FELIX

“Cabrera owns a distinctive singing voice and his harmonica playing has a depth of character forged CABRERAout of influences Little Walter and James Cotton“ BAND“ - Frank Hadley, Downbeat “

Cabrera taught himself the blues harp by playing along to the radio and formed his first band by 1968. But he didn't abandon his Latin roots. "The first time I blew a harp over Latin music was over (Eddie) Palmieri's "Azucar," he recalls. "It's the same music. The same slaves that landed in Cuba landed here too. So when it comes down to blowing a blues, I can do it over a chan-chan just as easily. by Tom Pryor in Global Rhythm magazine

and many others. Felix was the inaugural act at 2012 they recorded “Jimmy Vivino and the Black NYC’s Manny’s Car Wash blues club and he Italians – 13 Live” at ’s Ramble in felix cabrera performed on the NPR program, Blues Stage, Woodstock, NY featuring Felix on several tracks. was born in La Habana, Cuba. He came to the hosted by Ruth Brown. They also performed on the TV show and U.S. at a very young age and quickly got hooked headlined the 2014 King Biscuit Blues Festival in on rock, blues, R&B and soul music. He played In the early 90’s, Felix’s first album, NEXT!, was Helena, Arkansas. with various bands and in 1974, formed the A released in Europe. In the late 90’s, Felix joined Train Blues Band with Arthur Neilson. Jimmy Vivino and the Black Italians. Vivino and Felix also fronts the Felix Cabrera Band which has backed up and recorded with Victoria Spivey and bandmates backed Felix on his second CD, performed at such venues as B.B. Kings, The North Carolina bluesman Tarheel Slim. Felix also “Cubops Cublues”. That was followed up by Towne Crier Café and The Turning Point. The discovered the music of Paul Butterfield and “Pressure Cooker”, “For Green” and “Felix band features Felix along with Arthur Neilson Little Walter. Cabrera and Jimmy Vivino – Live At The Turning (guitars), Tim Regusis (keyboards), Phil Butler Point”. All were highly rated in Downbeat (bass), Bill Schroeder (drums) and with occasional In the next few years, Felix experimented with Magazine. guitarists Jimmy Bennett and Matt Mirabile. the diatonic harmonica in Cuban music and co-led The Internationals, opening shows for Big Over the last 15 years, Felix has performed With the induction of the Paul Butterfield Blues Joe Turner and James Cotton. In 1983, he numerous times with Vivino, backed up Marty Band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, there is a formed Felix and the Havanas, recording Balin and has fronted The Ed Palermo Big Band new appreciation by audiences to Felix’s approach "NEXT!!” and opening for James Brown at the in a program of Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloom- to blues and rock harp. Lone Star Café in NYC. The band also opened field music. Felix most recently appeared with many times for Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Bobby Palermo in August of 2015 at the Big Apple Blues Blue Bland, Jr. Walker, Wilson Pickett, Dr. John, & Barbecue Festival in NYC for a crowd of over Lonnie Mack, Marcia Ball 6000. In 2008, The Black Italians reunited and in GRAPHY DISCO CU-BOP CU-BLUES (1998) CU-BLUES CU-BOP Italians & the Black Vivino with Jimmy Cabrera Felix Fred Wormworth, James Michael Merritt, Vivino, Jimmy Cabrera, Felix Dave Arenciba, Giovanni guests w/ Louis Danny Jaobsen, Mike Walcott, and Bill Doña Oxford Arthur ,Brian Hess, Neilson Jerry Vivino, Rimelis, tracks on selected Schroder Records lbtv PRESSURE COOKER (2001) COOKER PRESSURE Cabrera Felix Bill (Bass), Phil Butler (Keyboads), Louis Danny Arthur (Guitar), Neilson Cabrera Felix (Percussion), Arencibia Geovanni (Drums), Schroeder Vivino, Jimmy with guests Producer) Arranger, and Vocals, (Harmonica Dave Jacobsen, Mike Walcott, Fred Wormworth, James Michael Merritt, Howard Rimelis, Dave Oxford, Doña Brian Hess, Jerry Vivino, Rimelis, tracks selected and Mark Pinder on Johnson Records Bleu Fountain FOR GREEN (2004) FOR Cabrera Felix Arthur and Neilson Cabrera Felix by Produced Si Records NOVEMBERIN' (2008) NOVEMBERIN' Felix and Don Celenza Andy Falco, Vivino, Jimmy , Cabrera Records Laughing Elephant LIVE AT THE TURNING POINT (2009) THE TURNING POINT LIVE AT Vivino with Jimmy Band Cabrera Felix The Schroeder Bill Phil Butler, Bishai, Eddy Vivino, Jimmy Cabrera, Felix Recordings Sound Suitcase 13 LIVE (2013) 13 LIVE Italians & the Black Vivino Jimmy Danny Russell, Catherine Cabrera, Felix Merritt, Mike Vivino, Jimmy Jacobson Mike Walcott, Fred Wormworth, James Louis, 1, 2012 on December Helm Studios Levon at live Recorded Records Pig Blind

Frank JohnHadley, DownbeatMagazine. into lyricismwithsuch ease.” Raines, nooneinthe NortheastushersaChicago-styleharmonica Portnoysearching confessional and,asidefromJerry and Annie wordCabrerasingssoundspartofanurgent,soul- “Most every Dick Bissbaum,BigCityBlues music.” sound…A greatsoundingstackof satisfies theshouldinafrenzyof “It’s apowerhousesetoftunesthat soul into every note.”soul intoevery KayCordtz,BluesRevueMagazine congas andunusualpercussioninstruments,heputhisheart complete control.Shouting,gesturingwildly, playingbongos, hand gesture.Evenwithlittleornorehearsal,heseemedtobein stand continuedtobuilduntilCabreratookitdownwithasmall the groove,warm-upcaughtfire.Theintensityonband- band likestostretchoutandjam,astheytookturnsriding “Felix Cabreracanshoutthebluesandblowameanharp…the Gene Kalmbach,CollegeMusicJournal blower ishomewithButterfieldandBlakey...” sounds. Cabrera,aCuban-bornsingerandblue-harp ragtag-but-real amalgamofblues,bop,rockandlatin thisrockin,rootsy,"A rawstreetsidevibepervades Downbeat Magazine are neverfarapart.” feeling ofintimatespaciousness excitement, jazzfreedomanda “In thismusic,lyricism, rexbass.blogspot.com Rex Bartholomew, wherever heplays...” and reallyclassesupthejoint a greatfeelfortheharmonica, Cabrera onharmonica.Felix has “...and thegeniusFelix

PRESS“

appearances withotherbands. Felix isalsoavailableforguest and BillSchroeder(drums) Phil Butler(bass) Tim Regusis(keyboards) Arthur Nelson(guitars) Felix Cabrera(blues,harp+vocals) THE FELIXCABRERABANDfeatures: BOOKING www.felixcabrera.com [email protected] INFO