NEWS

Recorded in AUSTIN, TEXAS appearing special guests SAX GORDON BEADLE, PRESTON HUBBARD, MIKE CROSS, TOM ROBINSON, GARY SLECHTA… the new album entittled NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is in the stores.

To listen the music, click on the titles :

NIGHT AFTER NIGHT - 2004

01 JUNK TOUR P. Fernandez, Big Dez
02 EVEN ME P. Fernandez, Big Dez
03 BEAUTICIAN BLUES
OOR. Brown, Big Dez
04 NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
OOP. Fernandez, Big Dez
05 NEVER MAKE A MOVE TOO SOON
OOS. Hooper & W. Jennings, Big Dez
06 AT GINO'S P. Fernandez, Big Dez
07 #2 P. Fernandez, Big Dez
08 SUSPICION P. Fernandez, Big Dez
09 2710 S. LAMAR P. Fernandez, Big Dez
10 BIG LIVERS B. Pradal, Big Dez
11 STROLL FOR MADELEINE
OOB. Pradal, Big Dez

http://www.digitalblues.co.uk
There are not too many French men (or women) who spring to mind when one thinks of purveyors of the Blues and so it was an added pleasure when this CD hit the doormat courtesy of Derek White from Rocking the Blues who is co-promoting a tour of the UK by this Paris based five piece in March & May 2006. Formed in 1996, Big Dez comprises Phil Fernandez, guitar & vocals, Bala Pradel, organ & keyboards, Marco Schaeller, harmonica, Lamine Guerfi, bass and Stephane Minana on drums (although the drummer on the CD is Nico Leophonte) and the CD is the band's second. Recorded in Austin, Texas, the album includes some top guests including Preston Hubbard (Fabulous Thunderbirds) & Sax Gordon Beadle and comprises 11 very varied tracks, all bar two of which are Big Dez originals. (On these he is co-credited).
The band has built itself quite a reputation on the European Festival and club circuit and on the basis of this CD it is easy to see why. Phil's vocals are spot-on and only occasionally can you tell that he is singing in a “foreign” language, whilst his guitar work pays credit to the time he has spent in the US jamming with the likes of Luther Allison, WC Clark & Billy Branch and playing alongside Texas legend Uncle John Turner (drummer with Johnny Winter & Lightnin' Hopkins) and many others. Harpist Marc blows up a beautiful storm with some great leads whilst Bala delivers some blistering organ breaks and solos. The rhythm section is solid and always there but never over the top.The CD contains an excellent variety of styles, tempos and approaches. There is a lovely, almost jazzy feel to the delicious “Suspicion” which features a beautiful keyboard continuo and some stinging guitar whilst the fine mid-tempo “#2” affords each member of the band an opportunity to shine in turn and just has to be one of those numbers which is a classic live! “2710 S Lamar” is a breakneck instrumental belter which is all too short, and look out for the great moody trumpet solo from Gary Slechta on “Stroll for Madeline”, a gem.This is a cracking CD and a great introduction to Big Dez. I for one am looking forward to catching them live and what a pleasure it is to hear some great Blues from France, even if they do come via Texas! Vive les blues, vive Grand Dez!!.
18 th December 2005

www. blues revue .com
French singer/songwriter/guitarist Phil Fernandez and his band Big Dez
(keyboardist Bala Pradal, bassist Lamine Guerfi, harpist Marc Schaeller,
and drummer Nico Leophonte) traveled to Austin, Texas, to record their second
self-produced album with guests Sax Gordon, trumpeter Gary Slechta,
rhythm guitarist Rodolphe Dumont, and bassist Preston Hubbard. It's easy to be
skeptical of the idea of a French bluesman, but Fernandez's slashing
guitar combines Albert Collins' icy tension with Johnny Guitar Watson's
metallic crunch, and his clear, booming, congenial vocals bear no trace of an
accent and sound like a less lupine Kent Omar Dykes.
Besides two covers (B.B. King's 1977 hit Never Make a Move Too
Soon and Roy Brown's jump shuffle Beautician Blues), there are nine varied,
high-spirited, but derivative originals performed by a band that sounds
serious and fun at the same time. At Gino's is a second-line strut with
cascading piano and muscular snare drum, Even Me is a jagged boogaloo
twister with razor guitar licks, Junk Tour is a snarling midtempo
bruiser redolent of Albert King's Stax heyday, and the title track is a
rollicking blues-rock band bio. Two instrumentals appear in the mix: 2710 S.
Lamar, a swinging harmonica showcase that blends organ-combo jazz and Little
Walter, and Stroll for Madeleine, a moody set closer that features Pradal's
deft, wispy piano. (Pradal is one of the best things about this album; the
versatile player deserves special praise for his churchy organ and
two-fisted piano.) There are numerous American bands mining the same turf
found on Night After Night, but for blues fans traveling to France, Big
Dez is certainly worth checking out.
by THOMAS J. CULLEN III