Biography

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="60e467d1egerdp.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIG MAMA MONTSE Home page"><U><B><IMG SRC="85466580.jpg" border=0 width="102" height="88" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><A HREF="id491.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MAIN PAGE (ENGLISH)"><U><B><IMG SRC="85662550.jpg" border=0 width="98" height="85" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CD´s and songs (lyrics and audios)"><U><B><IMG SRC="85860530.jpg" border=0 width="96" height="83" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>                                                                      </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>                                   </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="f457a970.jpg" border=0 width="378" height="151" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Montserrat Pratdesaba was born at  St Quirze de Besora (Catalonia) in 1963, and was nicknamed Big Mama at Barcelona's legendary "Cova del Drac" club where her career and love of the blues began.</div> <bR> <div> She has participated in numerous concerts and Jazz and Blues Festivals such as <B>Marciac</B> (95), <B>Bayonne</B> (95), <B>Monségur</B> (95), <B>San Sebastián</B> (95-2000), <B>Lisieux</B> (91), <B>Orange</B> (95), <B>Mégève</B> (95), <B>Getxo</B> (91), <B>Santiago de Compostela</B> (89-91-95-2003), <B>Córdoba</B> (94), <B>Santander</B> (95), <B>Cerdanyola</B> (90-91-92-98-2001-07), <B>Barcelona</B> (92-94-2001-02-06-09), <B>Terrassa</B> (89-90-93-95-96-2000-07-08-09-10), <B>Madrid (San Juan Evangelista)</B> (91), <B>Mantes-la-Jolie</B> (2002-05), <B>Chaumont</B> (2003), <B>Les Escaldes-Engordany</B> (2002-03), <B> Le Pouliguen</B> (2004),<B> Cognac</B> (2004), <B>Condat sur Vienne</B> (2005),<B>Val d´Oise</B> (2006), <B>Roses</B> (93-2000-04-07-08), <B>Thouars</B> (2010),etc.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="b0d51e00.jpg" border=0 width="337" height="224" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photo: Ángel Marín</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Berling Antiqua" >  </FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="83815150.jpg" border=0 width="21" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  Her discography includes:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA<I><B> BLUES ROOTED </B></I> (2005) </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA & JOAN PAU CUMELLAS <I><B>EN EL NOM DE TOTS</B></I><B> </B>(2003)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA & JOAN PAU CUMELLAS <I><B>STIR THE POT</B></I><B> </B>(2001)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA with JOAN PAU CUMELLAS & MIGUEL TALAVERA <I><B>TABLEAU DE BLUES</B></I><B> </B>(2000)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA ELECTRIC BAND <I><B>SER O NO SER</B></I><B> </B>(1998)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA & VÍCTOR URIS <I><B>EL BLUES DE L'OMBRA BLAVA</B></I><B> </B>(1996)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA with VÍCTOR URIS & AMADEU CASAS <I><B>EL BLUES DE LA INFLACIÓ</B></I><B> </B>(1994)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA AND THE BLUES MESSENGERS (live at la Boîte) (1993)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BIG MAMA AND THE BLUES MESSENGERS <I><B>BLUES, BLUES, BLUES!</B></I><B> </B>(recorded in 1992 but published in 1995)</div> <div> <I><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">BLUES REUNION '90</B></I> (1990)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="83815150.jpg" border=0 width="21" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B><B>Her most outstanding discographic collaborations are:</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">L´HARMÒNICA COIXA BLUES BAND  <I><B>WALKING BLUES  </B></I>(1991)</div> <div> LA VELLA DIXIELAND with BIG MAMA  and JOSEP Mª FARRÀS <I><B>RAGTIME </B></I> (1995)</div> <div> FUEGO  <I><B>LET´S PLAY THE BLUES </B></I>(1994)</div> <div> LOTI LEWIS <B> </B><I><B>ECHOES OF HEARTBEATS </B></I>(1997)</div> <div> <I><B>CIUTADANES PEL CANVI</B></I><B> </B> (1999)</div> <div> <I><B>LES CANÇONS DE TEMPS ERA TEMPS </B></I>(2000)</div> <div> NEW ORLEANS BLUE STOMPERS<B>   </B><I><B>HELLO SATCHMO!-THE LOUIS  ARMSTRONG MUSICAL STORY</B></I><I> </I>(2001)</div> <div> LA LOCOMOTORA NEGRA <B> </B><I><B>SWING ALS 30 ANYS </B></I>(2001) </div> <div> VÍCTOR URIS<B> </B><I><B>DE LADO A LADO </B></I>(2002) </div> <div> AMADEU CASAS STROLLIN´ BAND (2005)</div> <div> <I><B>BLUES AROUND THE WORLD</B></I> (PUT 253-2) (2006)</div> <div> ESCLAT GOSPEL SINGERS <I><B>FROM ROOTS TO HEAVEN </B></I> (XGC-001) (2008)<B> </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="5efe4e80.jpg" border=0 width="228" height="232" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.putumayo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.putumayo.com"><U>www.putumayo.com</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Since 2008 Big Mama collaborates with the magazine Blues & Co with her "Intervews Imaginaires" to the most important Blues Ladies in the blues history (Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Ida Cox, Alberta Hunter, Sippie Wallace, etc).