Photography: J Robert Germeraad
The town of Lobith is often refered to as the place where the river Rhine enters into the Netherlands. And just as the Mississippi delta formed one of the nurseries for blues music, so springs Lobith the Bluesbreakers. This notorious blues formation has been playing the familiar venues and festivals in the Netherlands and abroad for over fifteen years. They are best known for the wide variety of styles in their repertoire. Slow blues, blues rock, century old traditionals, or recent hits. Chicago, Texas, Memphis, or Delta styles follow each other effortlessly and together create the ultimate blues experience.
The Bluesbreakers deliver a hot swinging blues show every time, with a mixture of familiar classics, less-known treasures, and surprising compositions of their own hands. All the ingredients for a blues buffet that will appeal to connaiseurs, afinados, and incidental passer bys alike.
The two remaining members of the original line-up, Mr. Brown and Reinhard Sämisch, revived the Bluesbreakers in 2011 by bringing in some seasoned musicians from the rural eastern areas of the Netherlands, where the blues lives strong as ever. After doing several try-outs in the Netherlands and Germany, they are once again ready, able, and definitely willing to keep the blues alive.
The Bluesbreakers recorded four albums, including two live registrations. Some of these albums are available from the webshop in a limited quanitity.
The Bluesbreakers played with several well-known international blues acts, including:
• Dr. Feelgood (UK)
• Willie Foster (USA)
• John Campbelljohn (Canada)
• Keith Dunn (USA)
• Dave Hole (Australia)
• Marty Hall (Canada)
• Chris Jones & Steve Baker (UK)
• Mike Anderson Band (Denmark)A
• Stewart Barnes Band (UK)
photography: J Robert Germeraad
Dik "Mr. Brown" Korving is a master interpreter of the slow blues. His guitar sound cuts right to the heart and his seasoned voice touches your very soul. This makes him one of the most notorious bluesmen in Dutch history. On top of that, Dik is an entertainer and showman who cares about his audience and will do anything to guarantee they have a memorable time.
Dik Korving is definitely a veteran in the Dutch blues scene. He is well known for his work with the White Blues Band, with whom he recorded several albums and toured all over Europe. By now Dik has been working on stage for half a century. In the 70s he experimented with soul and Rhythm and Blues, but in the end blues was and will always be his greatest passion.
He is inspired by celebrities like Albert Collins and jazz guitar player Joe Pass, but most of all by his good friend Eelco Gelling. "Back in the days I used to go and watch him play. I would be in front of the stage taking notes that I would bring home to study."
Mr. Brown's gear: Fender Stratocaster; Gibson Les Paul '59; Fender Bassman '62 amp.
Photography: J Robert Germeraad
Reinhard is the man with the timing and the feel, sprouted from playing the harmonica for many many years. Reinhard has been playing with Dik in the Bluesbreakers for over fifteen years. He also played with other well known blues legends, like Will Foster, Steve Baker, Bob Davis, and Tony Vega.
The cooperation with Dik has led to a musical synergy that can only be obtained from sharing the stage between talented musicians for such a long time. Reinhard's harp is a match for Dik's guitar and his sharp and melancholic tones are a large contribution to the overall sound of the band.
Reinhard is the most orthodox in the Bluesbreakers and self-appointed 'Guardian of the Blues'. He keeps the others in line when they deviate or experiment too much.
He is a great admirer of Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), whos influence clearly shines through in his own sound.
Photography: J Robert Germeraad
Hans “Manolito” Deegens has been a percussionist in and around Arnhem for over forty years. He played everything from salsa to country, but the blues is for him the ideal style to express himself. "When John Engels (ed: famous Dutch jazz drummer) was asked which style he considered to be the most difficult to play, his answer was blues. Everything starts and ends with the blues.
His main source of inspiration is Charlie Watts. "His down to earth style really grips the essence of the beat."
Hans still listens to every style of music and loves to go to live concerts. Among his favorite acts are Matt Schofield, Poppa Chubby, the Rolling Stones, en Colloseum.
Hans' gear: Rogers Hollywood 1967 (or what's left of it since his carjack)
Photography: J Robert Germeraad
Rino Geerdinck is the other half of the Bluesbreakers rhythm section. He's been playing the bass since 1981. That was the year that he traded his Burns Firefly guitar and the Grundig radio that he used for an amp for a bass guitar, and never looked back.
He played in several bands in the area of Hengelo and Enschede, including Madison State and 7 Eleven. Even though he submerged himself in the blues ever since he joined the Bluesbreakers, there will always be a passion for rock ringing through in his sound. With the pumping drive of his Jazzmaster, he provides the foundations for the upbeat songs in the playlist, and if must be, if it really must be, he will play the ground notes for any ballad with a heartwarming passion.
"Before I joined the Bluesbreakers I did listen to blues, but I was never much concerned with the history and the background. To me this is a journey full of discoveries. The world of the blues is so much larger and diverse than I had imagined. I am glad I am getting to know this world and that I can contribute to keep the blues alive."
Rino's gear: Fender Jazz Bass 1995 50th Ann. Limited Edition; Ashdown Evo II 500 4x10" + 1x15" Ashdown speakers.
Francesco "The Kid" Frentrop was born and raised in Den Haag (The Hague) and lived for a long time in the US. He has a musical background in funk, blues, rock, soul, country and jazz. He performed on European stages from Tornio to Toremolinos and played all over the American Midwest.
He is the youngest member of the band in every aspect, but makes up for this with the vast musical experience that he gathered along the road. For a man with such weathered voice and ivories to match, a return to the blues was inevatable. "I know many musicians who look down on the blues, because it doesn't have enough variation, or it doesn't give them opportunity to show off their skills. Those dudes don't get it. There are no limitations in blues, only the ones you lay down yourself. But if you can't put your emotions in your music, then you have no business playing the blues. There is a reason there are so many blues legends about musicians selling their soul. Blues is only convincing when you give it all your heart and all your soul. Every night you can only hope to get them back."
Although he claims to be influenced by Bill Payne, Billy Powell, Dr. John, and Paul Schaffer (pre Late Show), his unique style has no compare.
Francesco's gear: Roland RD170 stage piano; Hammond XB1; Boss RT-20 rotary speaker sim; Roland SA300 amp.
