It’s a real privilege to be working with Diego Vargas & Rocoto Blues Band and Sofia Buckingham.
Rocoto Blues Band ~ Diego and the band have come on as a quartet in massive strides, mainly due to straightforward hard work, since we first met in Lima in August 2016. They’ve nailed their aim of fusing blues with traditional Peruvian music influences.
Now their live performances are gaining a loyal and enthusiastic following, vindicating Diego’s dream of a fusion between his beloved blues music and the ethics and sounds behind Peru’s rich musical heritage.
There is a real depth to the vocals that Diego is developing, displaying to my ears a rich heritage, bordering on Shaman and able to bring a tenderness to blues ballads, that gives blues an edge seldom heard and a unique melange of emotions. From elemental power to broken heart pleading.
The blossoming of Jose, Gerd and Johnny into a tight and individual rhythm section, is a joy to have witnessed. The exuberance of Johnny’s playing on flutes and Charango, as well as vocals and guitars, plus the tight, solid and exactly chosen bass lines from Jose, working with Gerd’s inventive drumming, gives a rhythm section that never loses their drive or tightness.
Sofia Buckingham is a singer songwriter from Madrid, who has a burning talent and sings & performs the spectrum from tenderness to fury. Her songs are very original and she thoroughly deserves the growing following she has worked to build in her hometown of Madrid.
Her first album is due out in early to mid 2017 and will feature torch songs, performed with just piano or guitar, as well as up tempo band tracks, that speak of a life alive with awareness of her world. I was lucky to have been asked to perform, arrange and co-produce the songs.
It was real treat to spend several months exchanging ideas and then an extended period with the excellent musicians assembled for the project, as well as the luxury of time in a wonderful recording studio, with a sympathetic and bilingual engineer.