Festa blues sul Noncello
(Blues fair on the "Noncello")
Papa George, Mooney and Rudi Rotta Band fire with enthusiasm

Article by

Mauro Mazzocut

"Messaggero Veneto"(National)newspaper & www.musicologi.com.
"The 11th edition of 2002 Pordenone Blues Festival has taken place at "Parco San Valentino" attended by a very mixed audience. From the typical fans coming from the neighbourhood there were a lot of families and teenagers proving the continuously growing of the black music in such a different culture.
Blues was born on the river and the Pordenone Blues Festival was this year like a ferryboat trip. The first stop is by the Thames riverbank with Papa George. Very charismatic musician, wearing a white linen suit Papa George has an aristocratic and diabolic impact on people that immediately warmed up with his electric blues. His style is combination of powerful voice and refined guitar playing where it was visible the Texas background, which is influencing and integrating the english rhythm'n'blues. In fact, he often slides to a seventies sound and the presence of Jimi Hendrix's ghost is clear.
Therefore, Papa George best regards go to the American artists such as Johnny Winter, Robert Johnson and Steve Ray Vaughan. Dallas, Dust my broom and the amazing Cold shot are the gifts that the London's guitar player dedicates to his Masters. Also, Papa George reveals a songwriter attitude with the great Blackjack and the optimum Man with the Blues which is the electric finger picking that closes his performance.
The river journey is carrying forward from the Thames to the Mississippi, the godfather of the blues. From New Orleans comes John Mooney. The fantastic performance that he does, shows up his unique guitar style made of finger picking and slide guitar. Heaven setting down, Country Bay, Late in the evening, All I want are his songs used to recall the epic and traditional sound of the old bluesmen with his particular metropolitan feeling. Mooney is the author of an essential show with just the guitar, his voice and an endless stomping. The voice is apparently persuasive but mysteriously deep, he runs the Delta soul and physically speaking the language of his land.
The ferryboat finally approaches to the Adige River, unexpected land of the Blues.The Rudy Rotta Band closes the festival and it is surprising to find out the energy and the vitality of the bluesman from Verona. An explosive performance produces a massive energy effected by his voice and sound, confirming Rudy one of the most representative European bluesman.
The beginning is with the funky groove Steps and with the electroshock of I am in the groove and Hold on the audience is sticked and dancing by the stage. From the new album Rudy choose So di blues, brave attempt of a blues with lyrics in Italian.
The Festival closes down with an encore called I'm in love with you with the three artists together for a final Jam session with Mooney improvising the lyric. That's the last gift for the enthusiastic audience of the Pordenone Blues Festival."