Celso Salim Official | Blues, Rock, Roots Guitarist
Celso Salim Band
Mama's Hometown
Wide Tracks Recordings Sept 28, 2018
Based in Southern California since 2014, renowned Brazilian guitarist Celso Salim and his band are announcing the release of their new album - Mama’s Hometown. Produced by Mike Hightower and Salim himself, this is the first album recorded in the U.S. with the band’s new formation.
Full of soulful and energetic performances, the band presents a new sound rooted in the blues past, crossing genre boundaries, creating something that is original and compelling. Their music takes on many styles, mixing deep blues with hints of soul, country, jazz and rock.
Mama’s Hometown has 9 tracks, including 8 originals and a version of a traditional gospel song “In My Time of Dying". The album features Brazilian singer Rafael Cury on lead vocals. Mike Hightower: bass/harmony vocals, Lynn Coulter: drums/harmony vocals, Dave Fraser: piano/keyboards and Celso Salim: guitars/dobro/lead vocals. Additional special guests, Darryl Carriere: harmonica, Mo Beeks: Hammond B3 and Minque Taylor: harmony vocals.
The album’s tittle track recently won the 2018 Independent Music Awards – Vox Pop in the R&B/Soul Song category and the track "Locked Out In Misery" is a finalist in the Blues Song category at the 2018 International Songwriting Competition.
In Brazil, Celso has built a solid fan base, releasing 5 solo albums since 2001 and is considered to be one of the best guitarists in the country. He has also toured and recorded with prominent artists in the Brazilian Blues/Rock scene. Frequently featured among top Brazilian acts, Celso has performed at it's biggest festivals and venues. He has toured Europe and opened for legendary artist B. B. King as well as Deep Purple and John Hammond. He has also toured with bluesman Larry McCray and performed with blues legends Magic Slim and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (Muddy Waters drummer).
Celso re-located to Los Angeles in 2014 becoming one of the busiest and most respected guitarists in Southern California. The Celso Salim Band has won the Southern California Blues Society Battle of the Bands twice (2015 & 2017) and were semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge 2018 in Memphis, TN.They have also opened for renowned artists Joe Bonamassa, Canned Heat, Kim Wilson, Jimmy Vivino and Larry McCray, performing at large venues all over Southern California. Besides that, during this time Celso shared the stage with illustrious musicians such as Scott Page (Pink Floyd, Supertramp), Jimmy Z (Etta James, Rod Stewart), Kenny Lee Lewis (Steve Miller Band), Johnny Stachela (Duane Betts), Gilby Clark (Guns & Roses) and Matt Abts & Jorgen Carlson from Gov’t Mule.
The Celso Salim Band has won five Independent Music Awards in these categories: Blues Song (2008), Blues Album (2015), Jazz with vocals Song (2015), Funk/Fusion/Jam Song (2017) and R&B/Soul song (2018).Their last album, To The End Of Time (2014), received great reviews from major publications in the U.S. and around the world such as Blues Matters! (UK), Blues Blast Magazine (USA), Blues Time (Italy) and Jefferson Blues Magazine (Sweeden).