"The Blues is the Life, all the passion, joy, pain, sex, fun, is a window to the soul and if you can play or sing you can share that moments with the world."

Oscar Ivan Pintor: Smokey Blues Fields

Mexican blues musician Oscar Ivan Pintor aka SMOKEY FIELDS,  talks about his paths to blues roads: "When I was 10 years old I heard Robert Johnson on Radio that changes my life, I started to play harp in 2006 that year I meet Billy Branch, for the next years I was learning and givin’ lessons in a local music school. My first influences was Walter Horton, Sonny Terry, Big mama Thornton, and Billy Branch, after that I know the work of Little Walter, George Smith, Snooky Pryor, and Sony Boy Williamson. I started a Band in 2010 playing Big Walter, Little Walter, Rod Piazza, George Smith, Junior Wells, at same time I was collecting microphones and amplifiers making works in custom and repair for professional players from different countries. I play in local Festivals and social events, I’m working in my first record with my Band named LOS JUMPING BEANS playing some covers and original music.

I’m working hard to makes good Blues with the power and passion of the greatest players but with a personal feeling and sound, trying to do my best in music for the people with honesty. I got great musicians in the band, players with the same passion for the blues I hope when we finish the world knows some little of our life’s."

Interview by Michael Limnios

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

The Blues music and culture is universal, the lyrics and histories are very close to my own life experiences overall EVERYTHING GONA BE ALL RIGHT. The Blues is the Life, all the passion, joy, pain, sex, fun, is a window to the soul and if you can play or sing you can share that moments with the world.

What were the reasons that you started the Blues researches? What characterize your music philosophy?

When I was about 10 years old I heard some music on the radio that music makes me feel something different inside my soul, that was the Blues (Robert Johnson) so I start to search more music and info.

Pasion, I don’t want the perfection in the notes, the music and the Art in general is freedom and honestly

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

The honesty, today we can found great musicians but less of passion. I know the Blues will continue forever I hope the players do well not only beauty music.

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

The business and money, some great musicians gets no money and some other plastic artist are very rich for nothing.

"The blues is FREEDOM, when a minority group racial or social takes the power of their lifes is dangerous for the oppressor and the government, the Blues is a way to found freedom of speech."

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

There is no Real Blues in Mexico, only in the last 6-7 years a couple young bands starting to make good blues.  In the late 70’s was the Chicago Blues Fest in Mexico with Willy Dixon, Walter Horton, John Lee Hooker, etc that was the best period but I don’t was born yet.

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

The local bands pretends play Blues but the singers don’t even know speak English and the musicians are pretty bad so that makes me laugh, but when I play I put all my soul in, and I feel Free.

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues music from United States and UK to Mexico?

Mexico is a country made by slaves hundreds of years of oppression but until the end the Mexicans are very fun and joy people we work so hard and when we can just have fun, the history of the bluesmen are very similar to the Mexicans.

Are there any similarities between the blues and the genres of local folk music and traditional forms?

In Mexico have some black communities and the music got a roots in the African culture, genres as EL SON, MARIACHI, O RANCHERA gets lyrics and musical structure very similar to the blues.

What is the impact of Blues music and culture to the racial, political and socio-cultural implications?

The blues is FREEDOM, when a minority group racial or social takes the power of their lifes is dangerous for the oppressor and the government, the Blues is a way to found freedom of speech.

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

1979 to the first Blues fest in Mexico, the idea to see the greatest legends together is amazing Muddy Waters, Willy Dixon, Walter Horton, John Lee Hooker, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, the music the voices form all of those men.