“Blues is American history told from the inside. Preserving it means honoring the roots while letting it grow. Musicians are storytellers and healers. In divided times, music reminds people of shared humanity.”

Omar Colemam: Chicago Windy Blues

Living Blues Most Outstanding Musician (harmonica) award winner Omar Coleman was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, where he was immersed at a young age in the soulful sounds of people like Tyrone Davis and Bobby Rush, who would hang out and perform at his aunt's neighborhood lounge at Madison and Laramie. A powerhouse vocalist and harmonica player with a commanding stage presence, Coleman is one of today's leading voices in modern Chicago blues. With a style deeply rooted in West Side soul, Coleman has toured internationally, bringing gritty blues authenticity with funk-driven grooves and high-energy showmanship to audiences the world over for more than 15 years. Since making his first recording in 2005 as the youngest of six harpists chosen to record on Chicago Blues harmonica project, Diamonds in the Rough (Severn Records), Coleman has released XX albums to date. His work has earned him a reputation as a modern torchbearer of Chicago's strong musical legacy. Chicago vocalist and harmonica player Omar Coleman joins forces with Brazilian guitarist Igor Prado on Old New Funky-And-Blue (2026), a standout release for the fast-growing NOLA Blue label.

(Photo: Omar Coleman & album cover of his new album with Igor Prado by Nola Blue Records)

The album is a vibrant celebration of the blues as a living, evolving art form rooted in tradition yet unmistakably global in spirit. True to its title, Old New Funky-And-Blue stretches beyond classic 12-bar blues into deep funk and soul, drawing inspiration from Chicago’s West Side, Bobby Rush, Syl Johnson, Memphis’s Hi Records, and the fiery guitar legacy of Albert King and Albert Collins. The album features six original songs by the duo alongside select covers, all delivered with grit and groove. Recorded in São Paulo and produced by Prado, the album crackles with energy. Coleman’s impassioned vocals and expressive harmonica pair seamlessly with Prado’s stinging guitar work, supported by a tight rhythm section and punchy horn arrangements. Relentless, danceable, and deeply rooted, Old New Funky-And-Blue captures the chemistry of a duo that sounds inseparable and leaves you wanting more.

Interview by Michael Limnios     Special Thanks: Sallie Bengtson (Nola Blue Records)

How has Black American music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

Black American music is my foundation. Blues, soul, gospel, funk — it’s survival, truth, and testimony. It taught me resilience and how to turn struggle into rhythm. The moment that changed my life was realizing the harmonica wasn’t just an instrument — it was my voice. Traveling internationally, especially to Brazil, showed me the blues is global, but the roots are sacred.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? What's the balance between technique and soul?

My sound is Chicago Westside soul — blues with funk in the groove and church in the heart. It’s rhythm-driven storytelling. Technique matters, but soul is everything. You can play a thousand notes and say nothing. One honest note with feeling can move a room. The balance is discipline and emotion working together.

Why does the Chicago Blues scene still have such a devoted following?

Chicago blues is raw, electric, and real. The tradition is alive because it’s lived. From the South and West Sides to legendary clubs, people come for an experience — not just songs. It still tells the truth.

“Black American music is my foundation. Blues, soul, gospel, funk — it’s survival, truth, and testimony. It taught me resilience and how to turn struggle into rhythm. The moment that changed my life was realizing the harmonica wasn’t just an instrument — it was my voice. Traveling internationally, especially to Brazil, showed me the blues is global, but the roots are sacred.” (Omar Coleman & Igor Prado / Photo by Zé Carlos de Andrade — Omar Coleman & Sallie Bengtson of Nola Blue Records)

Any career highlights you’d like to share?

Playing my CD release at Fitzgerald’s with Igor Prado and hearing people sing my songs back to me was powerful. Traveling overseas and feeling that same connection reminded me music has no borders. Every time I step on stage in Chicago is still a highlight.

How do you navigate between clubs, festivals, and international stages?

You adjust the delivery, not the heart. A small club is intimate; a big festival requires projection and command. But groove and honesty translate everywhere. Feeling has no language barrier.

What do you miss from past music? What are your hopes and fears for the future?

I miss patience — albums that told full stories and artists who developed over time. I hope authenticity wins. I fear music becoming disposable. Blues isn’t disposable — it’s lived experience.

Why is preserving the blues important? What’s the role of musicians today?

Blues is American history told from the inside. Preserving it means honoring the roots while letting it grow. Musicians are storytellers and healers. In divided times, music reminds people of shared humanity.

How can blues become commercially popular today?

Don’t water it down — make it relevant. Blend it honestly with soul and funk, but keep the storytelling and grit. Present it professionally, connect directly with audiences, and stay authentic. If it feels real, people will respond.

Omar Coleman - Home

(Omar Coleman / Photo by Franky Bruneel - Back To The Roots)