[:es]Cualquiera que busque una prueba de que el blues está vivo en Europa sólo necesita echar un vistazo al European Blues Challenge de este año, organizado por la Unión Europea de Blues y celebrado en Riga (Letonia) el segundo fin de semana de abril. 18 grupos – cada uno de ellos un ganador de su respectiva competición nacional – mostraron sus talentos en dos noches consecutivas con actuaciones en directo de 20 minutos. El evento parecía más una celebración que un certamen: Una entusiasta multitud compuesta por los lugareños, los aficionados visitantes y los músicos participantes aplaudieron a cada banda con un espíritu de comunidad y juego limpio. A nadie parecía importarle mucho ganar, al menos en apariencia.
Un grupo de expertos de la industria otorgó a los españoles A Contra Blues el galardón de la EBC. Los abundantes talentos de este quinteto de Barcelona quedan reflejados en su último trabajo Chances (2013). Los dos primeros cortes, A hole in my pocket y Just arrived – la primera enraizada en rockabilly y la segunda al estilo blusero de Elmore James – muestran el arma de dos cañones clave en su arsenal: Héctor Martín y Alberto Noel Calvillo Mendiola, dos guitarristas igualmente talentosos que crean una tensión y un jugueteo emocionante. En contraste con el anterior álbum de la banda, basado en los clásicos del blues, Chances muestra una impresionante habilidad para la composición. Tomemos por ejemplo Barkin’ dog, una pieza acústica tensa y apasionante seguida inmediatamente por Don’t do that city, una estimulante pieza de swing que recuerda a los mejores momentos de Brian Setzer. La voz de Jonathan Herrero Herrería tiene un fuerte acento pero su fraseo, su tono y su sentido del ritmo hacen de él un frontman fascinante.
-Vincent Abbate-
Blues Music Magazine (USA)
[:ca]Qualsevol que busqui una prova que el blues està viu a Europa només necessita fer un cop d’ull al European Blues Challenge d’aquest any, organitzat per la Unió Europea de Blues i celebrat a Riga (Letònia) el segon cap de setmana d’abril. 18 grups – cadascun d’ells un guanyador de la seva respectiva competició nacional – van mostrar els seus talents en dues nits consecutives amb actuacions en directe de 20 minutos. L’esdeveniment semblava més una celebració que un certamen: Una entusiasta multitud composta pels vilatans, els aficionats visitants i els músics participants van aplaudir a cada banda amb un esperit de comunitat i joc net. A ningú semblava importar-li molt guanyar, almenys en aparença.
Un grup d’experts de la indústria va atorgar als espanyols A Contra Blues el guardó de la EBC. Els abundants talents d’aquest quintet de Barcelona queden reflectits en el seu últim treball Chances (2013). Els dues primers corts, A hole in my pocket i Just arrived – la primera arrelada en rockabilly i la segona a l’estil blusero de Elmore James – mostren l’arma de dos canons clau en el seu arsenal: Héctor Martín i Alberto Noel Calvillo Mendiola, dos guitarristes igualment talentosos que creen una tensió i un joguinejo emocionant. En contrast amb l’anterior àlbum de la banda, basat en els clàssics del blues, Chances mostra una impresionane habilitat per a la composició. Prenguem per exemple Barkin’ dog, una peça acústica tibant i apassionant seguida immediatament per Don’t do that city, una estimulant peça de swing que recorda als millors moments de Brian Setzer. La veu de Jonathan Herrero Herrería té un fort accent però el seu fraseig, el seu to i el seu sentit del ritme fan d’ell un frontman fascinant.
-Vincent Abbate-
Blues Music Magazine (USA)
[:en]Anyone looking for proof that the blues is alive and well and living in Europe need look no futher than this year’s European Blues Challenge, organized by the European Blues Union and held in Riga, Latvia, on the second weekend in April. There, 18 acts – each of them a winner of their respective national competition – showcased their talents on two consecutive night of 20-minute live performances. The event felt less like a contest than a celebration: An enthusiastic crowd made up of locals, visiting fans, and participating musicians cheered each band in a spirit of community and fair play. On the surface at least, no one seemed to care much about winning.
