James Whiting “Sugar Blue” was born in Harem (New York), growing between the notes of Billie Holiday and James Brown. His first harmonica is given to him at the age of ten and he learns to play it by listening to the be-pop of the family jazz records, an approach to the instrument that is not purely blues, which is however brought back to tradition with the first experiences in the studio. His fame reaches its peak in ’78, when he comes into contact with Mick Jagger and collaborates with the Rolling Stones: his is the riff of the hit “I miss you”. In 1985 his fame took off by receiving a “Grammy Award” for his beautiful “Blues Explosion”. The style of his harmonica is now very personal, today jazz phrases, traditional blues themes, dramatic melodies and lyrical moments of great impact converge. Over the years Sugar Blue has recorded and performed with stars ranging from Willie Dixon to Stan Getz, from Frank Zappa to Johnny Shines to Bob Dylan. He has participated in the most prestigious festivals (Zurich, Den Haag, Antibes, Nice, Cannes, Montreal, Chicago) playing with “classic artists” such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Art Blakey and Lionel Hampton. Blue continues its unstoppable activity today with great energy.

The actor with his blues band offers an intense live act, embellished with the most salient moments of his theatrical career. Born in Lauria (PZ) in 1958, comic and musical talent, he made his debut in 1985 with Salvatore Di Mattia’s “Sussurri corti”. Then a long series of successful films, directed by established directors such as Archibugi, Pieraccioni, Virzì, Veronesi, Base, Barbareschi, Salemme, Placido, Vanzina, Scola. For some time Papaleo has also found a permanent home for his excellent activity as a musical fabulator, in Rome, in The Place, a historic showcase for Italian actors and musicians, creating author and quality programming for years. Rocco has recently won the 2005 Gaber Prize. A prominent figure in Italian cinema and theater, for years known to the general public also on television, author, director and musician, Papaleo has become famous without losing his main characteristic: “being Lucan “. Moving pleasantly and confidently in the border area between music and acting, mindful of his origins and eager to communicate his roots, Rocco stages, accompanied by his Band, a show of always different songs and theatrical monologues, during which he interacts with the audience and offers moments of hilarious comedy. The storyteller will tell of an essential and sarcastic south through social and sentimental themes, forms and contents that recall a sultry province that can certainly be Basilicata, but which ultimately belongs to each place in southern Italy.

Waldo Weathers is a star of international caliber, an amazing saxophonist and vocalist. He loves making music to entertain and dance people and, to better understand his way of making music, we quote his words: “MAKE PEOPLE FELL GOOD”. As a teenager, he began playing in a soul band in his hometown, Lousville – Kentacky later, after moving to Texas, he began working in the country music industry. He plays with big stars like Charley Pride and Johnny Tailor. His first single is “She Believes in Me” and, for many years, the artist continues to be the only black saxophonist in the country music circuits. After the Texan experience he moved to Nashville where he began working with artists of the same genre as Charley Pride and Delbert McClinton. Here, however, he is presented with several opportunities, taking him back to his roots of Funk and R&B. He is called to tour with the “Godfather of Soul” Mr. James Brown. This is how the doors of fame open, playing on the stages of the greats of the genre: Dr. John, B.B. King, Jerry Lewis, Little Richard. His overwhelming performances become recurring shows at legendary venues such as “The House of Blues” and “Maxwells” in Paris; he still plays at the “Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame”, at the “Woodstock II Festival” and at the “Montreaux Jazz Festival”. In one sentence:”Waldo’s Musical Interpretations… from Vocal to Instrumental… Contry to Funk… turns into a Steamy Love Affair… set  to Music!”

After yet another success at the concert on May 1st in Rome, it offers an intense live act with a super band of over 20 people. A journey through “Black & World Music”. Enzo Avitabile was born in Naples in 1955 and began studying the saxophone at the age of seven and since he was a child he played with various bands in American clubs in Naples. Many of his collaborations: Edoardo Bennato, Pino Daniele, Richie Havens, Tina Turner and James Brown, with Africa Bambaataa, Randy Crawford, Mory Kante, Giorgia, Amal Murkus. In 2004, Avitabile’s masterpiece, from a project started in 2001, released the album “Salvamm’o’munn” with the “Bottari”, where he blended his personal sound with the tradition of the Bottari. The instruments are barrels, vats and sickles, used as percussion. This album in 2004 enters and remains for four months in second place in the European World Music charts, nominated for the BBS Awards as best European record. This part of his career, attentive to popular traditions, allows him to move towards World Music and here new collaborations are born such as those with the Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango, the South African High Masekela, the Tunisian Amina, the Palestinian Simon Shaheen, the Egyptians Bachin Mizmar, Brass Band, the Malaysian Baba Sissoko and finally the King of Rai, the Algerian Khaled. Today he is the only European artist to join Wrasse Records.