AMERICAN BLUES SCENE
Jose Ramirez Releases First Single On Delmark Label ‘Whatever She Wants’
American Blues Scene Staff
“‘Whatever She Wants’ talks about an attraction so crazy that you’re willing to put everything on the line, no matter how dangerous. – Jose Ramirez
At 33 years old, Jose Ramirez is Costa Rica’s premier blues artist and has played with some of the biggest names in the blues industry, including Buddy Guy, Anson Funderburgh, Janiva Magness, Mark Hummel and Bryan Lee.
Ramirez was recently nominated for a Blues Music Award 2021 for Best Emerging Artist Album for his debut recording, Here I Come, produced by Anson Funderburgh. In 2020, The Jose Ramirez Band won second place at The Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and the band performed in the finals at the Orpheum Theater, outlasting over 230 bands from around the world.
Jose recently signed a contract with world famous blues label Delmark Records in Chicago for the release of his second studio album. This makes him the first-ever Latin-American to sign with the renowned record company.
“Whatever She Wants” is his first single to be released on the Delmark label.
| BLUES BYTES – What’s New – May 2021 |
Costa Rican guitar slinger Jose Ramirez made quite a bit of noise last year with his debut release, Here I Come, one of the best of the year. Ramirez was nominated as Best Emerging New Artist for the 2021 Blues Music Awards, and in addition, the Jose Ramirez Band finished second at the 2020 I.B.C.
Ramirez’s 2021 looks even more promising with the release of a new single on Delmark Records, “Whatever She Wants.” Backed by Kenny Watson, Jr. (bass), Antonio Reyes (drums), and Andre Reyes, Jr. (keyboards), Ramirez gives listeners a pitch-perfect blend of blues with a touch of soul on this splendid slow burner. His guitar work is superlative and his vocals are equally potent. Hopefully, this excellent single is just the tip of the iceberg that marks the beginning of a beautiful relationship between Ramirez and Delmark.
— Graham Clarke
http://www.bluenight.com/BluesBytes/wn0521.html
Tune into the Weekend with new single from Blues Music Award emerging artist nominee Jose Ramirez
We haven’t yet had a chance to listen to Costa Rican blues guitarist and singer Jose Ramirez‘s Blues Music Award-nominated debut album Here I Come, but have certainly moved it closer to the top of our pile for checking out after hearing Ramirez’s latest single on Delmark Records, “Whatever She Wants” — a nod, according to Ramirez, to some of the old-school blues/soul singers such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland and Bobby Womack.
A slow blues burner in the vein of such classics as “The Thrill is Gone” and “Still Got the Blues”, “Whatever She Wants” includes some soulful, passion-soaked vocals and guitar from Ramirez, with a funky, organ-driven turn about halfway through that leads into a stinging guitar solo.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/FE8tLfomEN8 Though he’s just starting to become known here in the U.S. with his recent Blues Music Award nomination for best emerging artist album and a second-place finish during last year’s International Blues Challenge, Ramirez has already shared the stage with such names as Buddy Guy, Anson Funderburgh (who also produced Ramirez’s album), Janiva Magness, Mark Hummel, and the late “Braille Blues Daddy” Bryan Lee.
If the rest of his work is anything as good as this number, we suspect the blues world will be hearing a lot more about Ramirez in the months and years ahead!
HOLLER Magazine from Colorado Blues Society, June/July issue
Jose Ramirez “Whatever She Wants” Delmark Records
By Dan Willging
Guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Jose Ramirez turned a few heads in 2020 with his auspicious debut Here I Come, produced by Anson Funderburgh. It has since been nominated for a 2021 Blues Music Award.
For those familiar with the legacy of Chicago’s Delmark Records, Ramirez’s digital single “Whatever She Wants” could also turn a few heads. The Costa Rican native/Florida resident is the first Latino artist to appear on the prestigious imprint that has primarily featured Chicago blues and jazz artists.
Ramirez’s single is a harbinger of more exciting things to come for the 68-year-old label helmed by Windy City musicians Julia Miller and Uruguayan native Elbio Barilari. Last year, Delmark released No Border Blues that captured former ChiTown blues guitarist Johnny Burgin jamming with some of Japan’s best blues musicians.
After Ramirez’s electrifying opening lick that recalls the ghost of BB King, “Whatever She Wants” quickly settles into a chill groove with Andre Reyes Jr.’s gliding keyboards adding to the vibe. Ramirez sings passionately about a mysterious femme fatale who ‘has got ahold’ of him and won’t let go.
His channeling guitar solo also sounds like it’s also under the spell of this attractive enchantress. As a result of Ramirez’s magnetizing performance, it becomes apparent there’s no way out for anyone, even the listener.
Jose Ramirez – bluesia from Costa Rica
Blues is truly global music. One manifestation of globalization is Jose Ramirez , native to Costa Rica.
