At this CD Ben Dover Band, featuring mr. Vlado Jazbec on saxophone, is represented with H. Daylie & C. Williams’s tune that makes mr. Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson famous, Juice Head Baby!
BlueSax! Live season 2009/10
Fred Delforge’s review of Ben Dover Band – Live in Sax! CD
Same CD, previously reviewed by Mike, recorded live on Oct 20th, 2009 at Sax! Club. This time review is made by mr. Fred Delforge.
Croatian music band that can make us think because of its name and with ‘film or movie’ culture far under the belt, Ben Dover Band gave the first show of their new musical style on September 11, 2004. For a while, the band was keen on ‘pub rock’, before turning more and more towards blues. The ‘five man band’ shows real skills and so, Buna (singer), Gizo (guitar player), Brk (keyboars), Matija (bass guitar), and Marko (drums) recorded five charming colourful remakes at the time they were playing in one of the most popular clubs of Zagreb, the ‘Sax’, at the end of October 2009. From Johnny Winter to Dr. Feelgood, Free and ZZ Top, the Croatians prove by the example of their ‘Live in Sax’ that their musical influences are most conventional and most commendable so they deliver with some talent some well-chosen, well re-made and well recorded titles like «Rock Me Baby», «Jesus Just Left Chicago», «Wishing Well», and of course, the two ones borrowed from Lee Brilleaux, «Shotgun Blues» and «Baby Jane». By working hard on the spontaneity and the dialogues between guitars / keyboards or guitars / harmonica, BenDover Band proves to the ones who have
heard them, that their musicality is able to keep the audience in suspense and that their aura has potential to shine far away from the plain of Pannonia…
2nd Zagreb International Blues Festival
Ben Dover band performed on third day of festival with many other known names of the Blues at 2nd Zagreb Blues Festival.
Robert Johnson Centennial Celebration
This year the world of Blues celebrates the 100th birthday of Robert Johnson. The legendary bluesman about whom many true and untrue stories were told, the most famous of which is that he sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads for the art of playing guitar, became one of the most influential blues musicians of all times. Croatian Blues forces have joined celebration of his birthday by organizing a concert of its members on Sunday, 08.05 and naming it “Robert Johnson Centennial Celebration”, recalling few, but brilliant works of Robert Johnson. Over the years, the legendary bluesman’s songs were performed by many, including Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin! Johnson, sadly, died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 27, leaving behind only 29 songrecorded s, but it was enough to change the world of music forever. Performers in Zagreb was Mojo V, Ben Dover, Neven Dužević with Vladimir Georgev and Rino Karas, Mladen Rakas & Damir Gossain, Sunnysides with Goran Gubić Hans and Igor Paradiš Šparka, Retro Guru and Two for the Blues / 44 Blues. It was an evening filled with the sounds of legendary Delta blues master who was not famous during his life, but earned his living by being a busker, playing at parties on weekends or in small bars, the so-called juke joints, moving from town to town, slowly created a legend.
Bikers Beer Factory 1st b-day party
Biker’s Beer Factory’s 1st Birthday party.
Ben Dover Testimonial by Paul O’Grady
Instruments slam into action, and Ben Dover have hit the stage. From Zagreb, I am immediately taken back to the edgy rock scene of Dublin in the early 90’s. That was a time of real bands, real sound, real edge and an energy I hadn’t seen again, until I first saw Ben Dover playing Route 66 in Zagreb. I thought the days of bands that were loud, inventive and tight were long gone. It seems I’ve found it again. It was in that Dublin scene that legends such as Rory Gallagher and Thin Lizzy cut their teeth. I think this band could have mixed it with the best of that time and place. Ben Dover are not the youngest kids on the block and thank God for that. Give me the earthy rock voice of Buna before any pop idol, ever! What they have extra in experience they do not lose in energy. Their musical ability is second to none, whether they are putting their own slant on a Wilson Pickett number or knocking out Cream like you’d think Eric was in the house.
