"Music was the best ambassador of equality out there and probably still is, if you want it to be, that is..."

Nicholas Tremulis: Windy City Poet

Nicholas Tremulis born in 1960 to a jazz piano-playing father and a blues-singing mother, Tremulis grew up in the city's Greektown and in suburban Northbrook. The household was full of music and…

"I just want the blues to stay alive. It's a pure form of music and it comes from a sacred place. That is from the heart and soul of men and women. It speaks of truth. Learning to play blues is learning about truth, your truth; expressing your own story and your own feelings. It's a really important music to keep alive and it's actually a very difficult music to play and to play well. I just hope future generations love it as much as I…

"Sometimes we need a sonic game plan for liberation. As long as the music is making you think/ recharge/ participate in your own experience a bit fuller than you imagined--then it's working. We have a responsibility to give the best versions of ourselves in that moment, as listeners and artists, and then to move and change. We want this album to be a testament to trust, open hearts, care and experimentation. Seeing the beauty in the flawed and unexpected…

"I've learned that women can make music as capably as men can. I didn't know that coming up. I'm from an era in which that was not the conventional wisdom by any means. I've learned that if you do something for a long time, you get better at it. I've learned that relationships come and go, but music is yours forever. It's important to remember that relationships that are not compatible with your music are dangerous for you."…

"Blues came straight from the slaves from a community that suffered a lot and this same community changed that pain into joy and brought this amazing music and this amazing culture to this world. Both the African Americans with Blues, Soul, Funk, etc. and Afro-Brazilians with Samba, Choro, Bossa Nova, etc..."

Igor Prado: Groove…

"Photographing music is like photographing art in its creative genesis, a magical moment out of time."

Arturo Di Vita: The Soundtrack of Image

Photographer Arturo Di Vita born in Palermo, Italy in 1953. Arturo says: "Photographic art has given me a universal vision that has no boundaries or ways of being local but a global vision as if the era…

"We all love music. It affects people in such a special way. It just seems to bring joy with it wherever it goes and those are fantastic implications."

Don Zimmer: County Well and Drink More

The County Well released their new album titled “Drink More” (2021 / Floating Records). Drink More follows the success of the release of…

"There was a time when we almost believed that music, or art in general, would be able to change the world – or, more correctly, to change humankind. Well, it definitely has played its part in many of the issues you mentioned, there have been positive steps, but this is not enough."

Vassilis Athanassiadis: Goes ... Further

Terrapin is a trio…

"I miss the individuality of the blues artists of the past. There are so many copy cats and much of the uniqueness and quirkiness has been lost. I hope young artists who are drawn to the blues will take the time to listen to the original versions of songs."

Elly Wininger: The Blues Never End

Inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame in 2014, Elly…

"The racial discrimination and socio-cultural differences go away with the music, and it’s the best part of it in my opinion. It equalizes everything and everyone, and it is extremely important in a world like the one with have today, where both in Europe and the USA old racial and social discrimination is coming back."

Luca Kiella Chiellini: The Caesar of Keys…

"Unfortunately, most of them are lessons learned too late. Things like having clear objectives for a musical act, organized booking and business practices... The hardest part of this job is the non-musical part -- promotion, social media, fan outreach, and so on. Even if you spend a lot of time on those things you can still get poor results if you neglect the music as a result. Mainly I wish I had listened to other people's advice…

"The blues is a gift that African Americans gave to American music. The blues was always there at the heart of everything, but it wasn’t expresses with such feeling."

Rusty Ends: Hillbilly Hoo Doo Blues

Rusty Ends is the real deal, a true link between the rock and blues of the 50’s and 60’s and the 21st century. Rusty learned his craft as a…

"I feel that music crosses borders and heals divisions. Musicians can help build bridges between countries in that way. My fear is that at this time, the popular music has become increasingly superficial and in this digital world, attention span can be short. People often just listen to part of something before moving on to another song. My hope is that the call of music itself will win through, helped by the cultural diversity of today’s…

"I feel Blues provides an artist an outlet to freely express his/her ideas regarding real life experiences. In turn, these stories are appreciated by Blues lovers of many ethnic backgrounds. I would like people to feel the emotion within the songs and hopefully be able to relate to the messages."

Miss Lady Blues: Moe Betta Blues

Kesha Boyd…

"Music is for healing in a very crazy world. It is an escape, it is education, it is entertainment. Music is magic!"

Erin Harpe & Jim Countryman:

Joyous Roots Blues Meeting

The Boston-based multi-band leader, producer, indie label owner, singer-songwriter, and…

"Blues as art should bring people together from across cultures. I believe it has largely been successful. Just look at how far Blues has travelled the globe. Also, look at all the people who play Blues other than the those who originated it (African-Americans). I just hope that young people will continue to connect with the very foundations and traditions of the music and make Blues music that is meaningful to them and their…

"Blues has made me more centered, and playing it has mellowed me and evened me out."

Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans:

Eclectic American Roots ‘n’ Roll

Guitarist/songwriter BRAD VICKERS learned on the job playing, recording, and touring with America's blues and roots masters:…

"Learn to follow first before you begin to lead. Be honest with yourself and know when to take a step back. Memphis Music Scene, is much more than a scene…it’s a state of being, a state of mind. Mindset of a Memphian, is we are always going to do any and everything with soul power."

Rodd Bland: Born Into The Blues

As the son of immortal singer…

"Inspiration comes from life, from all its aspects. I don’t have mentors; Once I had only a poetic grandfather, Blaise Cendrars."

Yannis Livadas:…

"First and foremost, to move people. The impact (and of course all of this is my own view) should be both an emotional and an intelligent one. Emotional to hopefully inspire, and an intelligent one to lead to their participation in it. To spread the idea that blues, and any folk music, is a story of a people. It’s a human story. It can be brutal, and it can be beautiful, but at all times it must be human, and it must be sincere."…