Gréia by Jefferson Goncalves

He’s style took the US magazines American Harmonica

Newsletter (Oct/96) and Big City Blues Magazine (Jan/00), to point him as one of the

great new bloods of the new generation of instrumentalists.

In August of 1998, Jefferson teamed up Brazil in SPAH - Society for the Preservation and

Advancement of the Harmonica, in Detroit, USA, where he shared the stage with the German

guitar slinger Chris Jones in the official 35 years celebration concert of SPAH. Back to

Brazil, Jefferson put together the acoustic trio Blues Etc., releasing their debut album

in 2001. This CD was considered the best acoustic blues recording in this year.

Since 1999, Jefferson tours with the American act Peter Madcat, playing in the best

venues on the Rio / São Paulo scene, related to the Hering Blues Night project and to

Blues Time Records, the blues label that he runs with the Brazilian blues guitarist Big

Joe Manfra.

Jefferson has recorded with a lot of artists and bands like: Big Gilson, Belchior, Victor

Biglione, Celso Blues Boy, Peter Madcat Ruth, Vanessa Barum, etc...

In 2002 he released 3 video lessons where he teaches all the technics of the instrument.

Jefferson’s first solo album GREIA was released in 2004 by the Brazilian blues label,

Blues Time Records, featuring, some very special guest as Airto Moreira, Norton Buffalo,

Peter Madcat Ruth, Jamie Wood, Big Gilson, Johnny Rover, Zé da Flauta, Tavares da gaita

and Carlos Malta, among others. Also produced in the same year a CD for the CARUARU

artist, Tavares da Gaita.

In August, 2005, he joined the guitar slinger BIG GILSON and he’s band Rio Dynamite,

featuring the British old time blues shouter THE WOLF on their American tour.

With all the knowledge on touring and performing in hundreds of shows, recording sessions

and clinics, Jefferson GonÃ*alves is a reference in harmonica blues in Brazil and as

endorser of HERING HARMONICAS, has his own signature harps.

The elements of 'Greia' come together like three fronts smashing into one another to

create the perfect storm.

Peter 'Madcat' Ruth, Norton Buffalo and Jamie Wood w/ Johnny Rover are three of the

better known supplemental factors that merge together with the harmonica mastery of

Jefferson Goncalves to create a powerful, versatile typhoon of musical diversity.

Track one begins with Peter 'Madcat' Ruth and Jefferson Goncalves "Rolling' Along" in

rhythmic Seiche of harp and vocals. Track two picks up a rising current of trills and

vibrato creating a thermal of Blues and Rock that eventually becomes an upper level

disturbance.

Goncalves never lets up throughout the entire CD. He releases a Downburst of Country

Blues and then follows it up with a Heavy Gust from the Delta.

One of my personal favorites is Jefferson's version of Bob Dylan's - 'Watchtower', (track

6). This is a Jet Streak of performance that enhances the entire compilation. I have to

believe that Dylan would openly welcome Goncalves into the House of Hendrix after

listening to this one. What a great rendition!

Norton Buffalo is no Gustnado when he steps up to the mic. He's always the complete

Tornado. "Walkin' With The Danger", (track 7), gives us Norton on vocals and He and

Jefferson together on harp. Norton may be singing, but he definitely lets the harp do

some takin' here.

With her swingin', tasty, talented vocals and Johnny's solid lines of thunderin' harp,

Jamie Wood and Johnny Rover get you back in the Blues with; III Fated Woman Blues, (track

11).

What a testament to diversity! What dynamo of talent! What a beautiful blend of elements

in a synergetic pattern of performance. Hey, it may not be the movie, but Greia still

comes close to becoming 'the Perfect Storm'.

~ John Francis ~

the Best Li'l Harp House

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