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Jontavious Willis

  • Rivetta Tell Riva Giocondo Albertolli Lugano, TI, 6900 Switzerland (map)

With every generation, a young bluesman bursts onto the scene and sends a jolt through the blues community. Jontavious Willis may have just that effect on people. The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist has released a new album, "Spectacular Class." Through original lyrics written by Willis himself, this talented musician offers a timeless album that features all types of blues: Delta, Piedmont, Texas and Gospel.

Originally from Greenville, Georgia, Willis grew up singing gospel music at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church with his grandfather. From an early age, he showed talent and passion for music. At the age of 14, he came across a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing "Hoochie Coochie Man" and was immediately hooked on the blues.

Living legend Taj Mahal describes him as the "Wonderboy" and the "Wunderkind." In 2015, Mahal asked Willis to play on stage with him. This appearance provoked an enthusiastic response from the audience and led Willis to bigger stages and more opportunities, including playing opening shows on the TajMo tour with his musical mentors Taj Mahal and Keb 'Mo'.

Many of Willis' fans consider him an old soul. His style of playing instruments and his voice touch the very roots of country blues. He brings back the true soul of the music. A newspaper headline once called him a "70-year-old bluesman in the body of a 20-year-old."

"Spectacular Class" is the follow-up to his first album, "Blue Metamorphosis," which was released in 2016 and received rave reviews from magazines such as Living Blues and Blues & Rhythm. In 2018, the album was recognized by the Blues Foundation through the International Blues Challenge, where it received the award for best self-produced CD.

 

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