Ramirez’s debut album “Here I Come” was released last year and was a great success. The album was produced by music icon Anson Funderburgh.
– Jose is committed to the blues. He knows where he’s going. A confident guy’s own songs are honest stuff. I’m proud that I got to produce his record, Funderburgh says.
Delmark Records , one of the most famous brands in the history of the blues, washed Ramirez into his strength. The latest novelty is the track “Whatever She Wants,” which was released in April.
Alongside guitarist-singer Ramirez, Kenny Watson Jr (bass), Antonio Reyes (drums) and Andre Reyes Jr (keyboards) play.
In addition to Funderburgh, Ramirez’s partners include Janiva Magness, Mark Hummel and Bryan Lee – a compelling curve for the 33-year-old!
– I have a strong belief in combining blues, Soul and rhythm & blues. It has always been natural for me.
– My latest song is dedicated to old school blues and soul singers like Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland and Bobby Womack. “Whatever She Wants” tells of left love. So far left that it’s ready to risk everything, Ramirez says.
https://blues-finland.com/blogi/index.php/2021/04/20/jose-ramirez-bluesia-costa-ricasta/
Costa Rican Blues At Its Best!
Channeling “The Thrill Is Gone” blues guitarist Jose Ramirez brings forward a soulful song called “Whatever She Wants”. It’s a dark syncopated song that smolders and always keeps you guessing with its half steps and musical jerks and whines. What really sets the song apart are the vocals where Ramirez sounds like the long lost son of either Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Taylor, or Bobby Womack. His voice has great depth and he deploys it with amazing amounts of restraint and control. This is very much in keeping with how his guitar is used in the song as well. This skilled approach to writing and performing no doubt is the result of having played with some of the biggest names in blues like Buddy Guy and Anson Funderburgh.
Ramirez produced the track in conjunction with Joe Pinkston and Billy Seals at Purple Ridge Recording Studio, it was mastered by Delmark owner Julia A. Miller at Riverside Studio. He played guitar and sang on the track, joined by Kenny Watson, Jr on bass, Antonio Reyes on drums and Andre Reyes, Jr on keyboards.
“I truly believe Soul and R&B are way closer to the Blues than other types of music out there and it’s always felt natural for me to blend these soulful genres just like they used to do back in the 70s.” said Ramirez. This track does that and more.
Listen here: https://airplaydirect.com/music/JoseRamirezWhateverSheWants/
Jose Ramirez came in with a single
Jose Ramirez is one of the most famous blues musicians in Latin America. The Costa Rican-born guitarist-singer took second place in the International Blues Challenge in 2020, and then her debut album was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Best Emerging Artist Album category. He performed regularly until the coronavirus came out, giving more than forty-five concerts in England, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium during his two European tours. He recently made a deal with Delmark Records to release his second album, making him the first Latin American musician to ever sign with the renowned record label. His new single has just been released. “I think soul and R&B are much closer to blues than any other style of music, and I’ve always felt natural to mix these genres, Whatever She Wants , a song evoking the musical world of Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland and Bobby Womack. “Whatever She Wants is about an insane attraction for which you would be willing to risk everything, no matter how dangerous,” the guitarist in his early thirties introduced the song.
https://www.bluesblues.co.uk/reviews by David Blue
Costa Rican musician José Ramírez will offer a ‘Night of blues’
Ramírez, based in the United States, is the Latin American blues artist with the greatest growth and projection.
Luanna Orjuela Murcia 4/14/2021 4:12 PM
The talented Costa Rican guitarist and singer José Ramírez is visiting the country and will offer his show “Noche de blues” this Saturday at the Eugene O’Neill Theater, located in Barrio Dent.
At 33, the musician based in the United States is the Latin American blues artist with the greatest growth and projection.
His talent has led him to share the stage with blues legends such as Buddy Guy, Anson Funderburgh and Janiva Magness.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3HbYtGlcUDI The Costa Rican musician has been nominated in the category of “Best Emerging Artist Album” at the Blues Music Awards, for his debut album, which reached the top positions on the lists of stations of the genre in the United States, Australia, France and England.
The ceremony for these awards, equivalent to the Grammys of blues music, will be held on June 6 in Memphis.
Recently, Ramírez became the first Latin blues artist to sign with the legendary Delmark Records label, the oldest in the United States, whose catalog includes genre legends such as Junior Wells, Magic Sam or Jimmy Dawkins, among others.
For this Saturday’s show, the artist seeks a reunion with the Costa Rican public who followed his first steps in music, prior to developing his career on American soil.
“I have not performed live in Costa Rica for four years and that has created a need for the public and me to return and share everything that I am developing internationally. In our country there is no culture of blues as such, as if it happens with jazz, for example, so we want to give the public a sample of this beautiful genre with a very professional show ”, said Ramírez.
