Fiona Boyes, Mookie Brill and Rich Delgrosso
Fiona Boyes grew up in Australia where she live a very normal life. Lots of activities such as sailing, walking, camping and making music happened within the family. Along with her brother and sister she was encouraged to play an instrument. First few years Fiona played the clarinet and then she switched to the electric guitar. Fiona started off with the acoustic “finger style” blues and later the electric guitar. Until she decided to move to Memphis in 2003 where, straightaway, she earned herself a prize in “The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge”. It’s striking that Fiona, after the winning of this prize, built up a fine list with names that are not unknown to us blues lovers. So she played with Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, Kenny Neal and Taj Mahal. In 2008 she brought out her eigth album which got the title: ‘Live From Bluesville’. With on stand-up bass/mouth organ, Mookie Brill and on blues mandolin, Rich Delgrosso. ‘Early in the Morning’ (vocals and mouth organ Mookie Brill) is a number of Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee), in which the mandolin demands a wonderful role. Or it’s Fiona who’s opening her vocal cords with the number ‘Smokestack Lightning’. In totally their own way, this trio translates a number of Howlin’ Wolf, with the mandolin in the solo part. Rich DelGrosso on vocals and on the mandolin in ‘Shotgun Blues’ (Sam Lightnin’Hopkins). They’re not just covers: six from the past, three are Fiona Boyes’ and two are Rich DelGrosso’s. There’s been many that translated the blues through a mandolin, Johnny Young was one of them. Listening to this album, I got the feeling that the spirit of Johnny Young has awakened through the power of the blues. The trio is drenched with blues inheritance of the first blues pioneers, but is revamping existing numbers with fresh input. At the time, Bobtje was the first in Europe who gave Fiona so much attention. It’s a shame that around here we haven’t had the honour to see this wonderful lady in action.
Translation by: Marleen Crook-Geebelen
