Musically, it’s simply the Blues

The 2016 festive season for Blues officially opened with the annual Mahindra Blues Festival returning to Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios on February 13 and 14.

Without the presence of six-time Grammy Award winner, guitarist Buddy Guy this time around, who has performed live in Mumbai on several occasions – including during the erstwhile One Tree Festival held at the MMRDA Grounds at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex during the 2000s, the precursor to the Oranjuice Entertainment-promoted Mahindra Blues Festival — it was always going to be a challenge as to who, among the artistes announced for the event, would be the standout(s).

While UK-based singer-songwriter Joss Stone was considered the headliner this time around, and rightfully so as she is a Grammy winner, having global sales in excess of 14 million units, her being clothed in a red-coloured Indian ghagra choli as she strode onto stage — barefoot, which is her trademark — was undoubtedly striking, as her vocals too, which could be probably be best described as neo-soul. Present in India as part of her ‘Total World Tour’, essentially to promote her reggae-tinged Water For Your Soul, partway through her set, it suddenly dawned on Stone that “this (festival) is supposed to be a blues thing” and she took a tangent from reggae as she broke into the marvellous acoustic I Don’t Want To Be Your Landlord Anymore, accompanied by her guitarist.

There were other gems too, including a soulful rendition of the Jay Hawkins’ 1956 classic, I Put A Spell On You, popularised for most listeners by Creedence Clearwater Revival, as also Stone’s co-written (I’ve Got The) Right To Be Wrong, a retro-soul ditty that provided Stone an opportunity of showcasing her full vocal range. But, in all this, the only question remained, does a primarily soul singer really fit into a festival of blues

However, there were several acts that did so, including Delta bluesman Kevin Moore — more popularly known as Keb’ Mo’ — whose brand of blues pushes into new directions, trying to incorporate modern sensibilities without losing touch with tradition that makes the blues the breathing, vital art form that it is. Gutsy guitar playing —including slide — and impassioned vocals, supported by accomplished songwriting, has got him three Grammy Awards.

The pick of the tracks during his set being the uptempo Was I Wrong , the song being played on what appeared to be a dobro and sounding amazingly like Dire Straits’ Setting Me Up, the foot-tapping Worst Is Yet To Come, and the blues shuffle of She Wants To Dance.

More traditional blues sounds were also featured through the big band blues sounds of the nine-piece Heritage Blues Orchestra that had a distinct feel of the Blues Brothers as they covered a veritable history of the blues sounds by providing each individual member, including the horn section, an opportunity of showcasing their respective talents, including Vincent Bucher, a musician dedicated to playing the harmonica.

On the rockier side of the blues, there was the brilliancy of the quartet from UK, the unlikely named King King, featuring the extraordinary guitar talent of Scotsman Alan Nimmo, who performed while wearing a kilt!

Blues boogie —check their Rush Hour and Jealousy — was heard at its best, with able support from the Hammond organ provided by Bob Fridzema, with the ballads — such as, A Long History Of Love and Old Love — taking King King’s sounds to another level.

But the pick was the quick-paced You Stopped The Rain, which was written for Nimmo’s brother “suffering an illness, and pulling through”.

Then there was indigenous talent that arrived courtesy Soulmate, as they continued to amaze with their performance, including a reworked version of the Muddy Waters popularised Got My Mojo Working, where the lyrics of it just won’t work of you was cleverly reworked to I was born for the road to publicise the sponsor’s new motorbike, Mojo!

Also featured as part of the festival was left-handed guitarist Malina Moye, and that MC Brian Tellis was loitering outside the hall after introducing her said it all!

With a mainly “adult” audience in attendance at the crowded blues festival, it was superbly organised with the acts divided between the various halls at the venue.

There was sufficient space provided for those interested in eatables with multiple choices of cuisine, supported with seating, as well as a hall dedicated for those who preferred partaking a different kind of Blues spirit! Nevertheless, Blues has always been about the music and, surely, it was and will be!

The writer has been part of the media and entertainment business for over 23 years. He still continues to pursue his hobby, and earns an income out of it.