The big blues battle
Words and photographs by Benny Davis
Organised by Karla Ingleton-Darocas, of the CBBlues webzine and social network site, the event attracted a surprising number of contestants at their regular venue, Bar Medditerraneo, all bidding to usurp the reigning, undisputed Valencia king of the blues, Danny Boy Sanchez, from his throne.
CB musical director Buddy Paul, opened the show with a fun, foot tapping, quiet, unaccompanied version of, 'Jump down, turn around and pick a bale of cotton,' a big hit for the late Lonnie Donegan.
Then backed by Hermes Waites keyboards, Victor Jordá guitar and Alvaro Diez drums, all hell was let loose when the competing hordes, armed with a variety of blues harps, arrived on stage and immediately threw themselves into a frenetic, passionate musical fray, jumping from boogie to blues, vocals to solos, shuffle to grind and swinging combos for over two hours - and the audience loved it.
Standing ovations became regularity, with many fans showing their appreciation by jigging and jiving through the entire event that ended with nine musicians giving their combined rip-roaring version of the Muddy Waters hit, 'Got My Mojo Working.' So did Danny Boy Sanchez retain his blues crown? A point that seemed to have been forgotten by everyone, including the musicians who decided to finalise the contest at the bar.
For further information and free subscription to CB Blues see www.CBBlues.com.
Footnote: A blues harp is a Richter-tuned harmonica with ten holes which offer the player 19 notes (10 holes times a draw and a blow for each hole minus one repeated note) in a three octave range.