Raoul Bhaneja
Darren Gallen
Tom Bona
Ka-Cheong Liu
with special guests
Terry Wilkins
Junior Watson
Mark Hummel
Big Joe Maher
Influences
Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bobby Bland, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Jay McShann, Junior Watson, Mark Hummel, Louis Armstrong, Big Joe Maher, Louis Jordan, Johnny Sansone, W. Harris, Ray Charles, Roy Brown, Eddie Cleanhead Vincent, William Clark, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers, Lynwood Slim, Alex Schultz, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Rick Holmstrom, Kim Wilson, Jerry Portnoy, James Harman, Nick Curran, Little Charlie and The Nightcats, Oscar Peterson, John Hammond Jr., Dinah Washington, Big Dave Maclean, Morgan Davis, Little Junior Parker, Jimmy Rogers, George Harmonica Smith...
Sounds Like
Jump, West Coast Swing, 1950s Chicago (Chess) and Real Life Blues
YOU MY PEOPLE the newest CD from The Big Time is due out June 2009 with special guests Junior Watson, Mark Hummel, The Sojourners, Treasa Levasseur, Tyler Yarema, Richard Underhill, Gene Hardy, Pat Carey and Howard Moore. 8 night CD release at The Luminato Artist Lounge in the Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto June 5-12th 2009 at 10PM!
NOW MAGAZINE BEST OF TORONTO says BIG TIME is TOPS!
"Best blues artist
RAOUL & THE BIG TIME
The slickly dressed four-piece led by former Train 48 lead Raoul Bhaneja has done increasingly well for itself in recent years with an eclectic and learned combination of "Toronto, Chicago and Hollywood blues" and a list of influences that reads like a blues nerd's wet dream. No cheeseball stuff here, just a seriously credible homage to the classic school."
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2007-11-01/music_feature.php
CLICK ON VIDEOS LINK FOR COLD OUTSIDE AND BABY DON'T STOP.............
Raoul and The Big Time is one of the most highly regarded and awarded young blues acts in Canada. Since forming in the summer of 1998 they have released two records to critical acclaim - BIG TIME BLUES and COLD OUTSIDE.
They have performed as part of many major festivals having opened for the likes of Bobby Blue Bland, The Downchild Blues Band, Junior Watson, Big Dave Mclean and many more.
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In 2004 they released their second recording, the critically acclaimed COLD OUTSIDE, featuring guest appearances by American legends Junior Watson, Mark Hummel and Big Joe Maher along with up and coming Canadians Graham Guest, John Showman and Kevin Quain. Since forming in the summer of 1998 they have been awarded numerous Maple Blues and Real Blues Awards. BABY DONT STOP, their second video was in the TOP 10 on the BRAVO Video Chart. They have performed on CANADA AM (CTV), STUDIO 2 (TVO) and also appeared on METROPIA (Omni). Radio appearances include Open House Ontario (CBC Radio One), where they performed live in the Glen Gould Theatre and Raoul is a regular guest of Danny Marks on BLUZ FM 91.1 Toronto. They have been featured and reviewed in print articles in The Toronto Star, The London Free Press, The Ottawa Citizen, The Ottawa Sun, The Globe and Mail, Now Magazine, Real Blues Magazine, Blues Revue and many more.
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What the critics are saying about COLD OUTSIDE
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Recorded in Toronto, Raoul and The Big Times COLD OUTSIDE (Big Time 002) is an easy-swinging winner featuring guests Mark Hummel and Junior Watson. Raoul Bhaneja, the singer, harpist, guitarist, and producer, whips up a nice blend of swing, jump-blues (the firey title track) and slow, stripped-down instrumentals. Hot stuff-Jeff Calvin, Blues Revue Feb/March 2005
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***** The more I listen to it, the more I like it. So, now its your turn. Believe me, Raoul is already up there with the masters of the blues-Blues & Co magazine: Number 28. (FRANCE).
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9 out of 10!
Raoul has a natural, character filled blues voice with a harp style to match, whether wailing the blues on the 50s styled boogie Otherside Of Town, or laying down a mellow late night groove on Cold Outside, with its haunting harp, desolate vocals, tantalizing guitar licks and atmospheric backing harmonies.-Mick Rainsford- Blues in Britain.
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Unquestionably one of the finest releases, indie or otherwise, to come down the pipe in a while, this one gets my highest recommendation. Miss it at your peril!
-John R. Taylor- Blues on Stage/MNBLUES.com...............................................
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To find out more about Raoul Bhaneja and his acting career go to..................... http://www.raoulbhaneja.com.....................................................................................
To find out more about drummer Tom Bona go to............................................
http://www.tombona.com...............................................................................
Raoul, Nice running into you last night. Let me know if you liked "Minsky's" as much as I. Come to the JAM on Monday. Lot's of great players. Cheers, JT Ross
Hello RAOUL, Hello from LACHE PAS LA PATATE ("don't drop the potatoe") in the north of France... Hey GREAT sound... really LOVE your sound... When did you play in Europe... Cheers... André.
Hey Raoul and The Big Time; You're sounding great! All our very best wishes for a great new year filled with lots of good music! -Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans
WE ARE VERY SAD... WE DON'T HAVE WORDS TO SAY ANYMORE... OUR SINGER AND DOBRO PLAYER ENRICO MICHELETTI IS DEAD. GOODBYE ENRICO KEEP THE BLUES ALIVE WHEREVER YOU ARE!!!!
Hi Raoul, Wishing you all the best from Parchman Farm, Hope your all enjoying the holiday season.Look forward to catching up with you again in JJs sometime. best wishes, All the lads in PFBB
