Mojo Blues Band - 20 Years in the Blues Jungle (1997)

In international competition, countries are generally defined by brands associated with them that enjoy high global prestige. Austria isn't blessed with too many such brands, especially when it comes to contemporary popular music. But as always, exceptions prove the rule. What Kruder & Dorfmeister were/are for downbeat, Joe Zawinul for jazz, or Falco for pop, the Mojo Blues Band undoubtedly is for blues. No other Austrian group holds the same position in the world of the twelve-bar blues as the Viennese band led by mastermind Erik Trauner. In 1977, a unique success story began in the legendary jazz scene, a story brimming with integrity and authenticity, but also with genre-crossing hits. In this sense, the Mojo Blues Band is an exquisite, living testament to the attitude of the grandmaster of post-war blues, Luther Allison, who once declared that blues is "not a matter of race, color, or origin." Of course, the Mojo Blues Band's origins weren't in the Mississippi Delta, but in the heart of the Austrian capital. This makes it all the more necessary to possess tenacity, determination, and talent if one wants to succeed on the international stage. Some even say a touch of madness is essential. There's probably some truth to all of that, considering you start in Vienna's 8th district and ultimately inspire one of the great legends of Chicago blues, Tail Dragger, to exclaim with enthusiasm: "They're the blackest white boys I've ever seen!" Erik Trauner has pursued his path unwaveringly, purposefully, and consistently over the decades, blending Chicago blues, R&B, and country blues, and selecting his bandmates so that each Mojo Blues Band lineup is the best of its time. There's no pandering whatsoever, just an unwavering love for the blues and its roots. If Erik Trauner and the Mojo Blues Band were a film, the title could only be: "The Uncorruptibles". It's a good thing Austria has such a brand!