Guitar Nick, Blue Al & Groovy Rus – Live In Sofia 2004
Springtime Boogie Music
7 Tracks – 28 minutes
Very little information is available about the history of this band. They are noted as a long-time international band, who are apparently from Bulgaria. In 2003, Nicolai “Guitar Nick” Tanev and Alexander “Blue Al” Donchev released their first album, a tribute to Robert Johnson. As might be expected Guitar Nick plays the guitar and provides vocals. Blue Al plays harmonica. Somewhere along the way, Rus “Groovy Rus” Kiskinov joined the duo adding keyboards and various string instruments. As noted from the title, this is an historical live album from a 2014 concert in Sofia, Bulgaria. Today, Nick lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a runner-up in the International Acoustic Music Awards for his composition “Sofia Blues”.
The album opens with Leadbelly’s “Good Morning Blues” with Rus’ honky-tonk piano and Al’s harmonica playing providing a catchy instrumental break in the song. Three songs from the Robert Johnson songbook comes next with “Sweet Home Chicago” leading off again with Rus’ keyboards taking a strong lead and Al’s harmonica plowing the way. “Love In Vain” and “Walking Blues” follows in a similar manner.
“Springtime Boogie”, written by Nick is the only original song on the album and is tucked In between the second and third Johnson songs. The instrumental allows all three musicians to have an opportunity to shine on their instruments. Muddy Waters “I Can’t Be Satisfied” is here listed as “I Can’t Be Satisfied Blues Improvisation Live” and is presented as another all-instrumental song and spins off in several directions away from Waters’ original. The album ends with Willie Dixon’s “Little Red Rooster”.
All songs are given traditional flourishes. The three demonstrate that they are all masters of their instruments and Nick’s vocals, while certainly not flashy, do hold your attention.
