It has been a pleasant surprise to listen to the album by German singer, guitar player and composer Kai Strauss. Thanks to his manager Andreas Lange we have been able to taste the music of this fantastic blues performer he develops in a really interesting recording.

Kai began to stand out in the blues scene back in the 90’s, backing Memo González. Since that moment on, he started an upward solo career, which led him to perform with artists like Jimmy Johnson, Mike Wheeler or Lurrie Bell among others. He has also won several German Blues Awards.

This is his seventh album that confirms his qualities as an amazing guitar player and effective singer gifted with a well-pitched voice. Along the eleven songs, eight of them own compositions, Kai Strauss confirms his subtle versatility but, at the same time, his powerful display, communicating all the feeling of the real genuine Texas blues, following the tradition and the steps of Johnny Copeland or Albert Collins he deeply admires, managing to cleverly mix the most genuine electric blues of that area with contemporary blues.

Kai Strauss has also counted with a group of excellent musicians like Nico Dreier on piano (who has started a new musical path), Ali Neander on guitar, Paul Jobson on organ, piano, clavinet and strings, Kevin DuVernay on bass and Alex Lex on drums, as well as some guests like Sax Gordon on tenor sax, Bira Junior on baritone sax, Bruno Belasto on trumpet and finally Toronzo Canon on vocals and guitar in two songs.

Elegance, good taste, passion, sophistication, fine technique, warmth, energy, professionalism… these are some of the adjectives that could define this highly recommended Kai Strauss’ album that will undoubtedly become an attractive surprise for most blues lovers.