</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id561.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BLUES CO BIG MAMA"><U><IMG SRC="c7aad6a0.jpg" border=0 width="429" height="618" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.blues-n-co.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.blues-n-co.org"><U>www.blues-n-co.org</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG SRC="87f8f900.jpg" border=0 width="143" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>INTERVIEW  PUBLISHED ON</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.musicablack.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.musicablack.com"><U>www.musicablack.com</U></A></div> <div> (1rst July-2007)</div> <div> <I>by </I><I><B>Angelina Megassini  </B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1.- You are one of the most important blueswoman in your country. Can you shortly tell us about your career?</B></div> <bR> <div> I was born in 1963 on a small town near Barcelona, Spain. Since I was a kid I took interest in music and I started playing piano, but later on my parents brought me a guitar that I learned to play for fun. I used to sing and play at home or at school for my young friends and by the way I was discovering a new emotional way to express myself.</div> <bR> <div> It was in 1988 that I first got a job singing the blues on a very important jazz club in Barcelona. It was there where somebody called me Big Mama for the first time and I liked it! So I can tell you that Big Mama was born in 1988! </div> <bR> <div> Then I recorded a one-day session on a studio with some musiciens to have a demo for booking ourselves. We got some gigs on small clubs and occasionally on some blues festivals. The name of  this blues band was Blues Reunion and then we changed it to Big Mama and the Blues Messengers. We played together till 1993.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id524.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIG MAMA THE BLUES MESSENGERS"><U><IMG SRC="b905c630.gif" border=0 width="92" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO</div> <div> BIG MAMA & THE BLUES MESSENGERS´ CONCERT</div> <div> AT THE L´HOSPITALET BLUES FESTIVAL</div> <div> 14/JULY/1993</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> After that I changed my style by getting back to my old accoustic guitar and I started to compose my own songs. </div> <bR> <div> That same year, 1994, I worked on a tribute to The Empress of the Blues, the great Bessie Smith, and had a very nice relationship with the jazz musiciens that helped me to make that dream come true.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="c703a950.jpg" border=0 width="314" height="405" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id553.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIG MAMA"><U><IMG SRC="b905c630.gif" border=0 width="92" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE</div> <div> BIG MAMA´S CONCERTS BETWEEN 1994 AND 1995</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Since then I had some different bands, duets and trios (Big Mama & The Mouserockers, Big Mama Accoustic Band, Tableau de Blues, etc...) and I also collabourated with different jazz combos and big bands such as the New Orléans Blue Stompers or La Locomotora Negra Jazz Orchestra.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="e0f389e0.jpg" border=0 width="568" height="414" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-orleans-blue-stompers-big-mama.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & The New Orléans Blue Stompers in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/6.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & La Porteña Jazz Band</U></A></div> <bR> <div> I have recorded 10 CDs and also I´ve contributed singing on many recordings. I´ve had the great chance to participate on some very important blues and jazz festivals in Spain and France, and in numerous concerts around Catalonia, enjoying all of them.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> BIG MAMA & THE MOUSEROCKERS</div> <div> BIG MAMA : Vocal</div> <div> JORDI MENA : Guitar</div> <div> JOSÉ DE LA ROSA : Guitar</div> <div> JUAN AMARO : Bass</div> <div> DAVID GARCIA : Drums</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c66d6210.jpg" border=0 width="470" height="289" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c68d6400.jpg" border=0 width="470" height="320" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c96d8360.jpg" border=0 width="472" height="310" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c98db3e0.jpg" border=0 width="475" height="318" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c9adf420.jpg" border=0 width="479" height="322" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c9cddd70.jpg" border=0 width="477" height="727" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c9edc3c0.jpg" border=0 width="476" height="316" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="ca0e03e0.jpg" border=0 width="480" height="318" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photos: Manolo Urbano</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id538.