Raoul And The Big Time - Blue Midnight: A Live Tribute To Little Walter

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:33
Size: 152.4 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[6:08] 1. Don't Have To Hunt No More (Feat. Bharath Rajakumar)
[3:28] 2. Driftin' Blues (Feat. Doctor Nick Ouroumov)
[3:03] 3. Crazy Legs (Feat. Doctor Nick Ouroumov)
[0:55] 4. Ludella Intro (Feat. Bharath Rajakumar)
[6:02] 5. Ludella (Feat. Bharath Rajakumar, Julian Fauth)
[4:22] 6. Just Your Fool (Feat. Tortoise Blue)
[5:28] 7. Sad Hours (Feat. Mark)
[4:13] 8. Mellow Down Easy (Feat. Doctor Nick Ouroumov)
[4:23] 9. Hoochie Choochie Man (Feat. Bharath Rajakumar)
[4:34] 10. Baby Please Don't Go (Feat. Julian Fauth)
[4:09] 11. Little Girl (Feat. Mike)
[0:39] 12. Just Keep Lovin' Her Intro (Feat. Bharath Rajakumar)
[7:40] 13. Just Keep Lovin' Her (Feat. Bharath Rajakumar, Julian Fauth)
[5:01] 14. Honey Bee (Feat. Doctor Nick Ouroumov, Bharath Rajakumar)
[2:49] 15. I Want To Be Loved (Feat. Darren Gallen, Jake Chisholm)
[3:33] 16. Blue Midnight (Feat. Doctor Nick Ouroumov)

A live tribute recording celebrating the genius of harmonica and Chicago blues legend Little Walter Jacobs recorded in Toronto Canada in January 2008. Featuring special guests Bharath Rajakumar, Julian Fauth, Doctor Nick Ouroumov, Tortoise Blue, Mark "Bird" Stafford, Mike "Shrimp Daddy" Reid and more.

Blue Midnight: A Live Tribute To Little Walter mc
Blue Midnight: A Live Tribute To Little Walter zippy

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Raoul & The Big Time - Hollywood Blvd

Size: 110,9 MB
Time: 47:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues, West Coast Blues
Art: Full

01. Nothin' Gonna Take Me Down (Feat. Rick Holmstrom, Donny Gerrard) (4:49)
02. Hollywood Blvd (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (3:53)
03. Someday (Feat. Franck Goldwasser) (5:10)
04. High Roller (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (2:59)
05. Amphetamine (Feat. Rick Holmstrom) (2:49)
06. Get Out Of My Life Woman (Feat. Rusty Zinn) (3:32)
07. Left Coast Fred (Feat. Fred Kaplan, Junior Watson) (3:27)
08. Why Am I Treated So Bad (Feat. Rick Holmstrom, Donny Gerrard) (4:17)
09. Tired (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (5:50)
10. Spoken For (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (4:33)
11. Curtis Charm (Feat. Curtis Salgado) (2:58)
12. In The Shadow Of The Pine (Feat. Johnny Sansone, John Showman) (3:28)

"American roots music is like a big stew. Blues, Rock and Roll, West Coast Swing, Jazz and even Bluegrass are just some of the spices in the mix. Raoul and his band The Big Time, with help from some friends have cooked up a winning recipe for their new disc “Hollywood Blvd”.

Raoul Bhaneja is the catalyst for this fine music. He and his Toronto band, The Big Time, are among a number of talented Canadian musicians who haven’t had the chance to be heard extensively in the US. Raoul is a singer, harmonica player and talented songwriter, having written eight of the twelve tracks on this disc. He is also a busy actor both on stage and in front of the camera. The Big Time is all about creating original music for today, inspired by the genius of the past. This is their tribute to the music he and his band love — the Chess Blues sound of the 50s and contemporary West Coast Jump Harmonica Blues. He has enlisted some of the best West Coast players including former members of The Hollywood Fats Band, Canned Heat, and The Mighty Flyers, along with most of the current members of Mavis Staples’ band: all musicians Raoul has admired and learned from over the years. It brings an authentic sound to the project.

There are four instrumentals here and each of them adds to the flavor of the album. Two are recorded with Los Angeles-based greats Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan, Richard Innes, and Larry Taylor. “Left Coast Fred” is a West Coast jump swing number and the title track “Hollywood Blvd” sounds as if Slim Harpo and Ramsey Lewis were working together. The third instrumental “Amphetamine” finds Raoul working with Jeff Turmes, Rick Holmstrom and Stephen Hodges, to create a sound that feels like it could have been recorded by Little Walter and The Aces back in the 1950s.

The last instrumental “Curtis Charm” features Curtis Salgado blowing harp with Raoul while The Big Time provide in the pocket backup. There are four covers along with eight original songs. “Get Out Of My Life Woman”, written by Alan Toussaint and done first by Lee Dorsey is performed by Raoul and The Big Time with additional guitar work by Rusty Zinn, another fine California-based guitar player, who has worked with Kim Wilson and Mark Hummel as well as recording his own solo releases.

