Nico Duportal & The Sparks - Dog, Saint And Sinner (2019)

While some try, with more or less success, to loosen the ties of the blues, others take pleasure in solidly anchoring this music in the muddy bed of the Mississippi…

Still others are able, with great skill, to draw nourishment from the very marrow of the music, whilst delighting in a fine exterior layer of modern ingenuity and fertile imagination. Nico Duportal is definitely of this last variety.

The performances of Jimmie Vaughn, Ray Charles, Luther Allison and others, including Matt «Guitar » Murphy, left their mark on Nico, who made it his duty to complete his secondary education within punk and pub rock bands, before throwing himself body and soul into the unyielding study of the blues and rhythm & blues enjoyed by his Dad.

Since graduating, the erudite expert of the 12 bars has not stopped celebrating the art of Ike Turner, Larry Williams, Little Richard and their entourage throughout the four corners of Europe and across the Atlantic.

Nico Duportal has accompanied such legendary and pioneer artists as Lynwood Slim, Lloyd Price, saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, harmonica player R.J Mischo, and the queen of rock n’roll herself, Wanda Jackson in the US and over Europe.

This bedrock was strengthened still further by an invitation all the way from the west coast of the USA: to play his guitar alongside Kid Ramos on a track on the CD Wrapped Up and Ready, by the all-star Californian line-up, The Mannish Boys, on the renowned Delta Groove label the Holy Grail for any blues and American Roots Music Guitarist, or self-respecting musician on the scene…

After 10 years over the Roads of Europe, USA and Australia, Nico is Back with his new Band THE SPARKS for a voodoo enchantment over all the respectable record players owned by unwavering audiophiles like your good selves.
The 100% original repertoire fruitfully blends various influences including Louisiana rhythm & blues, early soul, Rockin’ Gospel, Country & Tex Mex Music, elements reminiscent of Johnny " Guitar " Watson, Robert Ward, The Ohio Untouchables, and Doug Sahm, or 60's Songwritting of Roy Orbison.
Big names like the American guitarist, Kid Ramos Junior Watson, and their compatriot, the American roots music singer, Big Sandy, aren’t wrong in giving their wholehearted praise.
It’s a perfect demonstration of the combined talents and the Sparkly Tone and Sound of Nico Duportal & The Sparks that makes an incredible machine made to get crowds jumping.