In the end, a panel of industry insiders gave Spain’s A Contra Blues top honors. The abundant talents of this five-piece outfit from Barcelona are apparent on their 2013 CD release Chances. The opening two numbers, “A hole in my pocket” and “Just arrived” – the former rooted in rockabilly, the latter in Elmore James-style blues – show off the key double-barreled weapon in their arsenal: Héctor Martín and Alberto Noel Calvillo Mendiola, two equally gifted guitarists who create an exciting and playful tension. In contrast to the band’s previous album, which relied heavly on classic covers, Chances shows off impressive song writting chops. “Barkin’ dog” for example, is a tense and gripping acoustic track immediately followed by an exhilarating swing workout, “Don’t do that city” recalling Brian Setzer’s finest moments. The singing of Jonathan Herrero Herrería is rather heavily accented, but his phrasing, tone, and feel for rhythm make him a riveting front man.
-Vincent Abbate-
Blues Music Magazine (USA)
[:fr]Anyone looking for proof that the blues is alive and well and living in Europe need look no futher than this year’s European Blues Challenge, organized by the European Blues Union and held in Riga, Latvia, on the second weekend in April. There, 18 acts – each of them a winner of their respective national competition – showcased their talents on two consecutive night of 20-minute live performances. The event felt less like a contest than a celebration: An enthusiastic crowd made up of locals, visiting fans, and participating musicians cheered each band in a spirit of community and fair play. On the surface at least, no one seemed to care much about winning.
In the end, a panel of industry insiders gave Spain’s A Contra Blues top honors. The abundant talents of this five-piece outfit from Barcelona are apparent on their 2013 CD release Chances. The opening two numbers, “A hole in my pocket” and “Just arrived” – the former rooted in rockabilly, the latter in Elmore James-style blues – show off the key double-barreled weapon in their arsenal: Héctor Martín and Alberto Noel Calvillo Mendiola, two equally gifted guitarists who create an exciting and playful tension. In contrast to the band’s previous album, which relied heavly on classic covers, Chances shows off impressive song writting chops. “Barkin’ dog” for example, is a tense and gripping acoustic track immediately followed by an exhilarating swing workout, “Don’t do that city” recalling Brian Setzer’s finest moments. The singing of Jonathan Herrero Herrería is rather heavily accented, but his phrasing, tone, and feel for rhythm make him a riveting front man.
-Vincent Abbate-
Blues Music Magazine (USA)
[:de]Anyone looking for proof that the blues is alive and well and living in Europe need look no futher than this year’s European Blues Challenge, organized by the European Blues Union and held in Riga, Latvia, on the second weekend in April. There, 18 acts – each of them a winner of their respective national competition – showcased their talents on two consecutive night of 20-minute live performances. The event felt less like a contest than a celebration: An enthusiastic crowd made up of locals, visiting fans, and participating musicians cheered each band in a spirit of community and fair play. On the surface at least, no one seemed to care much about winning.
In the end, a panel of industry insiders gave Spain’s A Contra Blues top honors. The abundant talents of this five-piece outfit from Barcelona are apparent on their 2013 CD release Chances. The opening two numbers, “A hole in my pocket” and “Just arrived” – the former rooted in rockabilly, the latter in Elmore James-style blues – show off the key double-barreled weapon in their arsenal: Héctor Martín and Alberto Noel Calvillo Mendiola, two equally gifted guitarists who create an exciting and playful tension. In contrast to the band’s previous album, which relied heavly on classic covers, Chances shows off impressive song writting chops. “Barkin’ dog” for example, is a tense and gripping acoustic track immediately followed by an exhilarating swing workout, “Don’t do that city” recalling Brian Setzer’s finest moments. The singing of Jonathan Herrero Herrería is rather heavily accented, but his phrasing, tone, and feel for rhythm make him a riveting front man.
-Vincent Abbate-
Blues Music Magazine (USA)
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