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIG MAMA THE MOUSEROCKERS"><U><IMG SRC="b905c630.gif" border=0 width="92" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO</div> <div> BIG MAMA & THE MOUSEROCKERS´ CONCERTS</div> <div> AT THE BARCELONA´S MUSICARIUM 5/SEPTEMRER/1996</div> <div> AND AT TERRASSA JAZZ FESTIVAL 10/MARCH/1996</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2.- Why in your opinion, the blues has been able to become a real international language so that today there are excellent bluesmen/blueswomen all over the world?</B></div> <bR> <div> I feel that the blues is an instinctive way to ease the pain when somebody is brokenharted. I mean that if you are down and out you can change your mind by singing a blues, or you can feel better when you express sadness trough that beautiful music.</div> <bR> <div> And you don´t have to think a lot about it, because you feel the sorrow before you analyze it! So the first reaction to change unhappiness to happiness is: just let the bad feelings flow from your heart, all in sincerity. In my opinion the blues has a magic effect in human being´s soul. When the blues has been discovered all around the world, a lot of  people has connected with this magic touch, because blues is an emotional language. </div> <bR> <div> We all know that in the beginning, the blues was a popular music, but after its international projection, the blues has been considered with great respect everywhere, and now we talk about the artistry of those blues musiciens. I can see that there are many bluesmen/blueswomen from different countries that play good, with groove and dignity. That makes me think of a blues reappearing as a new universal language with the same roots but with as may brunches as different cultures. A very beautiful music to fraternize.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3.- Did you choice the blues or the blues chosen you?</B></div> <bR> <div> To tell you the truth, I don´t know! I remember that the first time I heard the blues I was shocked and I couldn´t stop crying! "What happens to me"- I thought. And the anwer probably was that I had the blues inside because I had lived some suffering experiences before.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>4.- Which are the bluesmen/blueswoman who mostly influenced you and which are the 5 blues cds to bring on a desert island or 5 very important cds that you would suggest to someone who wants to approach the blues?</B></div> <bR> <div> I got into the blues by listening the South-Side Chicago Blues, that means, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Elmore James, Howlin´ Wolf, etc. </div> <bR> <div> Then I was interested on Classic Blues, and got fascinated by Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, Victoria Spivey, Sippie Wallace, Ma Rainey, Lizzie Miles, and also Helen Humes, Jimmy Rushing, Jimmy Witherspoon, Big Joe Turner, Big Joe Williams, etc. </div> <bR> <div> After that I loved too the Big Blues Bands, some of them with the most outsanding guitar players just like Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert King, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and also The James Cotton Band, etc. </div> <bR> <div> At the same time I was discovering the Country Blues with Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry and Brownie Mc Ghee, Leadbelly, Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Son House, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Mc Tell, Mississippi John Hurt, Mississippi Fred Mc Dowell, Blind Boy Fuller, The Mississippi Sheiks, Blind Willie Johnson, Charlie Patton, Lightnin´ Hopkins, Scrapper Blackwell, Skip James, Rev. Gary Davis, Josh White, etc.</div> <bR> <div> There are also some genious that I admire so much, and I must confess that I´d be very glad if they have influenced me a little! They are: Django Reinhart, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Count Basie, Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Otis Reading, Dinah Washington, Mahalia Jackson, James P. Johnson, Big Mama Thornton, Lonnie Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Nat King Cole, Jay Mc Shann, etc.</div> <bR> <div> The 5 CDs that I suggest to someone who want to approach the blues are:</div> <bR> <div> - BESSIE SMITH "ANY WOMAN BLUES"</div> <div> - LONNIE JOHNSON AND VICTORIA SPIVEY "IDDLE HOURS"</div> <div> - BIG BILL BROONZY "THE 1955 LONDON SESSIONS"</div> <div> - SONNY TERRY AND BROWNIE Mc GHEE "LIVE AT SUGAR HILL"</div> <div> - THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN FOLK BLUES FESTIVAL (recorded on 1962) with Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Terry, Brownie Mc Ghee, Jump Jackson, Shakey Jake.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>5.- About your long and adventurous career what is left until now as a woman and as a musician?