“Someday” is a Bobby “Blue” Bland tune that features guitarist Franck Goldwasser laying down some very tasty guitar licks. My favorite cover is “Why (Am I Treated So Bad)” done by The Staple Singers in 1967. Here Raoul is backed again by current members of Mavis Staples’ band, a perfect pairing for the tune. Lastly is a cover of a very early Bluegrass tune “In The Shadow Of The Pine” with New Orleans musician Johnny Sansone and fiddler John Showman playing behind Raoul.

Sounding just as strong as the covers, the other four tracks “Nothin’ Gonna Take Me Down”, “High Roller”, “Spoken For” and “Tired” are original songs written by Raoul that exhibit some very clever lyrics. For instance, “High Roller” has the chorus “Fortune’s smiling upside down, I’m a high roller with a frown”.

Grab a bowl and a spoon and have yourself a huge helping of this wonderful musical dish that Raoul and The Big Time have created for us. It’s good to you as well as good for you." ~Blues broadcaster Bill Wax

Hollywood Blvd

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Raoul & The Big Time - Big Time Blues / Cold Outside

Album: Big Time Blues
Size: 103,2 MB
Time: 44:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. All She Wants To Do Is Rock (2:54)
02. All I Gotta Do (3:01)
03. Bad Things (5:50)
04. Tequila And Lime (3:36)
05. Who (2:51)
06. Liquid Boogie (1:52)
07. Who You Gonna Love Tonight (3:46)
08. Back Door Blues (4:41)
09. So Far (2:41)
10. Been Gone Too Long (3:10)
11. $2 Bill (3:44)
12. Too Tired (2:40)
13. Only Thing (3:36)

Since forming in 1998 Toronto based blues heroes Raoul and The Big Time have forged a musical direction described by Now Magazine as “an eclectic and learned combination of ‘Toronto/Chicago/Hollywood Blues’… a seriously credible homage to the classic school”. With the release of BIG TIME BLUES (2000) and COLD OUTSIDE (2004) they have broadened their fan base at home and abroad with international distribution along with a hit video for BABY DON’T STOP one of the Top 10 on BRAVO in 2005. They have appeared on television nationwide and have opened for blues legends like Buddy Guy, Bobby “Blue” Bland and The Downchild Blues Band. Festival appearances include The Salmon Arts Roots and Blues, Harbourfront, Beaches International Jazz, Mont Tremblant Blues, Southside Shuffle, Canal Bank Shuffle, Hillebrand Estates, JVC Jazz, Downtown Jazz and many more. In October 2009, Raoul made his US debut at Café Boogaloo in Los Angeles with L.A. Blues All Stars, Rick Holmstrom, Jeff Turmes and Steve Mugalian.

Fronted by the multi talented actor/musician Raoul Bhaneja, known to audiences around the world for both his touring theatre success HAMLET (solo) and numerous film and television credits (The Sentinel, Ararat, Train 48) the band consists of veteran founding members Darren Gallen on guitar (David Rotundo, Michael Pickett), Tom Bona on drums (Sue Foley, Bourbon Tabernacle Choir) and legendary upright bass player Terry Wilkins (Rough Trade, Big Sugar, Levon Helm). For the 2010 Festival season The Big Time are also offering an eight piece version of the band including horns and piano.

Thanks to Kempen.
Big Time Blues

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Album: Cold Outside
Size: 102,4 MB
Time: 44:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Can't Help It (3:07)
02. Otherside Of Town (4:19)
03. Kiss Every Dollar Goodbye (2:37)
04. Baby Don't Stop (3:52)
05. Easy (3:38)
06. Call Me Crazy (2:46)
07. Come Back (With Junior Watson) (3:50)
08. Living In Paradise (4:11)
09. Loving Machine (With Big Joe Maher) (2:47)
10. Cold Outside (4:07)
11. The Mercy Song (4:14)
12. You Got It All (With Mark Hummel) (4:43)

Recorded in Toronto, Raoul and The Big Time's COLD OUTSIDE (Big Time 002) is an easy-swinging winner featuring guests Mark Hummel and Junior Watson. Raoul Bhaneja, the singer, harpist, guitarist, and producer, whips up a nice blend of swing, jump-blues (the firey title track) and slow, stripped-down instrumentals. Hot stuff. ~Jeff Calvin

Thanks to Kempen.
Cold Outside

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Raoul & The Big Time - You My People / Blue Midnight

Album: You My People
Size: 100,3 MB
Time: 43:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. You My People (2:54)
02. One Card Trump (3:08)
03. Live Without Me (3:45)
04. Where The Wind Blows On Shore (5:35)
05. Movin' Out (3:48)
06. All To Myself (2:20)
07. Born To Love (3:45)
08. Gypsy Woman (2:52)
09. Breathin' In (2:37)
10. Killing My World (3:51)
11. Sad State Of Affairs (2:18)
12. Menthol Mama (2:56)
13. We Can Change (3:26):01)

