The Longshot from blues harpist Brandon Santini has been in my music rotation for a few weeks now. And I am enjoying more each time I listen to it! I first listened to Brandon’s music back in 2015. It was around the time he released his album Live &Extended. I’ve been a fan ever since! You can read my post about Live & Extended here
In my opinion Brandon ranks right up there with the best of today’s blues harpists. Santini’s album This Time Another Year was nominated as “Contemporary Blues Album” of the year at the 2014 Blues Music Awards. Brandon was also nominated in the category of, “Instrumentalist- Harmonica”. The nominees were:
Charlie Musselwhite
Brandon Santini
James Cotton
Kim Wilson
Rick Estrin
The winner was the legendary Charlie Musselwhite. But kudos to Brandon Santini for being right there among the best!!
About Brandon
From Brandon’s website. Brandon was…..
….Raised in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, Santini purchased his first harmonica in 1997 at the age of fifteen when his mother took him to the local music store upon his request. He founded the Blues Music Award nominated band Delta Highway in 2003 and relocated to Memphis where he absorbed the sounds and culture of the Delta and North Mississippi Hill Country, honing his craft night after night, sweating it out in local Beale Street clubs just like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King did decades before him. Now playing over 100 shows per year throughout the world, Santini has garnered five Blues Music Award nominations, festival headlining slots and even performing on stage with the likes of Buddy Guy and Gary Clark, Jr.
About The Longshot ( from Brandon’s website)
Brandon Santini’s latest release, The Longshot, from the American Showplace Music label. Throughout his 36 years Santini’s music music has been influenced by and inspired by legendary rock artists like: The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Allman Brothers Band and Creedence Clearwater Revival. As well as, Little Walter, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.
On The Longshot Santini does a little more blending of these two influences than he has in the past. From his website:
….From the ferocious opener, “Don’t Come Around Here” to the embattled acoustic American driven “Broken Bones,” Santini ties his blues and rock influences together to deliver an energetic album of introspective heartbreak and lament.
So I if you like great blues rock and harp check out The Longshot. As for me I’m listening To Live & Extended Check it out, too!
Here is that “ferocious opener” from The Longshot “Don’t Come Around Here”
