Igor Prado Band & Delta Groove All Stars

Way Down South

Delta Groove Records

As a left handed youngster Brazilian Igor Prado taught himself the guitar. In 2007 (after recording three albums under the name The Prado Blues Band) Igor released his first album as The Igor Prado Band and called it “Upside Down”. He had developed a reputation as a guitarist by backing up American harpists and vocalists when they toured Brazil. Igor would first take them to Restaurante Don Mariano in Sao Paulo and feed them food and Cachaca, the alcoholic beverage of Brazil, before visiting the recording studio.

This newest album recorded in Brazil features Igor in the studio with various Delta Groove artists. The sessions were recorded between 2011 and 2014. The Igor Prado Band includes Igor, guitar; his brother Yuri, drums; Rodrigo Mantovani, bass; Ari Borger, piano and Denilson Martins, saxophones. Special guests help provide many nice surprises throughout the recording.

Vocalist/harpist Lynwood Slim recorded “The Mellow Sounds of Lynwood Slim: Last Call” in 2006. His 2010 follow up recording “Brazilian Kicks” featured him alongside the Igor Prado Band. Unfortunately Slim passed in August of 2014. He is featured here on Lowell Fulson’s “Baby Won’t You Jump with Me” (with Junior Watson sharing lead guitar with Igor) and on Paul Gayten’s “You Better Believe It”. This album is dedicated to Slim whose real name was Richard Duran.

Caron “Sugaray” Rayford is the lead singer with The Mannish Boys. Rayford is also a current Blues Music Award nominee as both Entertainer of The Year and as Traditional Blues Male Artist of The Year. Rayford is featured on Ike Turner’s “Matchbox” and on his own “Big Mama Blues”. On these two tracks Mike Welch guests on guitar. Harpist Randy Chortkoff is also featured on “Big Mama Blues”.

Kim Wilson, vocals, appears on both Long John Hunter’s “Ride With Me Baby” and on Jerry West’s “If You Ever Need Me”. These two tracks were originally recorded without Wilson’s vocal which was overdubbed later.

Mitch Kashmar, harp and vocals, covers Jimmy Rogers’ “What Have I Done”.  Rod Piazza is featured on Elmore James’ “Talk To Me Baby” with Honey Piazza on piano. Mud Morganfield appears on Muddy’s “She’s Got It”, with Donny Nichilo guesting on piano. Wallace Coleman, harp and vocals, sings on “Rooster Blues”. While harpist/vocalist Omar Coleman, and Igor perform as a duo on “Trying to Do Right”.

Finally we get to hear Igor sing on “Shake and Fingerpop” with Raphael Wressnig added on Hammond B-3; and again in a duet with J.J. Jackson on “You Got What It Takes”. Igor’s guitar playing is always in support of the leader. This is why so many artists gravitate to Sao Paolo. Of course there is also the Cachaca.

Each track on this album can be considered for airplay. This cd is a must to own.

Richard Ludmerer