Bill Deraime - Bouge Encore (2008)

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Blues with a French touch

Bill Deraime is the godfather of French blues, often imitated, rarely equaled. Today 75 and officially retired from music, he's been striving to establish a blues scene in France for more than fifty years with some twenty-five albums, numerous performances and tours, despite a chronic manic depression.
Scorching voice, meaningful lyrics and roots soul sound, he never hesitated to borrow from other genres, particularly reggae, but also African music, gospel, funk..., to enrich his basic blues foundations. Far from the syrupy stuff delivered by many contemporary French "pop" artists, and from the spotlights, Deraime once said that blues is "the music of the soul". The statement is quite evident but at least, it deserves to be reminded from time to time.