It's a common mistake to think of Rod Piazza as one of the young turks or new generation of the blues. But at this point in his career, Rod Piazza has been making records longer than his mentor George "Harmonica" Smith did, or Sonny Boy Williamson (either of them!) or Howlin' Wolf, or Muddy Waters. He's been a recording artist for more years than Little Walter was alive. Rod Piazza is a tried-an-true, dyed-in-the-wool blues veteran with credentials that are second to none.
From his first recordings as a leader in 1967 fronting The Dirty Blues Band, through his multiple W.C. Handy award winning releases with his current band, The Mighty Flyers, to his countless appearances both live and on record with the most revered names in the blues, Rod Piazza has established himself as one of the most influential living blues harp players. He's consistently surrounded himself with players who bring out the best he has to offer, and epitomize the very best in blues: fresh, swinging, tasteful, exciting and creative. The core of The Mighty Flyers has been together for over two decades, and developed the kind of musical telepathy that simply cannot exist without years of experience on the bandstand and in the studio. The Mighty Flyers are a well-oiled machine, with Piazza in the drivers seat.
Born in 1947, Piazza's infatuation with blues began at a time when many of the masters were still in their prime years, and in the mid 1960s when the first blues revival was picking up steam, he was in the thick of it. A decade later he had already released five albums, and was one of the leading lights of the West Coast Blues scene. In the early '70s he joined forces with Otis Spann disciple Honey Alexander (now his wife) on piano, and when they formed the Mighty Flyers in the early 1980s, his career really hit its stride.
Since then Piazza and the Mighty Flyers have played literally thousands of gigs in every corner of the globe, recorded over a dozen highly acclaimed releases, won or been nominated for almost every major award and honor that can be bestowed upon a blues band, and along the way virtually created a new style of blues. It was a combination of low-down Chicago grit, suave West Coast swing and jazz, and the rhythmic drive of the best early R&B and rock & roll. Quite simply, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers are one of the best, most experienced, and most distinctive bands in blues today, and hard as it may be to believe, they're still getting better. Piazza has come into his own as a clever and imaginative songwriter, and his vocals have taken on a warmth and personality that can only be won with maturity and decades of experience.
It's not only the fans and music industry mavens who praise Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, some of the strongest words of admiration come from the harshest critics of all: fellow blues musicians. None other than B.B. King pointed to his opening act Piazza as the reason he was motivated to play a full hour over his contracted time at a European blues festival.
Fifty years after the pioneers of modern blues enjoyed their days in the sun, blues fans are still talking about them with reverence. There can be little doubt that fifty years from now, blues fans will still be talking about Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers.
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