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Blues and rhythm & blues band founded in Ostrobothnia, Finland in 2007. This versatile group moves from jazzy pianoblues to guitar-driven, hard grooving electric blues.
The members of Blues Business are settled in different municipalities in Finnish Ostrobothnia, a landscape which often has been compared to the home of the blues, Mississippi. The group members are ready to drive quite long distances in this plain, mostly rural part of Finland, to get together for rehearsals and gigs.
Calle Bergman, the artistic leader of the band, moved back to his hometown Närpes a couple of years ago, after nearly a quarter of century in Turku, where he worked and played in several groups. In Blues Business, Calle shows his musical talent by his effective piano and guitar playing and nice vocals.
Bassplayer Jolle Hultgren has moved from Southern Finland to the city of Jakobstad, and graduated in music from Svenska yrkeshögskolan, University of Applied Sciences. Being a freelance musician at the moment, he has played in several roots-oriented groups, most notable a tour with Finnish blues great Pepe Ahlqvist as a member of former Vaasa-based Riverdale Blues Band and alternative country band Jerry & The Outlaws.
Drummer "BluesBoy" Peltola lives now in the Kvarken archipelago, but started playing in Tampere, nr. 3 city in Finland, as a teenager. Enjoying shuffle drumming, BluesBoy has played with different blues and swing -oriented groups. He was one of the original Riverdale Blues Band members and has backed Finnish blues greats Pepe Ahlqvist, Jo' Buddy and T.Leino at several occasions. He is also a member of Vaasa Big Band and a fine latin-mexican group Burp Herbert, where Peltola plays marimba.
For certain gigs, Blues Business is also extended by talented saxophone player Markus Kaikkonen. He has despite his young age gathered lots of experience playing as well in small combos as in big bands. Now Kaikkonen is aiming at a career as professional and studies music in Pietarsaari. He is also a member of horn section in Pietarsaari-based blues group St. Marcus (sic!) Blues Band.
Together these musicians lay down a relaxed, tight groove and enjoy playing good old times rhythm & blues together.
Critics' comments: "Blues Business represents walking groove especially due to swinging and appropriate drumming by Mikko Peltola. Unique rockabilly & rhythm'n'blues, interpretated by piano and guitar player Calle Bergman, transforms in to tremendous go." - Pohjalainen, Antti Suvanto, 8.7.2008
"Blues Business was for me and apparently for many others a newcomer. Very soon it became clear that the band in question is a rather interesting acquaintance. The band started the show by an organ-driven, slightly jazzy instrumental and reached immediately a great feeling. --- Vocalist Calle Bergman proved to be a competent keyboardist and, towards the end of the set, also a competent guitar player." - Blues-finland.com, Marko Aho, 14.10.2008
