Colin Perry & His Bluesicians

Colin Perry & The Bluesicians
“The feeling I got playing with these guys was just like the first time I heard Chicago Blues.”
--Junior Watson
“Colin Perry has become a Montreal institution as critical to the cultural content of the Main as smoked meat or Portuguese chicken.”
--Steve Lalla, Hour Magazine
The Bluesicians play authentic Chicago, Delta, and West Coast Blues of the 1940’s and 50’s. Combining original and classic material, they do not simply imitate the greats that preceded them, they bring their music back to life. Each member of this group is a dedicated student of these styles, but they all bring their own personality to the group, and play with a conviction and spontaneity all their own. From the down home country blues of Charley Patton, to the hard-edged Chicago Blues of Floyd Jones, to the swinging Jump Blues of Tiny Grimes, the Bluesicians transport their audience to the golden age of blues, and bring it back to life.
Colin Perry (Guitar, Vocals)
Guitarist and vocalist Colin Perry was born and raised in Kentucky. While there he absorbed the rich musical heritage that was around him, including blues, bluegrass, fiddle music and jazz. Colin's guitar playing draws echoes the great jazz and blues players of the 1940’s and 50’s, like Tiny Grimes, Bill Jennings, Billy Butler, Robert Jr. Lockwood, and Louis Myers. Since arriving in Montreal, he has worked with many great musicians, both resident and passing through. They include Michael Jerome Browne, Stephen Barry, Robert David, Dan Livingstone, Bharath Rajakumar, Susie Arioli and Jordan Officer (with whom he collaborated on the Juno-nominated album That's For Me), Jamie Wood (U.S.A.) Frank Schaap (France), Julien Brunetaud (France), Barbara Morrison (U.S.A.), Junior Watson (U.S.A.), Kenny Blues Boss Wayne (B.C.) Joe Murphy (Nova Scotia), and The Polyjesters (Alberta).
Bharath Rajakumar (Harmonica, Vocals)
Bharath Rajakumar has been turning heads wherever he plays with his traditional blues harp playing. He is the undisputed master of the great Chicago styles of Little Walter, Big Walter, and Sonny Boy Williamson. No mere imitator, he has turned these influences into a style as distinctive and impacting as anyone on the blues scene today. When not playing with the Bluesicians, he leads his own band the Rhythm Four. His playing is also featured prominently on albums by Steve Hill, Stephen Barry, Michael Jerome Browne, and Joe Murphy
Peter Mika (Piano)
Pianist Peter Mika has performed professionally in Montreal for over fifteen years. In addition to playing with the Bluesicians, he has performed with Montreal groups Blind, Nanette Workman, Orealis, The Crazy Rhythm Daddies, The Steve Rowe Band, Jimmy James, and The Stephen Barry Band. He also toured with New Orleans Blues legend, Bryan Lee. His jazz-inflected boogie style recalls the great early piano players like Roosevelt Sykes, Joe Liggins, and Camille Howard.
Costa Zafiropoulos (Upright Bass)
A true blues bass player, Costa is without peer in the blues world. A commanding tone and presence, and a huge sense of groove mark his playing. Watching him perform, you will hear all the subtleties of the greats like Ransom Knowling, Big Crawford, and Willie Dixon. He is a two time winner of the Lys Blues Award for musical performance on bass, in 2005 and 2006. He is featured on all of Kevin Mark’s albums, and co-authored many of the songs. When not playing with the Bluesicians, he can be found working with many blues acts around Montreal, including Kevin Mark, Pat Loiselle, The Gangsters of Love, and Slim Wood. He often hosts Cha Cha Cha in Blue on CKUT, where he plays many rare blues tracks from his enormous collection.
Ben Caissie (Drums)
Ben Caissie is one of the great living traditional blues drummers. He keeps the beat with complete authority, recalling the great drummers of the 1950’s like Fred Below, Odie Payne, and Sam Lay. When not playing with The Bluesicians, he divides his time between the bands Blind, The Houserent Serenaders, Bharath and His Rhythm Four, The Howlin' Hound dogs, and Lil’ Andy and Karaoke Cowboy. He has also toured Europe three times with the legendary Sun Records recording artist Eddie Bond.