</B></div> <bR> <div> There´s a long time that I don´t have holidays! Playing the blues in Catalonia (Spain) is not a lucrative job! "Sometimes I´m up, sometimes I´m down" - that´s what Brownie Mc Ghee says and I agree with him! When I have money I don´t have time enough to spend it, and when things go wrong and I have no jobs, I have to look for them! That means that I am always working on something but fortunately I like to do it! So I don´t feel really bad about not having holidays!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>6.- Which are the events in your career that you consider unforgettable?</B></div> <bR> <div> A lot of them! I particularly remember the Blues Sessions I did for children. It was fantastic! I love their spontaneous reactions and their capacity to enjoy themselves. They made me feel like a child too!</div> <div> I also have a very good sensation of the concerts where everyting was going marvellously. I particularly remember the organisers and the people that worked to create a good atmosphere between the public and the musiciens. I have pleasent memories of the Cognac Blues Festival, the Blues Sur Seine Festival, Les Harmonicales, The V.O. Blues Festival, Marciac Jazz Festival, San Sebastian Jazz Festival, Cerdanyola Blues Festival, Terrassa Jazz Festival, etc.</div> <div> In 1992 I lived a very nice experience that I will never forget. And that was the last time I was on holiday! I went to New Orleans for pleasure, just to enjoy the city, the music, food, etc. And everything seemed wonderful to me! When I went back home I noticed that I had New Orleans in my heart, and just like a revelation I could remember every image I had seen and every minute I´d lived there. Two weeks´ holiday that has probably influenced me forever!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>7.- Tell us something about your band.</B></div> <bR> <div> Well, nowadays I play alone, just it´s me and my guitar! But I can talk about some nice musiciens that I admire and I´ve had the chance to play with in the past. </div> <bR> <div> One of those friends is the harmonicist Victor Uris. That man is exceptional because he plays the blues dispite having a phisical imposibility. And he plays real good! He is very influenced by his idol Sonny Terry and he is a terrific entertainer too!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-mama-victor-uris-1.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & Víctor Uris in conce</U></A>rt</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="c62cdbc0.jpg" border=0 width="461" height="700" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c64d1580.jpg" border=0 width="465" height="344" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c93d2430.jpg" border=0 width="466" height="323" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photos: Manolo Urbano</div> <bR> <div> There is another harmonica virtuoso, Joan Pau Cumellas, that has created a personal style inspired on the french and canadian harmonicicsts and the bluegrass and celta music. He has a powerful sound with a lyrical touch.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-mama-accoustic-band.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama Acústic Band in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/tableau-de-blues.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Tableau de Blues in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> On guitar I´d like to talk about Amadeu Casas. He can play everything! Robert Johnson´s style, T-Bone Walker, Big Bill Broonzy, Eric Clapton, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, etc. He is a cool guitarist and he also plays mandolin, dobro, slap-steel, etc.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/2.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & Víctor Uris & Amadeu Casas in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="cac35a50.jpg" border=0 width="565" height="421" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-mama-blues-messengers.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & The Blues Messengers in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> I´ve had a very joyful experience singing with Aljosa Mutiç, an extraordinary tenor saxophonist. He plays with emotion, artistry and humor sense too! He can play blues, swing, be bop, hip hop, acid jazz, funky music, latin... And he plays all pretty good!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-mama-elctric-band.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama Elèctric Band in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <div> BIG MAMA : Vocal and guitar</div> <div> ALJOSA MUTIÇ : Tenor sax</div> <div> DAVID SOLER : Guitar</div> <div> JORDI PORTAZ : Bass</div> <div> JULIAN VAUGHN / DAVID SIMÓ : Drums</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c8d15700.jpg" border=0 width="533" height="368" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c9118640.jpg" border=0 width="536" height="356" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c8f19680.jpg" border=0 width="537" height="360" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photos: Manolo Urbano</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-mama-en-jazz-quartet.