Working in the world of Irish traditional music and events I had long given up on finding such quality in the rock and blues scene, with the world awash with factory produced pop. Thank you for bringing back the quality, the intensity, the edge and the energy. But thank you most for bringing me home.
Paul O’Grady – Irish events, Croatia.
DOKUart Festival
At the opening of the DOKUart festival, the Ben Dover Band performed at the club “Klub” in Bjelovar.
1st Blues & Rock Weekend at BBF
At opening of the 1st Blues & Rock Weekend at the Bikers’ Beer Factory, Savska 150, Zagreb, the Ben Dover Band gave an interview for the Croatian Music Channel in which regards BBF’s effort and supports that kind of events to became more often.
Live in Sax! CD
On Oct 20th, 2009 Ben Dover Band performed at the Sax! Club. At this particular BlueSax! evening finalists of first Croatian Blues Challenge were defined. Thanks to Croatian Blues Forces all bands performances were recorded. Ben Dover Band put this recording on this CD. Containing only 5 songs, this CD is intended, first of all, for promo purposes.
Famous Radio Show “Blues for you” director Mladen Lončar, Mike made followingreview on Soundguardian website.
- Yeah, yeah, I know achieving success nowadays is as easy as teaching a cat to tango; in time in which we’re all immersed in sounds which are no sounds at all, few bands remained on the path set by the basic values of modern music: rock, blues, etc. The Ben Dover Band decided to take the rocky path of following the old forms’ guidelines and released their PROMO album Live in Sax 20. 10. 2009 in their own arrangement.
Being a rocker, let alone a blues person was never easy in a country where many would shed blood while breaking glasses. On a mission to show rock and blues lovers that they’re serious about their music , the Ben Dover released their PROMO material to let the people hear how the music sounds played with heart and soul turned up to the maximum. The 5 covers are a tasty appetizer to, hopefully, new high-quality stuff.
The Ben Dover offer their version of the songs they cover, and they predominantly pick those recognisable to the broader audience. Strong rhythm section, energetic guitar and slow vocals of Buna (Davor Bunčić) make a great audio experience, confirming that all band members are deep down in the music. The Ben Dover are: Gizo – guitar, Gula – guitar, Matija – bass guitar, Marijo – drums, Brk – keyboard, and Buna – lead vocal. The band named their music ‘pub rock’, and that pretty well describes it.
The Ben Dover’s simplicity and specificity earned the guys many invitations to perform throughout Croatia. The guys don’t care whether they perform in a classy jazz bar, a biker fest, or on a stage of a cafe. That’s no shame, many famous musicians started just there. OK, guys are not the freshest of fruit, but are unanimous in determination to do it their way. And on their way they keep finding chances and places to present and perfect. Soon to come are their own songs, the final frontier about to be crossed.
RECOMMENDATION:
Rock and blues souls will not hesitate as this is a treat – old hits in new dressings, all beautifully wrapped. The Ben Dover Band offer is just that in the form of their energy-filled promo album Live in Sax 29.10.2010. All you have to do is take the first step and let the music do the rest. You’ll be in for a great time and a great energy boost!
Track list:
1 Rock Me Baby
2. Jesus Just Left Chicago
3 Shotgun Blues
4. Wishing Well
5 Baby Jane
Mladen Lončar – Mike
Gospić Blues Festival
In 2010, Gospić, a beautiful town in Lika organized the First Blues festival which was proudly opened by the Ben Dover Band.
1st Zagreb International Blues Festival
The Ben Dover Band was honoured to be opening the first Zagreb International Blues Festival.
BlueSax! Live! CD season 2008/09
In late October 2008, a regular Blues program began at Sax!, a Club in Zagreb, called BlueSax! where CBF performed. The end of the season, June 2009, lead to another success – the CD edition of the BlueSax! album – Season 2008/09. (Croatia Records / bond / Bluestone), giving an overview of 40 artists from all regions of Croatia, the first thought-out and designed overview of Croatian blues music in general. For many performers this was the first officially released recording. Ben Dover Band is, as well, represented on this CD with one song.
