BIO
Kai Strauss & The Electric Blues All Stars
(GER/USA/UK)
Blues with a Voice of His Own
The blues may have been born in the American South, but today it’s a truly global language. And when it comes to the blues, where you come from matters far less than what you bring to the music.
Kai Strauss brings plenty.
Hailing from Osnabrück, Germany, Strauss has spent decades developing a sound that is deeply rooted in the blues while unmistakably his own. Inspired as a teenager by legends such as Buddy Guy, Albert King, and the Vaughan Brothers, he began his professional career in 1995, touring with Texas blues singer Memo Gonzalez.
Since then, Strauss has taken his music to stages in more than 20 countries, appeared at major blues festivals around the world, and earned multiple German Blues Awards. Today, he is recognized as one of the leading voices on the European blues scene.
His band reflects that international spirit. The current lineup brings together musicians from Germany, England, and the United States: London keyboardist Paul Jobson, Seattle bassist Kevin Duvernay, and Berlin drummer Henri Jerratsch. Together, they form a tight and dynamic quartet with a sound that is anything but predictable.
Strauss’ eighth album, Don’t Be A Stranger, draws on the blues while reaching naturally into funk and soul. The songs go beyond the familiar territory of heartbreak and hard times, exploring friendship, love, and strong women along the way. There’s plenty of positive energy here, but never at the expense of the music’s blues foundation.
And then there’s the guitar. That’s where Strauss really tells his story.
He plays with authority, feel, and an almost effortless sense of timing. His solos have bite. His phrasing has personality. And while he is clearly a technically accomplished guitarist, virtuosity is never the point. Every note serves the song.
Bruce Iglauer, the founder of legendary Alligator Records, once described Strauss simply as a musician “who has it all.”
It’s hard to put it better than that.
Kai Strauss knows the tradition. He respects it. But he doesn’t live in the past.
He plays the blues with a voice of his own.
„To my ears, he is one of Europe’s finest blues artists.
This album (Don’t Be A Stranger) is a testament to that.“
Mike Andersen (DK), 2026
„With soul and style.“
Blues Matters (UK), 2025
„Kai Strauss is a subtle and sophisticated bluesman who has it all.“
Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records (Chicago/IL), 2022
„Blues Champions League.“
Bluesnews (GER)
„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 had .“
Otis Grand, London (UK)
“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
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„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.“
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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
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KAI STRAUSS „THE BLUES IS HANDMADE“
180g VINYL ONLY! CBHLP 2030 (2018)
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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