BIG MAMA MONTSE & SISTER MARION
15Th ANNIVERSARY
A song brought Big Mama Montse (vocals) and Sister Marion (piano) together on stage for the first time on December 3, 2011, on the occasion of the Blues Contest organised by the Barcelona Blues Society. The genuine connection and the positive feelings that emerged from that encounter encouraged them to perform together, marking the beginning of their musical duo, which would take shape and grow stronger throughout 2012. From the very beginning, they decided to focus primarily on paying tribute to the women of the blues, artists they have continued to discover and introduce to audiences at theatres and festivals in many different places, including Barcelona, Terrassa, Manresa, Benicàssim, Tolosa, Vilablues, Aracena, Salamanca, Ourense and, further afield, Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria, among others. They were also members of the trio Womblues, as well as part of a quintet project created to celebrate Big Mama Montse’s 30th anniversary tour in 2018. Alongside performing together, each of them has continued to develop her own artistic career through other projects over these 15 years.
As a duo, BMM&SM have recorded two CDs: Real Women Blues (2014), recorded live at the Casa Golferichs auditorium in BCN, and Juke Joint Sessions (2016), recorded and produced at Juke Joint Studio in Notodden, Norway. Their discography also includes Big Mama Montse & 30’s Band - Party Life (2018).
In 2027, Big Mama Montse & Sister Marion celebrate 15 years of music and friendship with a tour presenting their new album, featuring original songs by both artists, scheduled for release in January 2027. The album and tour are presented in a quartet format, with a solid rhythm section featuring Salva Suau on drums and Dani Peña on bass. An elegant musical experience to enjoy and a celebration for everyone to join!
BIG MAMA MONTSE: Vocals
SISTER MARION: Piano
SALVA SUAU: Drums
DANI PEÑA: Bass
Photo: Mary Jane Rock & Wolf
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BIG MAMA MONTSE & CAPTAIN'S BROTHERHOOD
"SMILE & SENZA CONFINE TOUR"
Big Mama Montse returns to the stage with more energy than ever, joined by the outstanding musicianship of Captain’s Brotherhood. Her live performance brings together original material from her albums SMILE and SENZA CONFINE, while staying deeply rooted in the blues that has shaped her artistic identity and passion throughout her career.
Recipient of the Jazzterrasman Award 2015 from the Terrassa Jazz Festival, the Capibola Blues Award 2010 from the Barcelona Blues Festival, named BluesCat Artist 2007 by Catalonia’s three leading Blues Festivals (Cerdanyola, Reus and Roses), and honoured with the Big Bill Broonzy Award 2024 by the Barcelona Blues Society, Big Mama Montse brings to the stage the full essence of her artistic prestige and musical journey.
As a singer, songwriter and performer, she delivers a compelling and authentic live experience, supported by an exceptionally creative ensemble whose elegance, groove and musical chemistry give the project its distinctive and captivating sound.
BIG MAMA MONTSE: Vocals
HERNÁN FRIDMAN: Bass & background vocals
LORENZO SPINOZZI: Guitar & background vocals
ALBERTO BURGUEZ: Keyboards & piano
SALVA SUAU: Drums
JAVIERA CONSUELO PAREDES: Percussion (special guest)
Foto Txus Garcia
BIG MAMA MONTSE & CAPTAIN’S BROTHERHOOD
Senza Confine Vol. 1 Rating: 5 / 5
After the release of Smile in 2025, the matriarch of Catalan blues repeats the formula and is accompanied by the fantastic Captain's Brotherhood. The album doesn't have a single wasted moment. When it finishes, you want to play it on repeat. Great tracks, impeccable arrangements, top-notch production, and above all, a fresh and flavorful work. It seems that they've found the philosopher's stone in a field: the roots of music.
So don't miss Senza Confine and let yourself go with it. It will touch your heart and make you want to dance. It's the perfect album to listen to with a glass of wine, to accompany an evening with friends, or simply to fall in love with. It works in any mood. And that's why I give it the five stars rating. I really wish that there will soon be a Senza Confine Vol. 2, or many more n the future.
XAVI MALACARA 19 APRIL, 2026
BAD MUSIC RADIO
BIG MAMA MONTSE & CAPTAIN’S BROTHERHOOD Senza Confine Vol. 1
Big Mama Montse & Captain's Brotherhood began their musical journey as a trio in 2023, marking Big Mama’s 35th anniversary in the blues scene, and embarked together on a tour that lasted two years. The project reached a new level of maturity during the making of Smile in 2025, recorded in a sextet format. Now they return with a new EP titled Senza Confine Vol.1. The record opens with the outstanding soul track Soul Connections, inspired by the recent peaceful protests in Minneapolis. Fridman’s bass lays down the contours and sets the space where the song unfolds. Burguez’s piano work also deserves special mention. Montse delivers a flawless vocal performance. Next comes the blues number You’re My Angel, where she channels energy and conviction in abundance.
Funk takes centre stage in Qué quiero de ti. Montse proves once again her versatility and deep commitment to every track on the record. It’s impossible not to move while listening to this song. Spinozzi contributes a strong solo, while the rhythm section — Burguez, Fridman and Suau — keeps the groove tight and the intensity perfectly balanced. Glass of Tears opens with a delicate guitar line that gently carries the listener throughout the entire song. It is a beautiful and moving blues ballad, full of feeling without ever becoming overly sentimental. With Sex o Clock, the band returns to infectious funky rhythms. The title says it all — imagination takes over. The EP closes with a lively, playful and elegant bossa, Bossa 4 For You, sung in Spanish.
Montse’s compositions and the arrangements are excellent. The performances are polished yet fresh, sincere and free. Listening to Senza Confine Vol.1 by Big Mama Montse and Captain’s Brotherhood makes everyday worries fade away; it invites you to dance and leaves you wanting to press play all over again.
La Habitación del Jazz
BIG MAMA MONTSE & CAPTAIN’S BROTHERHOOD
Senza Confine Vol. 1
This Catalan artist is one of the great ladies of blues in our country. With a career marked by numerous recordings and collaborations, she also stands out for her educational work, bringing the genre closer to audiences of all ages. Founder of the European Blues Union and recipient of several awards, there is little doubt that her achievements would have earned her wider recognition elsewhere. Unconcerned by that, Big Mama continues to devote herself to her art. Here she appears in one of those collaborations: her second record with Captain's Brotherhood, where her voice sounds as powerful and richly coloured as ever. An EP that moves between Spanish (“Qué quiero de ti”) and English, and in which the vocalist, together with her versatile accompanists, ventures into other styles: soul in the silky “You’re my angel”, funk (“Soul Connections”), jazz (“Glass of Tears”), and even Latin rhythms such as “Bossa 4 You”, across six self-penned compositions. Another step forward in an enviable career.
MANEL CELEIRO, JUNIO 2026
RUTA 66, Nº 448
Foto Txus Garcia
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