MUSIC REVIEW: Tomás Doncker Delivers Howlin' Blues on Latest E.P.

If you’re going to do the Blues; why not do the Blues? And Tomás Doncker does exactly that in his current EP, a mere six heartfelt songs in which Doncker has created a necessary reimaging and tribute to the critically acclaimed, 6’6” tall, booming voiced blues man, Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin’ Wolf. Ringing vivid emotion out of the guitar, with a copious sense of grandeur, the Howlin' Wolf EP, by Tomas Doncker Band adds up to a 21 minute buzz of nuanced roiling energy of impressive proportions. ‘Shook Down’, which is the fourth song on the EP, is an original composition, which he co-wrote with Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. It is a smoldering harmonica driven piece, eerie and menacing, a stunning pillar of electric blues.

But New York City soul artist Tomás Doncker, who has spent the last 20+ years in the music industry, touring the globe and working with some of the biggest names on the scene such as Yoko Ono, Bonnie Raitt and Meshell Ndegeocello, does not consider himself a blues artist, per se. He describes his sound as ‘Global Soul’; "The sound of our collective conscious,” he explains, “the unified rhythm of heart beats creating a positive, spiritually uplifting force for good. Musically speaking it is not genre specific, but in fact genre inclusive. It is the best of what we have to offer to each other, from Brooklyn to Ethiopia, and everywhere in between."

Speaking specifically about this EP, Tomás says "The idea of doing a project focusing on the legacy of Howlin' Wolf (and Classic Blues in general) had been bouncing around for awhile. The Blues is the heart of ‘Global Soul’."

Good musicians can replicate sounds; mimic songs of others like mockingbirds. They can do the blues and it will sound like the blues. Great musicians insist on knowing the music, what made that music and knowing why it endures. It requires a clear and solid intellect and a visceral understanding of those things which are beyond the mind. And through this, the blues will not sound like the blues; they will be the blues. Tomás Doncker is the latter sort of musician. From lofty goals come huge returns. If you are a blues novice, or just need to hear what the blues should sound like, this is the EP for you.

Track Listing:

Spoonful

Evil

Blind Melon Morpheus

Shook Down

Smokestack Lightning

Back Door Man

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