BIO
Kai Strauss
& The Electric Blues All Stars
The times when European artists simply imitated North American productions are long gone. Whether one regrets it or not, the blues has gone global and is defended by musicians who keep the memory of the blues alive and – for the best of them – give it the extra soul that makes it special. German singer-guitarist Kai Strauss is among this elite.
Strauss is not only a convincing vocalist with warm timbre but above all an accomplished guitarist with rich and creamy phrasing, who’s fierce but disciplined playing doesn’t degenerate into volcanic cascades of notes.
Kai Strauss has been an enduring presence on the European blues scene for more than 25 years. From his professional start in the 1990s, when he teamed up with Texas, US-born singer Memo Gonzalez, to his successful career as a solo artist, Strauss has proved himself to be a guitarist and vocalist of power and originality. Several German Blues Awards confirm his relevance as a bandleader, but he is also an in-demand sideman and in recent years performed with US greats such as Jimmy Johnson, Mike Wheeler and Grammy-nominated Lurrie Bell.
With „Night Shift“ Kai Strauss has now released his seventh album, and once again he succeeds in weaving blues roots with elements of his own brand of funk and soul into an exciting contemporary sound. Strauss’ songs have gained urgency and relevance, sometimes tackling more serious topics, as in the muscular grooving „Stand Strong Together“ or the soul-blues „Bad Loser,“ disguised as a love triangle, whose inspiration was the end of the U.S. Trump administration. Although Strauss has clearly learned the grammar of the old blues masters, his guitar work is by no means „paint-by-numbers blues“. Performed in his own unique voice, Kai places his guitar licks with energy and polish like a South American penalty kicker. And when even US blues mogul Bruce Iglauer (Alligator Records) praises Strauss as a musician „who has it all“, you know that countless club and festival gigs have paid off.
The blues has always been a difficult field to conquer, but Kai Strauss is well on his way to doing just that.
„European blues guitar star Kai Strauss shows that he’s got what it takes to blow up worldwide on his latest album Night Shift. Get this record!“
rockandbluesmuse.com (USA), Mike O’Cull
„Kai Strauss is a subtle and sophisticated bluesman who has it all.“
Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records (Chicago/IL)
„This is high energy top quality electric blues as it should be, from the heart and with punches of feelings and emotions. Hard to believe this man is a blues player from Germany and not from Chicago or Memphis.“
Blues Matters! UK
„Strauss vibrates with deep musical understanding… he shows the killer instinct that the old masters like Magic Sam had – Highway Blues is one example. Strauss‘ so good here it’s scary.“
Otis Grand, London (UK)
„Blues Champions League.“
Bluesnews (GER)
“Kai Strauss is one of the top blues musicians today. Traditional and contemporary all in one.”
Mike Wheeler, Chicago (USA)
FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/kaistraussblues
INTERVIEWS
New interview May 2021 in Blues in Britain
„Kai Strauss – Primed and Ready“
BLUES IN BRITAIN, 05/2021.
Special thanks to John Mitchell.
British Blues Matters! magazine 108, 2019:
„This is high energy top quality electric blues as it should be, from the heart and with punches of feelings and emotions. Hard to believe this man is a blues player from Germany and not from Chicago or Memphis.“
INTERNATIONAL LIVE REVIEWS:
13e Bluezy Blues Festival / Ridderkerk NL, 04/2016
INTERNATIONAL CD REVIEWS:
SOUL BAG (F)
BLUES JUNCTION (USA)
THE BLUES MAGAZINE (UK)
BLUESBREEKER (NL)
BLUES IN THE NORTH WEST (UK)
TWOJ BLUES (PL)
HEAVEN MAGAZINE (NL)
SOUL BAG (F)
BLUES & CO (F)
BLUES JUNCTION (USA)
Albums:
KAI STRAUSS „LIVE IN CONCERT“
Deluxe double CD – CBHCD 2032 (2019)
Fold-Out Digipack + 8 Page Booklet
KAI STRAUSS „THE BLUES IS HANDMADE“
180g VINYL ONLY! CBHLP 2030 (2018)
KAI STRAUSS „GETTING PERSONAL“
CBHCD 2030 (2017) – www.continental.nl
with special guests:
Big Daddy Wilson, Tony Vega, Sax Gordon
German Record Critics‘ Award 3. quarter 2017
KAI STRAUSS „I GO BY FEEL“
CBHCD 2027 (2015) – www.continental.nl
with special guests:
Mike Wheeler, Tommy Harris, Tony Vega, Sax Gordon, Big Pete
Blues in Germany Award 2015 BEST ALBUM
KAI STRAUSS “ELECTRIC BLUES”
CECD 49 (2014) – www.continental.nl
with special guests: Sugar Ray Norcia, Darrell Nulisch, Keith Dunn, Sax Gordon, Boyd Small, Doug Jay, Christian Rannenberg
Blues In Germany Award 2014 BEST ALBUM
All albums are available in stores across Europe!
