{"product_id":"kai-strauss_wallin-in-vienna_2025_soc","title":"WALLIN' IN VIENNA","description":"Born in 1970 in Lengerich, an industrial town in northwest Germany, Kai Strauss started playing electric guitar at 14 after discovering B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and many others. In 1989, he teamed up with singer-guitarist Memo Gonzalez (Dallas-Texas) to form \"The Bluescasters,\" with whom he recorded five albums and toured extensively in Europe and the United States. In 2011, Kai decided to embark on a solo career, recording two albums on the German label \"Continental Blue Heaven.\" His album \"Electric Blues\" was named Best Blues Album in 2014, and his second opus, \"I Go By Feel,\" brought together an impressive array of international talents including Mike Wheeler (Delmark-Chicago), Tommie Harris (Alabama), Tony Vega (Houston), Sax Gordon (Boston), and the incredible Dutch harmonica player Big Pete van der Pluijm. With his Electric Blues All-Stars, Kai Strauss has made a name for himself across Europe with dynamic and engaging concerts and award-winning CDs. His individual style is rooted in the urban blues tradition but incorporates significant elements of soul and funky grooves. And this band certainly knows how to get the room rocking! For \"Wailin' In Vienna,\" Kai realized his long-standing project of recording an old-school blues album, returning to his roots and beyond. The result is simply spectacular, with 15 self-composed songs covering a wide range of traditional styles: swing R\u0026B, 1950s Chicago blues, instrumental shuffles, even jazzy blues, a minor-key cha-cha, and a tribute to Bill Doggett and his guitarist Billy Butler. Although the shadows of T-Bone, the Three Kings, and others loom over the proceedings, Kai Strauss never fails to be his own man. Of course, it helps to be able to realize such a project with a team of some of the best musicians in the genre: Dani Gugolz and Peter Müller have been a continuously swinging rhythm section for 35 years. Pianists Dave Ruosch and Andreas Sobczyk combine tasteful chord work with cascading high-register runs. Sax Gordon has been a top-tier R\u0026B brass player for decades. Gerry Lülik is one of Austria's best blues harp players. Pianist Christian Dozzler, who grew up in Vienna but has long made Texas his home, can be heard with artists like Anson Funderburgh when he's not doing his own thing. Finally, the two great guitarists heard alongside Kai hardly need an introduction: Rusty Zinn and Alex Schultz have been among the best traditional blues guitarists since the 1990s. Here, they are mostly heard in a supporting role for their friend and colleague, but they are ready to step out in style when called upon. Kai and his band offer a feast of swinging, bluesy, and wailing sounds – dive in and enjoy! (excerpt from the liner notes by Klaus Kilian).","brand":"Kai Strauss","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55312502587736,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0898\/4943\/0360\/files\/8713762322571_95abb98c-6b82-4274-af93-5e1172b2410c.jpg?v=1760400602","url":"https:\/\/vinyles.com\/en\/products\/kai-strauss_wallin-in-vienna_2025_soc","provider":"Vinyles.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}