YOU MY PEOPLE features 13 songs, the majority penned by Bhaneja who also has co-written two songs with Wilkins and one with rising Toronto soul queen Treasa Lavesseur. Other local connections include the song One Card Trump by Juno nominee Elizabeth Shepard and Born To Love by Governor General Award wining playwright Andrew Moodie. Along with guest appearances from Toronto piano maestro Tyler Yarema and horn players Richard Underhill, Gene Hardy and Howard Moore the disc features Vancouver Gospel sensations The Sojourners and a return by two longtime friends, renowned California blues kingpins Mark Hummel on harmonica and guitar wizard Junior Watson. Andy Grigg of Real Blues Magazine (Victoria B.C) picked YOU MY PEOPLE as #6 out of 100 new releases from around the world.

June 5th to June 12th Raoul and The Big Time took the stage at The Hard Rock Café in Toronto to celebrate the release of YOU MY PEOPLE as the house band of THE LUMINATO ARTIST LOUNGE, a new late night venue at LUMINATO where throughout the week they were joined by local and international blues luminaries from Duke Robillard, Johnny Sansone, Juno Winners Julian Fauth, Bill Bourne and Madagascar Slim. On June 6th Bhaneja hosted Traveling Blues a series of free concerts in Dundas Square as part of Luminato featuring Harry Manx, Alvin Youngblood Heart, Kevin Briet, Mamadou Diabaté and he presented the legendary Taj Mahal with his 2009 Maple Blues Award for Best International Artist.

Thanks to Kempen.
You My People

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Album: Blue Midnight:A Live Tribute To Little Walter
Size: 154,8 MB
Time: 66:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Don't Have To Hunt No More (Bharath Rajakumar) (6:10)
02. Driftin' Blues (Doctor Nick & The Rollercoasters) (3:29)
03. Crazy Legs (Doctor Nick & The Rollercoasters) (3:05)
04. Ludella Intro (0:55)
05. Ludella (Bharath Rajakumar) (6:04)
06. Just Your Fool (Tortoise Blue) (4:23)
07. Sad Hours (Mark Bird Stafford) (5:29)
08. Mellow Down Easy (Doctor Nick & The Rollercoasters) (4:14)
09. Hoochie Coochie Man (Bharath Rajakumar) (4:25)
10. Baby Please Don't Go (Julian Fauth) (4:36)
11. Little Girl (Mike 'Shrimp Daddy' Reid) (4:12)
12. Just Keep Lovin' Her Intro (0:39)
13. Just Keep Lovin' Her (Bharath Rajakumar) (7:41)
14. Honey Bee (Bharath Rajakumar, Doctor Nick & The Rollercoasters) (5:02)
15. I Want To Be Loved (Darren Gallen) (2:51)
16. Blue Midnight (3:33)

Raoul and The Big Time present BLUE MIDNIGHT: A LIVE TRIBUTE TO LITTLE WALTER featuring special guests Bharath Rajakumar, Julian Fauth, Doctor Nick Ouroumov, Tortoise Blue, Mark "Bird" Stafford, Mike "Shrimp Daddy" Reid and more...
Portion of proceeds to Toronto Blues Society “Blues In Schools” Programme.
“An outstanding tribute to Little Walter, featuring truly awe inspiring blues harp players as good as you’ll find in Chicago or anywhere!” - Scott Dirks, Grammy Winner/ Walter Biographer

On very cold night in January 2008, in the heart of the Toronto, a group of musicians gathered to celebrate one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, harmonica master “Little Walter”. On the eve of his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the 40th anniversary of his tragic death in Chicago, actor/musician Raoul Bhaneja of the Maple Blues Award winning Raoul and The Big Time gathered together some best harmonica players in town, accompanied by the cracker jack Big Time featuring Darren Gallen, Tom Bona, Terry Wilkins along with Jake Chisholm on second guitar and Juno winner Julian Fauth on piano and vocals. It made for an unforgettable night featuring recorded performances by Tortoise Blue, Mark “Bird” Stafford, Mike “Shrimp Daddy” Reid, Doctor Nick Ouroumov and anchored by Montreal native Bharath Rajakumar, one of the most gifted interpreters of Walter around who delivered a knock out! Other stellar guests included Paul Reddick, Wayne Charles, Mojo Willie Rymer, Aarron Kazmer and Mr. Rick Zolkower.

A portion of the proceeds goes towards The Toronto Blues Society “BLUES IN SCHOOLS” programme which brings professional musicians into classroom to share the experience and history of blues music with young people.

This is the second release in under a year from NOW Magazine: Best Blues Artist Raoul and The Big Time after the release of YOU MY PEOPLE which made many Top 10 lists for 2009 including one from CBC Radio 1 and Sun columnist Errol Nazareth as well as a #6 of the Top 100 Blues releases according to Real Blues Magazine.

Thanks to Kempen.
Blue Midnight

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