JAVIER VARGAS, electric guitar .
TIM MITCHELL, vocals .
PETER KUNST, drums .
LUIS MAYO, bass
Influences
Pictured in Memphis at Ardent Studios are (L-R) Devon Allman, Javier Vargas, and mix engineer Jason Latshaw. Spanish guitar sensation Javier Vargas has returned to Memphis’ renowned Ardent Studios for his new album “Flamenco Blues Experience.” Jason Latshaw is mixing the new album, with Jason Gillespie assisting. Devon Allman, who contributed vocals to Vargas’ 2005 album, “Love, Union, Peace,” returned to Memphis to record vocals for the new release. In previous albums, Vargas has teamed up with artists such as Jack Bruce, Glenn Hughes, and Elliot Murphy. For years, the Vargas Blues Band has been entertaining audiences throughout Europe at such major venues as Switzerland’s Montreaux Jazz Festival, Germany’s Pop Korn Festival, The Great British R&B Festival, and the Antwerp R& B Festival, as well as extensive touring elsewhere throughout Europe and Latin America. Carlos Santana, who has performed with Vargas in Spain and France, remarked on the Spaniard’s unique talent to blend Rock, Soul, Flamenco and Latin influences: “Vargas is like a rainbow, he contains all the colors, he feels the same passion as I do when it comes to embracing the music of the world.” ARTICLE TAKEN FROM
The Vargas Blues Band’s new album,
“Flamenco Blues Experience”, is Javier Vargas’ latest work, ON STORES MAY 15 2008,
a fusion of his blues rock roots with a good dose of flamenco.
Recorded at Ardent Studios (Memphis, TN, USA) with engineer
John Hampton (The White Stripes, The Racounters…), mixed by
Jason Latshaw and mastered by Brad Blackwood of Euphonic Masters
in Memphis, TN, USA. The spectacular album cover of “Flamenco
Blues Experience” has been created by Bob Masse, renowned
designer of rock posters who has worked with the likes of
Cream, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan or U2, as well
as other works for the Fillmore West in San Francisco. Javier
Vargas has many great musicians collaborating on this album,
such as Canadian guitar icon Frank Marino, Devon Allman son
of Greg Allman of the Allman Brothers, internationally acclaimed
flamenco and blues guitarist Raimundo Amador who, on “Blues
para Lucia”, goes head to head with Vargas on guitar. Also
present is Rey Morao, Mauri Sanchís who gives his special
touch to the Hammond, the funk fusion of The Cherry Boppers,
and not to forget the band’s long time singers and collaborators,
Tim Mitchell, Bobby Alexander and the rhythm section with
drummer Steve Potts (Crossroads Guitar Festivals) and David
Smith on bass.
Nuevo álbum
de la Vargas Blues Band, “Flamenco Blues Experience”, A LA VENTA EL 15 DE MAYO 2008, el más
reciente proyecto de Javier Vargas, donde fusiona sus raíces
de blues rock con el flamenco, grabado en Ardent Studios (Memphis,
TN, USA) con el ingeniero John Hampton (The White Stripes,
The Racounters…), mezclado por Jason Latshaw y masterizado
por Brad Blackwood de Euphonic Masters en Memphis, TN, USA.
La espectacular portada de “Flamenco Blues Experience” está
realizada por Bob Masse, genial diseñador de posters de rock,
entre otros, para actos en el Fillmore West de San Francisco
(Cream, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, U2…) Javier
Vargas cuenta en esta ocasión con importantes colaboraciones
como Frank Marino, icono canadiense de la guitarra blues rock,
Devon Allman hijo de Greg Allman miembro de los Allman Brothers,
Raimundo Amador, artista de renombre de la guitarra flamenca
y blusera que, en el tema “Blues para Lucía”, entabla un diálogo
de guitarras con mucho duende junto a Javier Vargas; encontramos
también al dúo Rey Morao, el toque especial de Mauri Sanchís
al Hammond, el funk fusion de The Cherry Boppers o dentro
de sus habituales cantantes y colaboradores, Tim Mitchell,
Bobby Alexander y las bases rítmicas del batería Steve Potts
(Crossroads Guitar Festivals) con el bajista David Smith.
All Around Blues is the first album of the Vargas Blues Band, edited in 1991. The second LP, Madrid-Memphis, was edited in 1992 and includes collaborations of blues men such as Carey Bell and Louisiana Red, the flamenco guitar player Rafael Riqueni, and the singers Philip Guttman and Jeff Espinoza.These two albums enjoyed continued enthusiastic support in the Spanish musical scene reaching the highest sales figure of any blues album.
The third album, Blues Latino, was released in Spain in 1994. The extra instrumental support came courtesy of international artists: Chris Rea, Junior Wells, Flaco Jiménez and Andrés Calamaro.
The album “Santana Brothers” was released worldwide, including the song “Blues Latino” by Javier Vargas. Carlos Santana played this song in Woodstock 1994.
