Some people called it the K car phenomenon, after the ubiquitous Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth vehicles of the early 1980’s. Buy one, and immediately you will see many of them on the road, all in the unique colour that you selected. It applies to music as well – just mention or write about a recording, and pretty soon someone that you know says – hey, check this out.

In this case the blues. Full confession: the slimster is a failed blues rhythm guitarist. It was for him the easiest but also the hardest genre to pick up. Easiest due to the standard chord progressions; hardest thanks to the difficulty of achieving originality. Or soloing… Thus skilled bluesmen have held great appeal, and any newcomer with great chops is to be commended.

After writing about Kolumbus Kris a fellow fan introduced the slender one to The Tanel Padar Blues Band. Padar first made international news by winning the Eurovision Song Contest along with Dave Benson in 2001. He has been called the most notorious figure in the Estonian musical scene. Not sure about that, but hey, infamy sells. Padar formed the blues outfit in 2012 as a “one-time old-friends-project.” It evolved, however, into a steady band. A really good one, judging by their 2016 EP Goldfish.

This disc introduced these ears to Raul Ukareda. Never heard of this guitar genius. According to the liner notes he is Estonia’s most acclaimed blues guitarist. Well, self-promo never hurts, and on this recording Ukareda proves that he is a damn fine axe man.

Slow blues is hardest to master, with regard to originality. This CD’s best cut is an Ukareda composition, “She Was Meant to Be.” Wow. For comparison consider two classics. Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Dirty Pool” and Jonny Lang’s “Rack ‘Em Up.” Coincidentally, both titles have a tie-in to billiards. Or is that bustin’ open the table… The beauty of YouTube is that you can play songs back-to-back-to-back. That’s what a once wannabe bluesboy did, sandwiching Ukareda’s gem betwixt the two. Try it yourself.

The rest of the band is stellar. Keyboardist Ülo Krigul is – no guff – well known as a classical composer. Proving that a love of music needs no pigeonholing. The hype on the liner notes adds that bassist Argo Toomel is Estonia’s most sought-after bass player. I’d a thought Raul Vaigla or Mihkel Mälgand would be, but then again, Toomel’s performance here leaves no doubt as to his ability. And the slimster did recognize the name of drummer Petteri Hasa, knows his work. Proving that he is not so old and out-of-date as feared. The acclaimed Finnish multi-instrumentalist is noted for his jazz skills, leading his own Big Band.

Padar’s Blues Band draws from musicians of many backgrounds. In turn producing a marvelous professional sound. They are tight (the cover of rockabilly legend Robert Gordon’s “ Just a Little Bit” is fine evidence), and precise throughout (the Padar /Kärmas composition “Shadow” is a pearl).

This is a true blues band. Genre aficionados may recognize the theft of the title chosen for this article from Vancouver’s The Powder Blues Band, who had a hit with a similarly named tune. (Curiously, at the time of the K car phenomenon. The svelte one loves such coincidences.) They were an overproduced, polished, too smooth blues/pop outfit, which while creating ok music did not bop as Padar’s crew does.

Apparently this EP grew into a CD, released late 2016. Reason enough to look for it online or in stores next time back in the isamaa. The slimster thanks all those who introduce him to great Estonian music, lending him recordings, and especially those from Eesti, who participate in record swaps. (A friend sends a Zetod recording, the splinter responds with a CD by Tanya Tagaq, the amazing Inuit punk throat singer. This system works. Try it if you believe in purchased, rather than pirated music. The money goes to the musicians, as it should.)

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