Winners of 2024 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Piper & The Hard Times burst out into actual blues scene. Here comes the band debut album they gave just released.

The group develops an intense, dynamic and, at the same time, eclectic blues that comes from New Orleans to Texas or Chicago, spiced with touches of rhythm and blues, soul and rock, performed with reliability and confidence by excellent instrumentalists who really know how to communicate the necessary groove and strength to captivate most listeners.

The band is led by singer Al “Piper” Green, a man gifted with a powerful, deep fat voice, perfect to sing gospel, which is one of the styles that have influenced him most as, in fact, he started his career singing gospel to then move on to other styles like blues, soul, pop or rock. Joining him you will find some powerful musicians like Steve “The Conductor” Eagon on guitar, Dave “Sexy Boy Himself” Colella on drums (Al has been playing with them for about twenty years), Amy “The Professor” Frederick on piano and organ and Parker “PH Funkstick” Hawkins on bass. The album also features several guests like Shaun Murphy and Lisa Oliver-Gray on backing vocals, Chris “Freight Train” Floyd on harmonica, Eddie Meyer on tenor sax and Dick Aven on tenor and baritone sax.

Twelve own compositions give shape to the recording, all of them strongly rooted in soul, blues and funk rock, which serve to introduce to listeners this interesting band, which I dare say has a more than exciting future ahead.