In the US available through Bluebeat Musicand www.dwmmusic.com.
PRESS QUOTES:
„Excellent playing, with a lot of maturity and emotions.“
Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records, Chicago (USA)
“Blues Champions League.“
Bluesnews, GER
„A spectacular performance… UK promoters really need to get this band across the Channel A.S.A.P.“
Blues in Britain, UK 12/2017
“These are very serious musicians who have a deep understanding as well as a soulful connection to this music which comes from a lifetime of study, practice and wood shedding.“
David Mac, BLUES JUNCTION, USA
„The Blues transpires through every track, this disc („I Go By Feel“) is a must-have to complete the year.
Soul Bag (F), 01/2016
“Kai Strauss is one of the top blues musicians today. Traditional and contemporary all in one.”
Mike Wheeler, Chicago (USA)
„First-rate blues guitarist. A very impressive album (I Go By Feel).“
The Blues Magazine, UK 2016
„This album turns out to be the best new album I heard in 2014!“
Ton Wanten, Triple R Blues Radio/NL, 03/2014
„Convincing in all aspects….Strauss also makes a very strong impression as a singer.“
Bluesnews, 03/2014
„Superb album. Highly recommended release.“
Bluesinthenorthwest.com, UK 05/2014
“Kai Strauss plays the international top league of blues guitarists. His tone is full-bodied, and powerful. Kai’s not one of those flashy players. Every single note he plays is on the right spot.”
Detlev Hoegen, CrossCut Records
„Those of us who saw Memo Gonzalez play in the UK will remember lead-guitarist Kai Strauss. At the time, I considered him the best blues guitarist in Europe.“
Blues In Britain (Martin Nott)
„Electric Blues … een geweldig sterk album. KOPEN KOPEN KOPEN!!!“
www.bluesbreeker.nl, 03/2014
CONTACT:
BOOKING & BAND PROMOTION
Andreas Lange
andreaschristianlange(at)web.de
+49 178 5339759
E-MAIL:
info(at)kaistrauss.com
FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/kaistraussblues
RECORD LABEL:
www.continental.nl
REFERENCE:
KAI STRAUSS:
…played gigs or was on stage with:
Mike Wheeler, Steve Guyger, Lurrie Bell, Jimmy Johnson, Mathew Skoller, Saron Crenshaw, Big Daddy Wilson, Dede Priest, Tommy Harris, Keith Dunn, Carey Bell, Sugar Ray Norcia, ‚Monster‘ Mike Welch, Michael Ledbetter, Darrell Nulisch, Duke Robillard, Alan Haynes, Alex Schulz, Larry Garner, Rusty Zinn, Felix Reyes, The Nighthawks, Robert Lucas, Lee McBee, Dave Specter, Sugar Ray Rayford, Paul Orta, Hash Brown, The Otis Grand Band, Sax Gordon, Big Pete, Boyd Small, Angela Brown, Shawn Pittman, Johnny Moeller (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Big Dave, Deitra Farr, Knock Out Greg & Blue Weather and many more.
…performed at these international festivals:
Unna Blues Festival (Germany); Moulin Blues Festival (Ospel, Holland); Int. Blues Festival Wespelaar (Belgium); Blues Estafette Utrecht (Holland); Nottoden Blues Festival (Norway); Ridderkerk Blues Festival (Holland); Cahors Blues Festival (France); Jazz & Blues Festival Hertogenbosch (Holland); Lucerne Blues Sessions (Switzerland); Nuit de Blues Charleroi (Belgium); Bla Festival Aalborg (DK); National Blues Festival Burnley (GB); Blues On The Farm (GB); Blues En Retz Pornic (F); European Breeze (GR); Poggio Picenze In Blues (I), Lahnstein Blues Festival (Germany), Blue Wave Festival (Germany) a.o. .
… and in the following countries:
USA, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Greece, France, Spain, Luxemburg, Italy, Turkey, Hungary, Finnland, Germany