PAUL ORTA
& TONKY DE LA PEÑA
Hard Times Blues
Paul Orta is considered one of the greatest and most genuine living harmonica players within
blues scene. He was leader of the legendary The Kingpins and represents all that second
generation of American musicians who were fortunate enough to take the essence of this
genre directly from source. He has shared the stage with the likes of Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop
Perkins, Eddie Taylor, Luther Allison, and Hubert Sumlin among other legends.
This bluesman from Port Arthur, Texas, a contemporary and colleague of The Fabulous
Thunderbirds in the early eighties, has spent decades traveling the world accompanied by
the best musicians of the genre. Singer and composer, is the inventor of the “Slide Harp” and
amplifier precursor Texas Crude.
Orta means good old classic blues music manufactured in Texas, blues music full of excitement
and inherited wisdom as I said, from artists such as Snooky Prior or Sonny Boy Williamson.
On the other hand, Tonky de la Peña, guitarist, singer, leader and founder of the legendary
Tonky Blues Band, has recorded and toured worldwide over the last thirty years. To talk about
this Madrid Bluesman is to talk about the history of the blues on this side of the Atlantic, is
to talk about one of the greatest exponents of European blues. Teacher and mentor to many
leading figures of blues done here. Under his tutelage, have formed the likes of Ñaco Goñi,
Francisco Simón, Adrián Costa or Marcos Coll.
Orta and Tony have joined forces for the second time since their first meeting already took
place in “Pawn Shop Blues” (2008) and now they publish “Hard Times Blues”, a work full
of maturity where both artists bring their experience and good work through seven classic
themes signed by names such as Rice Miller, Jimmy Reed and Big Walter Horton.
Rounding out the álbum the song “Babe” written by Paul Orta own, “Texas Gulf party”
composed by Tonky and the topic title track “Hard Times Blues” signed by both.
A highlight work done by Ricki Avila on bass and Adrián Carrera on drums, the two young
talents who are part of the Tonky Blues Band in recent years.
The Texas-Madrid connection in this work is perfect, a raw blues record, as a result of years
on the road, heir to the best electric blues tradition, uncompromising, with the taste of
good old blues music.
Orta-Tonky connection is called “Hard Times Blues” and is the living legacy of the best of the
blues from here and there.
