Mr Tchang Bluz Explosion - Time To Move (2021)

> The album

The Jackie Chan of the six-string

Samuel Audrix (surely a Gallic fellow of mine 😉) aka Mr Tchang, and his gang of merry Frenchies, sorry, there's a Spaniard guest in the lot, have put out a nice surprise, not in Canada Dry style (you know, "It looks like alcohol, it has the color of alcohol but it's not alcohol… it's Canada Dry !") because it looks like blues, it sounds like blues, and it is blues. Chicago blues, Memphis blues, Texas blues, Louisiana blues, Mississippi blues… Whatever you want, you get it ! Soul blues, rocking blues, funky blues, rhythm and blues, even a soul ballad like "I Gotta Woman"… Whatever you want, you get it !

These dudes from South Western France have not much more to learn from their models from Chicago, Texas or Mississippi, they master all facets of blues. They are all so far beyond the technical apprenticeship of their instrument that they're able to play what they want. The difference comes from their mastering of something that can't be taught : the feeling, the soul, and a sense of putting out the right sound and note at the right moment.
From his producer seat, Arnaud Fradin, leader of The Roots Combo, who is also on rhythm guitar here, has done a really neat job, managing an excellent sound mix that positively underlines the qualities of each band member.

The band is perfect  : the pair Esclier-Delmas secure a steel solid rhythm section; Sylvain Tejerizo on sax gives an extra soul dimension, when not getting up front in a funky-jazzy style on "Eddie C. N' Jody" for example; and their Catalan guest Victor Puertas brings in the tasteful rich color of his Hammond B3 organ and other keyboards, not forgetting his harmonica.
But the main attraction is of course the boss, 'Mr Tchang' himself. A veteran of the French blues scene, where he's humorously nicknamed the "Six-string's Jackie Chan" or "Riff's Yakuza", he delivers a hot guitar blues style, with a special liking for wah-wah effects (he is undoubtedly a fan of Hendrix), along with his great vocal texture perfectly fit for singing the blues.

Personally, I'll point out "Ain't Superstitious" for its nice intro and organ work ; "Louis", a nice example of Chicago blues sound ; "The Darkness Of Your Love" for its melodic wah-wah guitar part ; "Mississippi Party", a tribute to Delta and Hill Country bluesmen ; "My Woman" with its vibrating guitar and top-notch B3; "Oh, My Love" for its cool swinging style ; "Eddie C. N' Jody" for its New Orleans beat and sax drive. Which doesn't mean that the other tracks belong to the dust bin. Oh, by no mean no !
One regret still : why not trying a few songs (just one or two !) in French just to see what it would sound like… Anyway, I'll make mine the appreciation of Blue Dragon's talented co-manager Lou Cypher in his presentation of the album : "[…] just 2 words: trust me. And I betcha, you won't regret it !"

Videos

► Mr Tchang Bluz Explosion YT Channel : https://www.youtube.com/c/Frenchbluesexplosion
► Plenty of videos on the YT fan channel "fandemistertchang" : https://www.youtube.com/user/fandemistertchang/videos
► "Mississippi Party", album recording : https://youtu.be/UP-QokeSrA4
► Mister Tchang Blues Trio at the Maison du Blues in Châtres-sur-Cher (France) in 2021 : https://youtu.be/mwbsGbe9J1k & https://youtu.be/apXY2hr1Rok
► "Don't worry" live  in 2021 : https://youtu.be/6_bnQC_XP-M

► Mister Tchang's "Jam Blues au Garage", at home in France during the Covid 2020 confinement (76mn) : https://youtu.be/pOqQkDDHNlw
► Mississippi Delta born Peaches Staten & Blues Explosion (featuring Mr Tchang & Víctor Puertas) in Burlada (Spain) in 2019 : https://youtu.be/2fX-DznJ_4s
► In Holland in 2018 : https://youtu.be/IsDF3FOZ_nU

► Short interview of Mr Tchang and show with his band The Easy Money at The Plus-Que-Parfait blues bar in Bergerac (France) in 2014 (1h57) : https://youtu.be/D2H97Omi7hQ or https://youtu.be/HrW9T9XQIh0
► "Once and for all" by Mister Tchang & the French Blues Explosion in 2012 : https://youtu.be/jAWKYeFgm1U
► Mr Tchang & The Texas Sluts in Léognan (France) in 2008 (50mn) : https://youtu.be/7HXRXxM1h8c

Mr Tchang web site (with videos too) : https://mistertchang.com/