Clarksdale is the blues mecca for the world and a group of South American bluesmen made a pilgrimage here to entertain and catch the spirit of the blues.
Carlos Elliot Jr.’s band brought musicians from throughout the world together and they spent several days in Clarksdale recently.
Elliot and band member Eduardo Oviedo are from towns in Colombia, South America. Band member Bobby Gentilo is from Washington DC. They played at Shack Up Inn, Red’s Blues Club and Bluesberry Café in Clarksdale and also played in Oxford.
The band first played together four years ago in Colombia. Gentilo and Elliot had been to Clarksdale on many different occasions.
“I was in a band with Big Jack Johnson and Big Jack was the man down here,” Gentilo said.
But it was important to get back to Clarksdale this past week.
“We got to connect with old friends,” Gentilo said. “We haven’t been here because of COVID for a couple years so we got to meet our old friends again and play a bunch of really inspired shows in town.”
All three band members talked about the art, music and people in Clarksdale.
“It’s real,” Gentilo said. “It’s warm and the people are beautiful. I just think it hasn’t turned into a Disney World. It feels like it must have felt many years ago. It just has the feel, the vibe, the art on the walls, the music.
“We’ll be back many times.”
Elliot concurred.
“I like pretty much everything,” Elliot said. “Even when it’s slow in business, it’s a beautiful town. People are related with arts and visual paintings and stuff. It’s a great community, not just musicians, also art, painters or writers. We’ve got a lot of people involved in art in this little town.”
Oviedo had never been to Clarksdale before.
“This is actually my first time here,” Oviedo said. “I’ve been playing with Carlos down in Colombia for about four years now.
“This is a small town, really kind people. All people really enjoy music, no matter what kind of music. We do a bunch of different things. No matter what, they’re always dancing and enjoying it and it’s really fantastic here. It’s like being in the roots of all kinds of music.”
