Papa George is generally regarded as one of the major electric blues musicians playing on the British blues scene today.
Although inspired by the Southern style of country blues that grew out of the Mississippi Delta and Louisiana his sounds and techniques also lean heavily towards the influence of the Chicago blues sounds reminiscent of Muddy Waters – who himself became a success in the UK after an acclaimed tour in 1960.
Papa George’s style is characterized by the use of amplified resonator guitars or Fender Strat, picked or bottled, as each note is gently squeezed from soulful strings. His deep, great smoky voice is a mixture of honeyed molasses and Tennessee sourmash whiskey- sometimes dark and bitter as the cocoa bean, but most of the time, as sweet and as merry as a Piña Colada.
There is enough bitterness and maturity in and around Papa George’s chord progressions to ferment a state of melancholy in the heart of everyone in the room, without resorting to farce or fantasy. In his concerts, you remain firmly within Papa George’s world of blackjack back-room bars or windswept palm-fringed beaches but the settings and vibrations of all the songs seem authentic enough to be recognisably rooted in West London and the English blues setting.
Papa George employs a more up-tempo style than many of his blues playing buddies (reminding me of John Lee Hooker) with a driving rhythm and a tendency to walk the bass pattern with his thumb- this especially nimble method helping to illuminate and add texture to the rhythm of the faster numbers. At times the sounds were as fiery as a string of Texas jalapeños and at other times as passionate as a fling on the Yazoo River. His fighting spirit is always served with generous spoonfuls of butter and cream.
Neil_Mach April 2009
Hi guys, we've got three great gigs coming up and a brand new EP "TWO"!!!
22nd Dec- Charlotte Street Blues,Charlotte St.London. 26th ..he Mitre, Mitre Street,Buckingham. 31st Dec- "New Years Eve Party" Esquires,Bedford.
You'll
be hearing the new tracks, inc."Today Was The Day","The Robin's
Garden","Peace By Piece" and "God Won't Let My Baby In Tonight"....Very
soon....for now,we'd love to see you out with us at any of those dates
if you can make it along? Here's a taste of what to expect....
Hi George, Just caught your gig last night at the Bull's Head with Ian Hunt, and what a brilliant performance......Totally amazing playing guys, AWESOME.
HI GEORGE I SENT INVITE TO JENNY ? SHE HAS NOT ADD AS YET,,,BE COOL TO HERE HER ON TRACK,I SENT HER E MAIL WITH ALL INFO I NEED,,,LET THE SPRITS FLOW,,,BILLY BONES,,,SECRET MUSIC U K