In October this year, the Band appeared for the first time in Buenos Aires (Argentina) having great success.
Their fourth album Texas Tango, was produced in Austin and Memphis (USA) by Jim Gaines. This album was released in various countries at the end of 1995, and includes collaborations with Double Trouble, (Steve Ray Vaughan Band) Larry T. Thurston and Preston Shannon, among others.
In July of this year, Carlos Santana invited him to play two songs together in the concert held at the Zenith, in Paris. The passion and feeling of the guitar duo got the capacity crowd on their feet.
In 1998, Santana invited again Vargas to play in his concerts in Madrid and Paris (Bercy). This experience was repeated in Spain, where Vargas played as a guest of Carlos Santana in his opening tour of “Supernatural” in 2000 .
In 1997 his fifth album Gypsy Boogie was released. The album was recorded in Madrid and Memphis, mixed in Florida and mastered in New York. Flamenco artists such as Raimundo Amador, Carles Benavent, La Chonchi and Blues-soul-rock artists such as
Chester Thomson, Loonie Brooks, Larry McCray, Little Jimmy King, David Allen and Larry Graham collaborated in the recording.
Jim Gaines produced the album.
Larry Graham introduced Javier to Prince, who invited him to play in a jam session at his concert during the tour “Jam of the Year” in Spain in December 1998.
The sixth album, Feedback/ Bluestrology (1998) was recorded at Hook End studios in Checkendom (England), and co-produced by Ian Taylor (Gary Moore, Cheaptrick producer etc). This album includes the old collaborators from Memphis: Steve Potts, Dave Smith and Ernest Willimanson and the former singers of the Band, Bobby Alexander and David Montes.
Bluestrology was re-released as a solo album in January 2000.
Vargas Blues Band’s first USA live appearance took place in November 1999. There were two nights to remember at Buddy Guy’s Legends Club in Chicago.
The special guest artists were Larry McCray, Sugar Blue and flamenco singer Elena Andújar. A mobile unit under Ian Taylor..s supervision recorded the sessions.
Javier Vargas was invited by the guitar hero from Texas, Chris Duarte to join in his concert, also at Legends.
This Live album was completed in Madrid last December 99. The concert was filmed and recorded in a studio in the presence of a limited guest audience.
Madrid-Chicago Live was released in May 2000.
Chill Latin Blues, Vargas Blues band first solely instrumental album, was released in 2003. In this album the protagonists are Javier Vargas‚ guitar and the fusion of his musical influences: Drum & Bass, Acid Jazz,African & Latin Rythms, Hip-Hop, Spanish Guitar…
During a visit to Madrid, Carlos Santana made the following comments on Javier..s unique capacity to blend different styles:
"VARGAS is like a rainbow, he contains all the colours, he feels the same passion as I do when it comes to embracing the music of the world... He has a positive, fruitful and brilliant future ahead. There are very few musicians who can reach out to everybody..."
The album includes five songs already recorded in other albums together with nine brand new songs.
In September 2004, Javier Vargas flew back to Memphis with a new project ready to be recorded. The chosen studio was Ardent, sound engineer John Hampton, and the “A-Team” of Tennessee musicians: Steve Potts on drums, David Smith playing bass, Earnest Williamson ..boards, and the SRV..s Double Trouble..s Reese Wynans performing ..boards and piano as the master he is.
Overdubs were recorded in Madrid, Los Angeles, Memphis and Isla de La Palma (Canary Islands): trips made to include many great musicians. Listeners will enjoy hearing Alex Ligertwood (vocalist of Santana for almost 14 years) performing two songs in “Love Union Peace”; Jack Bruce singing and playing bass in “Pretty Blue” ; Glenn Hughes' awesome performance of a delicious “Sad Eyes” ; Devon Allman (Greg..s son and genuine heir of the soul of his father's voice) sharing his huge talent in three songs; Elliott Murphy..s strenght in “Deep Blue”, and many big Spanish artists.
Love, Union, Peace was release last March 2005. The album is all feeling, and includes 10 new songs, a powerful version of the previously recorded “Magic of the Gods” now performed by Devon Allman, and a delightful instrumental version of Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello..s “God Give me Strength”.
The Vargas Blues Band has been playing in Europe in renowned Montreaux Jazz Festival and Pop Korn Festival (Germany), The Great Brithish R&B Festival, Antwerp R& B Festival, etc, touring in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and Argentina always with great success.
The huge diversity of their musical influences (Rock, Soul, Flamenco, Latin music...) and the power of their tunes fulfil all the requirements to charm all kinds of audiences.
Javito Feliz vuelta a casa - Deutschland Tour 09 Macizo y Positivo, Saludos para todos, Hasta Pronto. Musical
blessings – Bienestar – Bendiciones. .......Never stop the
beat........ Alvaro.
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