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama en Jazz Quartet at Capellades´ "Paper de Música" Auditorium</U></A></div> <bR> <div> BIG MAMA EN JAZZ QUARTET</div> <div> BIG MAMA : Vocal</div> <div> ALJOSA MUTIÇ : Tenor sax</div> <div> JOAN MONNÉ : Piano</div> <div> RAI FERRER : Double bass</div> <div> XAVIER MAURETA : Drums</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c6b0f5f0.jpg" border=0 width="527" height="351" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="ca2126a0.jpg" border=0 width="530" height="362" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photos: Paper de Música</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="ca413850.jpg" border=0 width="531" height="389" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="ca6138c0.jpg" border=0 width="531" height="396" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photos: Barlam</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> I love two exceptional piano players, Francesc Capella and Ignasi Terraza. They really master the piano! Both of them are supreme musiciens that embellish the blues songs with jazz chords on the purest Charles Brown way. I love both of them!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-mama-en-jazz-quartet-ignasi-terraza.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & Ignasi Terraza: "Georgia on my mind"</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> There´s another dear friend that I´d like to mention and is double bass player Manolo Germán. He started with a rockabilly band and now he plays with a very nice boogie woogie pianist, Lluis Coloma. He has the Willie Dixon percussion touch and he is an experienced musicien that can really play the blues too!</div> <bR> <div> Sometimes I do collabourate with La Locomotora Negra, a very nice jazz orchestra with more than 35 years of experience. I love singing with these big band, and to transform myself on a Blues Lady! We use to play on some outstanding events and jazz festivals, and there is always plenty of people expecting for a great time!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="c5ba1710.jpg" border=0 width="417" height="625" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsj10_s3skM&feature=channel_page" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsj10_s3s"><U>Big Mama & La Locomotora Negra on youtube</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/kokomo-porter-wilson-levy-tribute-to.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & La Locomotora Negra in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/la-locomotora-negra-big-mama-ignasi.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>Big Mama & La Locomotora Negra with Ignasi Terraza in concert</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="ccd1a6f0.jpg" border=0 width="538" height="367" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="ccf1c700.jpg" border=0 width="540" height="368" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="cd11e740.jpg" border=0 width="542" height="372" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photos: Martí Escudé</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>8.- How did you learn to play the blues?</B></div> <bR> <div> When I first tried to sing the blues I had the great chance to meet one man that influenced me a lot. The name of this person is Johnny Mars and he is a very powerful harmonicist from North or South Carolina that was living in London at that time. He came to Barcelona several times and one day I invited him to play with my band and work together. I love his blues powerful energy and the magic connection he created on stage with the public. Johnny is a very nice person and he has left his mark on us. I´ve had the opportunity to talk a lot with him and he thought me the spiritual aspects of the blues. And I still remember every word! He is a master and a great musicien and he gave me the keys to understand the essence of the blues and to know what happens to me when I listen to or sing that music.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>9.- There is a not well known episode in your career that has been very important for you and that is not very known to our readers?</B></div> <bR> <div> Well, I left my job as TV engineer to dedicate my energies and efforts to sing with a blues band, The Blues Messengers. On march 1992 we recorded our first CD but there was no record company interested on it. They said that we were not "authentic" (The CD appeared three years after and we titled it <I>Blues, blues, blues! </I>). We had a lot of problems and some musiciens left the band but fortunatedly I found some good ones to substitute them. </div> <div> We recorded three nights live in La Boîte, a new club in Barcelona whose owners wished to create a record label, The Mas i Mas Records. That happened on april 1993, but the CDs were not manufactured till november 1993. The same day the CDs were ready the band broke up! It was a very sad day! </div> <div> After that I got ruined because I had to cancel all the concerts. I was really afflicted and depressed. I couldn´t be able to prepare a new band and a new repertoire. I felt really down and out, I had to leave my home because there was no money to pay the rent. But a friend of mine, Victor Uris, invited me to sing with his band, The Harmonica Coixa Blues