FESTIVAL DE BLUES DE SANTA COLOMA 5ª Edición - ALEX ZAYAS BAND - SLAM ALLEN - at TEATRE SEGARRA

   Os ofrecemos unas fotillas y unos videos de lo que fué la actuación ayer en el Teatre Segarra de Santa Coloma de Gramanet, de Alex Zayas Band, que acompañó también al guitarrista SLAM ALLEN como broche de oro de la quinta edición del FESTIVAL DE BLUES DE SANTA COLOMA de GRAMANET ( Barcelona), a falta de la culminación que será hoy domingo con los tres últimos eventos que cerrarán definitivamente el Festival. Una primera parte con Alex Zayas Band que deleitó al público con sus slowlys apabullantes que mantuvieron la atención y la complicidad de un público entregado que llenaba hasta los topes el recito del teatro. SLAM ALLEN en su línea y su forma de tocar y de actuar teatralizada al máximo donde demuestra su categoría como guitarrista y su admiración por B.B.King, y sobre todo por Albert King, que sirvió de leit motiv a su actuación y que buscó la complicidad de Zayas en alguna ocasión correspondido por éste igual no siempre a su dictado....... El público coreó su versión del Miss You de los Stones con gran entusiasmo. Ni que decir tiene que el abandono del escenario de ambos artistas para acercar su arte a la platea del recinto fué muy celebrada aplaudida y jaleada por los asistentes que disfrutaron una barbaridad , se lo pasaron en grande y se fueron a casa con un excelente sabor de boca, conscientes de haber pasado una noche de Blues en toda regla. Felicitamos desde aquí a Santako Blues , Angel y Nono, y todo su Staff porqué demostraron una vez más que su afición por la música afroamericana pueden compartirla ampliamente con una gran afición deseosos como ellos de disfrutar de lo que en definitiva son los orígenes de casi todo el panorama musical actual. 

                                     

               

Alex started playing guitar and singing at age 7. Influenced by his brother, who opened him the doors to all kinds of music. After playing with several local outfits in Barcelona, an 18 year old Alex joined  harp bluesman Hook Herrera (Gov’t Mule, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Kid Ramos, Denny Freeman)

Hook was Alex’s first mentor and also introduced him to the start of a music career by teaching him how to understand the music, specially the blues, and opening the doors into the profesional bussiness. With Hook Alex had the chance to play in the best festivals and clubs all over Europe. 

Three years later he formed his own band Alex TNT, and got a residence in “La Boite”, a prominent Barcelona music club, as well as playing in other clubs and festivals in the Barcelona area. As Alex TNT, he has released 3 albums, Walking your way (Discmedi, 2001), I feel the blues again (Mas i Mas, 2003) and Alex TNT (Gaztaluzpeko, 2009) all on which he explored different facets of the Blues exclusively.

He later joined African bassist/vocalist Steve de Swardt’s blues band, where he met a key influence in his career, string master Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen, Mª del Mar Bonet, etc). He shared countless nights onstage playing together with them and St. Louis drummer Julian Vaughn (Albert King, B. B. King, Johnny Copeland) at the Jamboree Jazz club in Barcelona. During this time he toured in Canada and the US with a couple of Chicago artists and later with his own band. In November of 2006, Alex had the privilege to open for the King of Blues B. B. King at the Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. After many years on the circuit and being known as Alex TNT, he decides to ultimately shift his artistic identity to ZAYAS / Alex Zayas for the occasion of the release of his fourth album Guitarshock (Mitik, 2012), where he underwent a deep self exploration to find a new path through which to forge all of his past and present influences. Alex Zayas has also played with artists such as Larry McCray, Johnny B Gayden, Lynwood Slim, U.P. Wilson (Texas Tornado), Paul Orta, Alvin Youngblood Heart, Julian Vaughn, Javier Mas, Slam Allen, The Roadmasters, Mike Wheeler, Russell Jackson, Larry Williams, Alex Napier (Bassplayer for The Cobras), Carl Weathersby, Keith Dunn, among others.. And has perfomed all around Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Italy, Canada and the USA, where he performs in venues like Buddy Guy’s legends (Chicago), Knuckle down saloon (Madison), The Blu room (Dubuque), The Barrel room (Fort Myers), The Funky Biscuits (Boca raton),  The House Pub (St.Charles), Saxons pub, Kenny Durham backyard, Vince Young steakhouse and Sams burger joint music hall, in Texas.

Alex tours Canada since 2005 playing in venues like: The Blues on Whyte (Edmonton), The Blues Can (Calgary), Fratter’s (Red Deer), The Drake (Canmore) and Lynnwood Station (Calgary) to name a few. In the summer of 2014 he toured Nova Scotia and played at The Calgary international Blues Festival.

In 2015 Alex had the honour to replace Walter Wolfman Washington at the Calgary Blues festival and play with The Roadmasters from New Orleans.

In 2016 also at The Calgary international Blues festival, Alex Zayas became an Honor citizen in Calgary by doing the White hat ceremony, a very old tradition in the city.

On his fourth album “Guitarshock”, he found his own and original style and it’s an electric blend of Blues, Funk and Rock.

His fifth album “Electric Ryder Vol.1 (Sun)” Alex keeps flying from The Blues to Rock, Funk and Psicodelia. 

On his latest work “Deal with the Blues”, Alex go back to his Blues roots, 8 originals Blues tunes where you can hear his earliest influences, Albert King, B.B.King, Buddy Guy, etc….

                          

                                                 
            



SLAM ALLEN WEB SITE :   

The Message

The internationally renowned Slam Allen is a messenger of love. This dynamic entertainer uses the genres of Blues, Soul, R&B, and a touch of Rock and Roll to deliver powerful soul stirring performances! Slam captures you with a voice that echoes Otis Redding, a guitar that immerses you in B. B. King and stage energy reminiscent of James Brown, all while captivating you with his own original music! 

Background

Growing up, Slam played drums for the family soul band “The Allen Brothers” and later on, learned guitar from his Dad, Harrison Allen and his Uncle, Cecil Allen. As he progressed in their eyes, the family knew they had a special talent to nurture! Today, with 6 cd's to his credit, Slam Allen crisscrosses the globe playing festivals from Argentina to New York, from Italy to Florida, from Switzerland to Chicago, and beyond.

This gifted musician and entertainer was the lead singer, lead guitarist and band leader for the legendary Grammy-nominated James Cotton. "Playing with Cotton was such a great experience for me! There are things I learned from him that you can't learn from any school. It was a great honor!” says Slam.

In 2010, Slam Allen had the distinction of being chosen by Norwegian Cruise Line for the inaugural launch of the Norwegian Epic, and the official "Fat Cats" house band - the first full-time Blues and Soul artist on a National Cruise Line. With Slam at the helm, the band quickly developed an incredible rapport with guests. People wanted to be entertained six nights a week and Slam delivered his unique brand of entertainment for 5 years!

Today, Slam Allen continues a national and international mission to fill his audiences with joy, happiness, and love. “If I can entertain the people, make them happy and inspire them to stay positive about life, I have done my job!”  This is Slam Allen’s message of love to the world!