Reverência às Referências

1. Cypress Grove

Recorded for the first time in 1931, Cypress Grove is a composition by Skip James, an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

Skip James has a style that is easily recognizable and very authentic. His songs often carry a sound that can be uncomfortable. There is something dark and obscure in his music. Songs that evoke strange feelings, discomfort, sorrow, a sense of foreboding, and a fear of death.

I’ve always had an attraction to songs that “sound heavy.” And as a scholar and curious about the various styles of different artists, I felt strangely drawn to the unique sound of Skip James as soon as I heard him. 

The great reward was discovering that Álamo Leal felt the same way I did about Skip James.

Álamo is deeply knowledgeable about the Blues, its various strands, but above all, he is a true expert of the Traditional Acoustic Delta Blues language. He is a Bluesman. One of my main references in the style here in Brazil. He has an incredible trajectory and a life dedicated to the music he loves and believes in.

When I invited him to record a track on my album, he immediately suggested Cypress Grove.

Cypress Grove is part of his own history, from when he began to immerse himself in and play the Blues in the early 1970s. 

Both Álamo and I have a vision of respecting the original structure of the music, but at the same time, we understand the need to infuse our own way of performing it.

The audio and video were captured live, as a good Blues should be.

Resonator and Voice – Nanda Moura
Resonator and Voice – Álamo Leal

Click here to listen to the original version by Skip James.

   2. I'm Going Upstairs

Originally recorded in 1961, I’m Going Upstairs is a song by John Lee Hooker, the legendary blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Mississippi.

Hooker had a very free way of playing, with no strict timing in the verses—something he picked up from the older Delta Blues musicians. His singing was also unique, often more spoken than sung, giving his music an unmistakable sound.

Otávio Rocha is a fantastic guitarist, one of the pioneers of slide guitar in Brazil, and he really knows the blues inside and out. He’s a founding member of Blues Etílicos, the biggest blues band in Brazil, with 35 years of history. I admire and respect him a lot, and he has always been generous in sharing his deep knowledge with me.

Both Otávio and I have a deep appreciation for John Lee Hooker’s style—this raw, hypnotic, one-chord groove with no fixed structure. It pulls you in like a mantra. So when I invited him to record a track on my album, I’m Going Upstairs was his first suggestion—a boogie from the King of Boogie himself.

For my guitar, I used an Open Dm tuning, which gives the song a darker, moodier vibe. It worked perfectly with Otávio’s guitar, tuned to Open D. We wanted to stay true to the essence of the song, keeping several elements from the original version, as a tribute to the one and only John Lee Hooker—while still making it our own.

The audio and video were recorded live—just the way the blues should be.

Guitar, Vocals & Stomp Box – Nanda Moura
Slide guitar – Otávio Rocha  

Click here to listen to the original version by John Lee Hooker.

   3. I Can't Quit You, Baby

Originally recorded in 1956 by singer and guitarist Otis Rush, I Can’t Quit You Baby was written by Willie Dixon—an American blues singer, songwriter, bassist, and producer.

Born in Mississippi, Dixon is one of the most well-known figures in blues history. He wrote countless classics, many of which became widely recognized through legendary rock bands like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and The Doors. His influence on Chicago Blues was massive, earning him a reputation as one of the architects of the style.

Maurício Sahady is a guitarist and singer, one of the pioneers of blues in Brazil—a key figure in bringing the genre to the country. Also known as Morris Slim, he’s an expert in the Chicago Blues style, and his signature instrument is the Gibson 335.

It’s an honor to have Morris as a guest on this album, and he brought in a song by one of his greatest influences in blues. With his unmistakable style and voice, Sahady has been a major influence on me in the Brazilian blues scene—and I know many others feel the same way. 

The audio and video were recorded live—just the way the blues should be.

Guitar & Vocals – Nanda Moura
Guitar & Vocals – Maurício Sahady

Click here to listen to the original version by  Willie Dixon.

   4. Misty Mountain

First recorded in 1996, Misty Mountain is a song by Greg Wilson and Otávio Rocha, both members of the Brazilian band Blues Etílicos.

Greg Wilson was originally set to be the guest on this track.

Born in Mississippi, Greg later made Rio de Janeiro his home, joining Blues Etílicos in 1985. He was one of my biggest influences, and with his boundless generosity, he encouraged me to dive deeper into the blues.

We had planned to record Misty Mountain together several times—a song he co-wrote with Otávio Rocha, and an iconic piece in Greg’s voice. It was also the first song I ever sang with him on stage. So beyond being a beautiful song, it holds deep sentimental value for me—it brings Greg to mind from the very first to the very last verse.

Sadly, we lost our dear Greg in January 2024, and I never got the chance to record this song with him. But while he wasn’t physically present, I know, without a doubt, that he was there with me in spirit.

So, to close Reverência às Referências, in honor of the eternal Reverend, here is Misty Mountain.

For you, Greg.

Acoustic Guitar & Vocals – Nanda Moura

Click here to listen to the original version by Blues Etílicos.