice: Rico Blues Combo.
The repertoire of the Rico Blues Combo ranges from traditional blues to jump and shows some typical Mediterranean elements nearly to emphasize the real origins of the musicians who compose the band.
Most of the material is original (composed by Maurizio Pugno and Riccardo Migliarini) and "polluted" by these elements. This is clearly visible in some compositions like Too much Grappa, The Only Woman For Me, Sleepy Town, I Can' t Swim In S.Martino and Sicilian Heart appeared in the four official cds.
The sound is rich, vigorous, fun, and engaging: a fusion of spiritual and musical elements that would amply and justly mirror each member's personality. The band's musical approach takes as its starting point the immense musical patrimony of the blues, but crafts its own dimension through new arrangements and original compositions.
In terms of live performance, the Rico Blues Combo is one of the most active blues bands in Italy, though in fact, the group plays concerts all over Europe. In addition to playing in many of the most important clubs on the European circuit, the band has also played most of the major Blues Festivals and has opened for, and played with, such musicians as John Hammond, Willie Jaye, Popa Chubby, Lurrie Bell, Canned Heat, Doug MacLeod, Bob Brozman, Charlie Wood, Aida Cooper, Sean Costello, Fontella Bass, Sherman Robertson, John Primer, Roy Rogers, Gianna Nannini (!), Kenny Neal, Andy J. Forest, Fabio Treves, Rudy Rotta, Robin Brown, Andy Martin, Paul Lamb and many other.
On June 13, 2000 the Rico Blues Combo with Alberto Marsico on Hammond organ played a concert at the "Teatro Comunale" in Gubbio with IAN PAICE, the drummer of the historic rock band, Deep Purple. It was a return to his roots for the drummer, and a welcome opportunity to play some classic blues.
Moreover, Rico Blues Combo plays usually on tour with such international musicians as Sugar Ray Norcia, Matt Leddy, Mike Turk, Mitch Woods, Sax Gordon and Tad Robinson.
Often, some great Italian special guests and old friends are joined to the band (such artists as Alberto Marsico or Michele Papadia on Hammond Organ, Davide Dal Pozzolo on tenor sax and Mauro Ferrarese on vocals and dobro).
The Rico Blues Combo's official discography is made up of four albums:
"White Whiskey", released in June of 1997, is the first recording project and received excellent reviews (it was voted best blues recording, and best debut recording of 1997 by the Italian critics).
"Sleepy Town" (released in December 1999) is an organic reflection of the band's experiences. All of the songs on the CD are original, and were inspired by the diverse musical styles and influences the Rico Blues Combo has picked up and gathered along its collective way.
"Live At Murphy's", released in 2002, was recorded live in concert in the south of Italy.
The deep friendship and mutual admiration with one of the most important singer/harmonica-player of the contemporary scene, Sugar Ray Norcia, has influenced the new Rico Blues Combo's cd "House Of Blues Rags", released in July 2005 for the Paper Moon Records, with a kind of sound more "vintage" and natural. As a matter of facts, Sugar Ray is the songwriter and starring of some songs of "House Of Blue Rags".
As well as Sugar Ray Norcia, more great musicians took part at the studio sessions: Matt Leddy from Texas on vocals, Mike Turk on chromatic harmonica, Alberto Marsico on Hammond organ and piano, Davide Dal Pozzolo on tenor sax and Mauro Ferrarese on dobro and vocals.
"House Of Blues Rags" is receiving excellent reviews all around the world and the songs are played in a lots of important Radio broadcasting.
With the Rico Blues Combo a deep sense of humanity is translated into a stage show full of soul, feeling, and emotion. The band has found the poise and balance it takes to go on presenting its own brand of the blues for as long as it takes.