Alistair Taylor/ Nanaimo Bulletin
Carlos del Junco and his Blues Mongrels embarks on a 14-stop tour of B.C. and Western Canada.
Born in Havana, Cuba, del Junco immigrated with his family at the age of one. He bent his first note on a harmonica when he was 14, making his debut with his high school math teacher at a student talent night. In his early 20’s del Junco was immersed in a visual arts career; he graduated with honors from a four-year program, majoring in sculpture at the Ontario College of Art.
Simultaneously sophisticated and raw, his playing blurs the boundaries between blues, jazz and “roots” music. The emphasis is on blues, but del Junco (a fine singer as well) and his band (Eric St. Laurent on guitar, Henry Heillig on upright bass) are not afraid to merrily traipse off in other directions delivering a seamless fusion of New Orleans second line grooves, swing, ska, swampy roots rock, to singer/songwriter themes.
Black Press caught up with del Junco and put 10 questions to del Junco…
