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rec. Nov. 1996, NYC
Formed in 1992, Big Allanbik is the leading blues band in Brazil. Their breakthrough came at the Nescafé and Blues Festival in Sao Paulo where they most successfully competed with such as Robert Cray, Otis Clay, Eric Burdon, Robben Ford and Lonnie Brooks. In 1996 Big Allanbik toured the U.S. appearing at New York's Blue Note and Miami's Tobacco Road. In Chicago, the City of Blues, the band performed with Duke Robillard at Buddy Guy's Legends and with Lonnie Brooks at the Blue Note.
Singer Ricardo Werther (voted blues singer # 1 in Brazil and sometimes reminiscent of Pearl Jam's lead vocalist), guitar player Big Gilson (who solos like a heavy metal star), keyboarder Alan Ghreen (who already played with blues greats like B.B. King) and the refreshing groove team Ugo Perrotta and Beto Werther have definitely "forged their own distinct and unique style" (Blue Note, NYC) by peppering American blues and rock with Brazilian rhythms.
On their new CD, "Batuque Y Blues," the Brazilian quintet widens its original concept of carioca blues by adding ethnic percussionist Ricardo "Siri" to the band's personnel. Thus incorporating Brazilian rhythms and heavy rock riffs into a straight-ahead blues approach, Big Allanbik presents original compositions along with classics by the likes of Willie Dixon, T.Bone Walker, Louis Armstrong and the Allman Brothers Band. This sterling album was produced in New York's Avalon Studio by Bob Stander who has become famous for his work with Roy Buchanan, Paul Simon, Pete Townsend and Kiss.
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