The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience see their first album released on 27th September.
This is far from the first musical endeavour for vocalist Pat Fulgoni, who has played Glastonbury, been a mainstay of the Czech Blues scene and performed in the USA. He previously released an album of live music, Dark Side of the Blues, recorded in Prague. The Chicago Blues Guide described it as “a collection of impeccably reworked blues and rock covers.”
Fulgoni is highly respected within the music industry with US magazine Billboard saying: ‘Fulgoni could sing a pearl from its oyster’.
Fulgoni’s present musical journey began when a food bank in his home town of Huddersfield asked him to put together a lineup for a fundraiser. The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience was born and although Covid stalled progress for a while, three years of gigging has now led to an album.
The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience, as the album is simply titled, showcases great musicianship, with young guitarist Jacob Beckwith alongside the bass and drums combo of Rory Wells and Zebedee Sylvester, whilst the piano skills of Sam Bolt underpin Pat’s unique soulful blues vocal. The nine tracks are a mixture of covers and original music.
Everybody Wants to go to Heaven is a great opener. First sung by Albert King, with Don Nix lyrics, it signals a Memphis influence on the album. The sweet-sour lyrics smoulder alongside tight instrumentation.
There is a good mix of tempos from the funk-driven Confusion Blues to the slow The Thrill is Gone.
The latter highlights the mastery of Sam Bolt’s piano skills, where Pat Fulgoni’s voice accompanies rather than leads. I was pleased to see a version of Gil Scott-Heron’s Lady Day and John Coltrane. Like all good blues bands, The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience draws upon other traditions – including jazz, soul and rock.
The album finishes with an original composition: Stickin’ The Knife in blues. Drifter and Keep the Blues Alive are also originals.
The album was mixed by Crosscut Saw’s Alex Eden, who contributes impressive harmonica playing to the final track.
The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience is available as a digital download.
I look forward to seeing the band play their new material across Yorkshire.
“completely blown away because he can sing, I mean really sing, ridiculously well” Blues Matters
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PAT FULGONI BLUES EXPERIENCE “Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience” CD / digital. Release date: 27th September 2024 (Chocolate Fireguard CFA CD 009). Genres: Blues/Rock/Soul
The CD will be available at this gig and from Leeds record stores like Jumbo Records, Crash Records.
More about Pat Fulgoni
In his time, Pat has sung across many genres and worked with award winning producers as well as touring the world as a live artist. As far as the blues goes, he cut his teeth over in the Czech Republic with various greats from that scene, performing on breakfast TV and playing the Blues Alive Festival, Sumperk. Returning to that festival in 2021 with new UK blues band Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience one Czech reviewer wrote it was “like meeting up with an old friend” as the outfit blazed their way onto the national TV highlights.
Pat’s previous release “Dark Side of the Blues (Pat Fulgoni Live In Prague)’ was very well received, Chicago Blues Guide saying “a collection of impeccably reworked blues and rock cover.” And now after 3 years of gigging at shows including festivals like Colne Blues, Buxton Blues, Blues Alive (Czech), Beatherder, Leeds Unity, venues and clubs including Pat’s own beloved Huddersfield Blues Club and Bluesbury festival efforts, the Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience band is clearly a sought after live booking, and the time is very right for an album release!
Facebook @patfulgonibluesexperience
