Cuban Heels
Gritty, primal and soulful are the best words to describe Cuban Heels’ music. Blending their Garage Blues with a raw soul power in the vein of the great soul and gospel shouters.
Influences range from blues greats such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter, through soul legends as Otis Redding and Ray Charles to garage rockers as The Stooges and The Sonics. The latter two mainly to give an impression about the raw energy of the band. Although all three Cuban Heels albums have been receiving raving reviews, third album “Gutbucket Music” can be seen as their ultimate so far.A dazzling album full of blues grooves, pre-war gospel and funky swamprock that shows that the band can easily compete with the best in blues, or garage blues, as some tend to call it.
A Cuban Heels gig is a lot more than the average blues show. Appealing to an audience ranging from youngsters to the older, more traditional bluesfan, the band gives all they got and has left audiences breathless at renowned festivals as the North Sea Jazz, Moulin Blues and Belgian Rhythm & Blues Festival. Heartfelt soulful vocals, ferocious guitar, killer harp and a rhythm section as tight as possible, that’s Cuban Heels. Definitely one of the best European blues bands around and an act not to be missed.
Band members
Jan Hidding – vocals
Rico Gerfen – guitars
Richard Koster – harmonica
Arnoud van den Berg – upright bass / bass guitar
Chiel ten Vaarwerk – drums
Albums
Gutbucketmusic (Cool Buzz, 2006, CLBZ 19)
Morphine Mama (Cool Buzz, 2002, CLBZ 13)
Sweet and Lowdown (Cool Buzz, 2001, CLBZ 8)
http://www.myspace.com/cubanheels
