"I think is due to the fact that the more you listen to blues, the more it catches you and also the fact that the more you go deep in its history it becomes more and more interesting."

Ricardo Muñoz: Respetando Las Raíces

Riqui Muñoz & the 12 Compases (12 Bar) is a band led by guitar player Ricardo Daniel Muñoz, the beginning of this band from the year 2009 it has attracted many musicians from the local blues scene: Diego Czainik, Dario Soto, Javier Goffman, Rulo Garcia, Mariano Bisbal, Juanito Moro, Pablo Scotorin, and Eric Hamudis. As guitarist Riqui has performed with almost all the musicians in the local scene: Daniel Raffo, Cipiliano Matias, Ricardo Tapia, Victor Hamudis etc. Also worked with Chicagoan blues singer Lorenzo Thompson & Daniel Raffo in Mr. Jones Blues Pub (2008). He has also shared the stage with two great American Blues guitarists Duke Robillard and James Wheeler.

"I think is due to the fact that the more you listen to blues, the more it catches you and also the fact that the more you go deep in its history it becomes more and more interesting."

In 2010 played in Santiago, Chile with Argentinian musicians Adrian Jimenez (harmonica) and Javier Goffman (singer) accompanied by Chilean musicians. In 2011 Riqui Muñoz & The 12 Compases had opening act in Duke Robillard's show in La Trastienda Club of Bs As. In 2012 participates as guitar player of Adrian Jimenez in the back of the South American Club Blues Festival also starring Decio Caetano in Brazil, Argentina and Maxi Hracek with special guest Deitra Farr (USA).

In 2013 part of the 2nd Edition of the Blues Guitar Experience in Buenos Aires in the Teatro del Viejo Mercado in Bs As event that also involved Ruf Felipe (Chile), Artur Menezes (Brazil), Cipiliano Matias (Argentina) and Maximiliano Hracek.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

It taught me a lot of thing in a musical level, discovering a style and many original and great artists, and for me it means one the richest folklore music style because it worked as a base for the music that is being listened nowadays like Rock, Pop, etc.

How do you describe Ricardo Muñoz sound and what characterize your music philosophy?

I don’t know if I have achieved an original sound, what I do know is that my influences are T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Eddie Taylor, Robert Lockwood Jr etc. My philosophy is about respecting your roots and spreading the music we all love.

Why did you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

I think is due to the fact that the more you listen to blues, the more it catches you and also the fact that the more you go deep in its history it becomes more and more interesting.

"My philosophy is about respecting your roots and spreading the music we all love."

Which memories from Lorenzo Thompson, Duke Robillard and James Wheeler makes you smile?

With the three of them having shared the blues, and the fact that the three of them where surprised about the knowledge we have about the Blues here in Argentina. The one that made me smile the most was Duke Robillard because the last time he came to Argentina he gave me his Gibson Les Paul, the same one he used for the shows on the tour.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I don’t know if missing is the right term, but I would like that those artists who devote their lives to keep alive the essence of the Blues had more diffusion. About the fears I have none and my hopes are that this music stays alive.

Make an account of the case of the blues in Argentina. Which is the most interesting period in local scene?

In the 90's more international artists started coming to the country, artists like James Cotton, Hubert Sumlin, Honeyboy Edwards, Lurrie Bell, Little Mack Simmons, Bob Strogers, Jimmy Rogers, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, B.B King, Buddy Guy, Phil Guy and many more, and I think the arrival of those artists and being able to watch then live has made a lot for the Blues scene in Argentina.

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues from United States to Argentina?                            (Photo: Ricardo & Duke Robillard)

There are many local bands that respect the blues traditions and its artists but try to play their own style, which generates an interesting relationship between them and the artists form the USA that come to play to our country. On the other hand, there are a lot of musicians trying to follow the legacy of a certain artist, which in conjunction with the other bands generates a very variant scene.

What has made you laugh lately and what touched (emotionally) you from the local music circuits?

To me every time I go and play is an emotional time for me, I can’t think of a special occasion.

What are the differences of Argentinian scene with the other Southern American scenes?

I think the biggest difference is its size; our scene and the Brazilian scene are the biggest in all of Latin America. The amount of artists and the variety of styles is what makes our scene great.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

That the blues were more played.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

The 60's in Chicago, picturing myself in a show with Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Otis Rush or Freddy King makes me shiver.