Brandon Santini
“I think it’s a very honest and imperfect music”
- Brandon Santini
The above quote is the Memphis bluesman’s basic take on the musical form and its relationship to life’s twists and turns. It also reflects his own brand of blues – straightforward, no nonsense, no histrionics. The 33 year old Sanitini is one of the rising stars on the blues horizon, blessed with a strong bottom heavy voice, and a style and proficiency on harp that’s drawn comparisons to two of his major influences: James Cotton and Paul Butterfield. All of this put forth against a backdrop of a tight band.
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It all started for Santini at the age of 15, drawing inspiration from a performance by John Popper and Blues Traveller. Right then and there he decided that he wanted to play harp, bought one, and began his lifelong love of the instrument.
After moving to Memphis from his North Carolina home some six years later he started the heavy lifting of honing his harp chops in all of the Memphis joints. Along the way, he added singing to his repertoire when no one else in his musical circle wanted to take on the chore. He was now a full rounded musician ready to cast his line in the ever changing and sometimes unacknowledged blues waters.
It’s safe to say all the hard work is starting to reap some rewards. He’s recorded 3 CD’s to date, with his second, This Time Another Year, bringing attention to his considerable skills. The album – that debuted at # 12 on the Living Blues Radio Charts – was nominated for one 2014 Blues Music Award (“Contemporary Blues Album of the Year”), and buttressed a second nomination for “Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica”. Having been nominated along with the likes of Charlie Musselwhite and Buddy Guy unquestionably demonstrated that something’s working.
Brandon Santini comes to town with a new record in tow, Live And Extended, that was recorded last summer in Quebec City at Festival d’ete de Quebec. The emphasis is on “extended” as Santini and his band stretch out on a mix of covers and originals. It stands as a blueprint of an exciting set of blues as best appreciated – live. An experience that’s sure to be replicated at Violet’s on May 22nd.
