BUDDA POWER BLUES
BUDDA POWER BLUES were born in 2004 with the goal of being a laboratory band, where the three musicians could adventure into the improvisation world without any commercial compromises. But soon the band took off and got bigger than any of its members ever imagined. They recorded the first record in 2005, in Ferro, Covilhā, naming it “Wanted”. It includes 3 of Budda’s own creations and several covers. This record sold out pretty soon, and in 2008 they release their 2nd record“Busted”, at Gaia Blues Festival, where they performed alongside Shemekia Copeland and Sherman Robertson. This 2nd album features 3 of Budda’s original songs and 10 other very personal twisted versions of some classics. At this time the band starts to get known for their twisted covers and their power improvisation and long jams, being able to be simultaneously musical and entertaining.
The band tours all Portuguese festivals and in 2010 and release their 3rd record, honoring the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys record. They named it “Kind of Gypsys” because, as usual, the band turned Hendrix’s record upside down and completely changed the arrangements. In order to keep the spirit of the original record, Budda and his band mates went to studio with no previous rehearsals, and for two days they worked and recorded live on tape the entire album, jamming and creating on the flow of the moment. It was the first record they made live and with no overdubs, and it captures the real spirit of this power Trio, and of the original Band of Gypsys. The mixing approach was also influenced by that period of late 60’s and early 70’s, as the drums are on the left, the guitar is on the right and the vocal and bass are at the center. The record was remixed and remastered in 2011, with a more conventional mix, after the first edition sold out.
In 2013 Budda Power Blues releases their 4th record, and the first only with Budda’s original songs and lyrics. “One in a Million” was acclaimed by critics and fans as the band’s best record, and it took Budda Power Blues to a next level. They played in all of the Portuguese blues festivals again, and have been considered by critics as the best Portuguese blues band, and Budda as the best bluesman in Portugal.
Besides playing their own act, Budda power Blues were chosen by Shirley King (BB King’s daughter) to be her band in Europe. Budda Power Blues played with the Daughter of the Blues in Gaia Blues Festival 2013 and Lisbon Blues Fest 2013.
They perform for the second time at one of the most iconic venues in Portugal: Theatro Circo (Braga – Portugal) in a sold out show.
2013 also marks the first international act for the band. And what better place to start their international career than the Blues Garage in Hannover, Germany? In this mythical venue played names such as Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Joe Bonamassa, Gov’t Mule, Robben Ford, Keith Richards, Glenn Hughes, just to name a few.
2014 is another great mark in the band’s career while they release a video version of an iconic Carlos Paredes song: Verdes Anos.
The band Headlines the Blues Express Luxembourg alongside Jimmie Vaughan and Steven Segal, gets to the finals of Cotai Jazz and Blues international festival in Macau and returns to Blues Garage Hannover for a second show.
The Band joins the Jazz Singer Maria João for a show where she sings the blues along with Budda Power Blues and perform together at the magnificent Casa da Música (Porto) and Lisbon Blues Fest.
In 2015 Budda Power Blues release the 5th record and celebrate their 10th anniversary with an incredible sold out show at Theatro Circo Braga.
This record has a lot of special guests, some more famous than others, but all super important in the band’s existence. Budda’s and Nico’s father, records bass on Emmigrant Song, Maria João sings, Paul Lamb plays harmonica, Matheus Vilella (Budda’s cousin and one of the guys that played in the bands first show, on December 25, 2004), Alex Liberalli (Budda’s wife) sings in “Te Sun Is Shinning Above the Clouds”, Pedro (Budda’s 11 year old son) plays percussion, and a lot more friends took part of it.
In July the band returns to Luxembourg Blues Express both as Headliners and playing as Shirley King’s band. They play at Santa Maria Blues with Maria João and perform at the iconic Meo Out Jazz festival in Lisbon. In September the band performs in Noite Branca (Braga) for a 100 000 croud.
2016 started with the band working on a new record with the amazing Portuguese Jazz Singer Maria João, released in March 2017.
Budda Power Blues were also elected the best Portuguese Blues Band and therefore selected to represent Portugal for the first time in the European Blues Challenge in Torrita di Sienna – Italy in April 2016.
In May 2016, the band did 3 special shows in BB King’s memory with Shirley King (BB’s Daughter).
They play for the 3rd time at BB Blues festival (one of the most iconic blues festivals in Portugal)
August 2016, takes the band to Blue Balls Festival (Switzerland), and to Latvia where they play 3 great shows. When they come back the band returns to Blues Soul festival and Viana Bate Forte festival.
The band starts 2017 returning to Differdange, Luxembourg for the 4th time, playing for a great audience and doing a blues workshop.
March 2017, marks the release of “The Blues Experience” record with Maria João, and a great show at one of Portugual’s most iconic venues: CCB. This record’s tour continued until September 2019 with the Jazz diva singing the Blues with a Power Trio in over 40 incredible shows.
This record brought a lot more awareness to the blues scene in Portugal and it was really all received by both the critics and the public.
The continuation of this experience is being forged and the new record will be released in 2021.
In 2018 the band released the 7th studio album called “Back to Roots”, based on a fiction universe where the portuguese culture is mixed with the Blues. It’s as if the universes have coexisted in the same place and the blues had pended a little more to th aportuguese side of things. It’s a Blues record, make no mistake, but with a portuguese influence that sometimes it’s only there in the lyric or inspiration.
In 2019 the band releases a commemorative Vinil EP, in a collectors limited edition: “Fifteen Long Years”, celebrating 15 years of Budda Power Blues.
During that year, the band recorded 15 special shows to the elect one song from each and release in 2020 the first Live Record, called “Live 2019”. 15 songs celebrating 15 years and 9 records.