One of the blues albums that his been in my music rotation for the last few weeks is Rebel Blue from Anthony Gomes, a seventeen track Best of album! I discovered the Toronto-born Gomes in 2012 via his album Up2Zero, at that point Gomes was 14 years and 8 albums into his career that began back in 1998. In that year Gomes formed his own band after a brief stint as a sideman with Magic Slim and the Teardrops. The band then went out and won the first annual Buddy Guy’s Legends “Best Unsigned Blues Band” competition and later that year Gomes debut CD, Blues in Technicolor was released!
Gomes is a true triple threat a guitarist with great chops, to go along with his great vocals and fine songwriting, about which Blues Revue Magazine has written, “Gomes’ formidable guitar chops and authentic singing place him in the forefront of modern blues.” This has led to Gomes headlining concerts in 17 countries as well as appearing on bills with the likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Plant, Joe Bonamassa, Heart, Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd!
Gomes is also an award-winning scholar, having earned the University of Toronto’s C.P. Stacey Award for the highest overall academic grade point average by a history major!! Anthony completed his master’s degree thesis on the racial and cultural evolution of blues music. A copy of the thesis titled The Black & White Of Blues: The Cultural and Racial Development of Electric Blues Music can be purchased on his website for a mere $14.99!
In addition to all of the above Gomes also founded the Music Is The Medicine Foundation in 2010. The foundation is based on the premise that music can inspire the human spirit. In my opinion that is a true premise! The non-profit organization is dedicated to changing the lives of others through the healing power of music! Using private donations and winning sizable grants from State Farm Insurance and CVS Pharmacy, the foundation has funded songwriting scholarships, offered music education programs, and donated musical instruments to those in need! Way to go Anthony!
Here’s what some others say about Anthony Gomes…..
“Trademark mesmeric guitar riffs and incendiary solos. A serious student of the blues…” – Blues Matters
“One of the Top Ten Guitarists in the World!!” – Music Tasters Choice
“Passion with musical intelligence that places him way ahead of the other Hellions igniting the Fender fretboards!” – Downbeat
So Check out Rebel Blue or any other Gomes other albums, which is exactly what I will be doing over the next few weeks!!!
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Reverbnation Rank #1!
Here’s Anthony performing the opening track on Rebel Blue – “Blues in Technicolor!”