Band, in Majorca. He lived there and in that beautiful island I was reborn. I started again to play guitar and began to compose my first blues. Victor helped me by playing his harmonica. I booked a short tour on february 1994, just Victor and me, and we had a lot of fun. We finished that nice friendship experience recording an intimist CD with guitarist Amadeu Casas and we called it <I>El Blues de la Inflació </I>(Inflation Blues). </div> <div> After that I got the strength to prepare a tribute to Bessie Smith and celebrate her 100th anniversary. I met another good friend of mine, the blind pianist Ignasi Terraza, and we both developed a nice repertoire. We performed those earliest blues songs, that the Empress of the Blues immortalized, with a small jazz band. That was an unforgettable experience to me!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>10.- You started your career some years ago, how changed the way to play blues since your first experiences?</B></div> <bR> <div> I started singing electric blues on clubs and now I love to play guitar and sing accoustic blues everywhere! I began being an orthodox blues fan and now I feel I want to be a free artist. When I began to sing the blues I used to repeat some blues verses to get the inspiration and express my own feelings, and today I first have the feeling and the verses come later on. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>11.-  What do you think about the situation of blues in your country nowadays and which are for you the most interesting young musicians today?</B></div> <bR> <div> Blues isn´t a commercial music in Catalonia, Spain. That means that in never appears on TV programs o radio stations. Sometimes there is a blues lover conducting a late radio program for a small audience. Or sometimes there is a jazz club with a blues band playing there. And we have also some "fool" promoter that works to establish a blues festival. And there is also some blues association dedicated to print a free blues magazine. As you can imagine the blues health in my country isn´t very good!, but despite everything there are some good and nice musiciens. The younger and most interesting of them are probably The Suitcase Brothers, Lluís Coloma Trio, Mr. Hurricane Band, Alex TNT, The Walking Stick Man, Blues Devils, Blues Monk, etc...</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>12.- Our blues lovers would like to know which types of instruments currently you use.</B></div> <bR> <div> I love playing accoustic guitar but sometimes I play an old Fender Telecaster Thinline. I connect them to a pre-amplifier that I equalize to imitate a microphone or a lamp system. Then I plug it on a AER amp. That´s very simple.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>13.- Are you satisfied about your career or there is still something you miss?</B></div> <bR> <div> Well, I am going to anwer to that question with that old Muddy Waters song: "I just can´t be satisfied!". And I say that because I am an idealist that thinks if I am doing my best to help people. In fact I am a blues enthusiastic, but I can´t stand to live in a blue world, with people suffering somewhere. I think that blues can be a very useful musical language to protest against discrimination, violence or injustice, and to recclaim human rights respect for everybody. I´d like to be as talented to write good songs about it! But if not, I´d really like to keep on singing for small audiences trying to create an harmonic atmosphere. And I´d like to sing 44 years more!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>14.- Tell us about your future projects.</B></div> <bR> <div> Well, right now I am working with a vocal gospel choir named The Esclat Gospel Singers directed by an excelent pianist, Ramon Escalé. We are preparing an african based on repertoire with three african percussionists. All singers are dancing and having fun while they sing with emotional exhortation. It´s a very beautiful performance! And it´s going to bee a beautiful CD too!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb2fyQQtpB4&feature=channel_page" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb2fyQQtp"><U>Esclat Gospel Singers & Big Mama on youtube</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>15.- Which is the question in your long career that nobody never asked you but you would receive?</B></div> <bR> <div> I think that your interview is very complete. Thank you so much for your questions that I´ve answered with great pleasure! </div> <div> But there´s one thing that I´d like to add and it´s a recommendation to your readers: the Putumayo´s CD <I>Blues Around The World</I>   because  "a portion of Putumayo´s proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc., in support of their efforts to help the true pionners and forgotten heroes of Southern musical traditions". Thank you so much for reading this!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-mama-victor-uris-2.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bigmamamontsevideos.blogspot.com/"><U>"No Way Out" recorded alive by Big Mama & Victor Uris on video </U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>