Photo by Melissa LeaStaff report:
The Todd Tijerina Trio will showcase its fierce and unique brand of R&B and blues 7-11 p.m. at Pajarito Brewpub Saturday, April 13. Admission is $5 at the door.
The Albuquerque-based group is touring to promote its newest album, Meant To Be, which received four New Mexico Music Award nominations, winning Blues Song of the Year for Tijerina’s song “Nothin’ Like the Blues.”
“Tijerina’s technical prowess is glazed with a finesse that can mesmerize an audience into a state of spellbound awe. His inherent sense of the groove, however, is so strong and insistent that to sit unmoving through his performances is inconceivable,” Rima Ralff of the Taos News wrote.
Rootstime (Belgium) declares that Todd Tijerina “creates his own style and sound. His manner of guitar playing, singing and songwriting is refreshing and inspiring.”
Tijerina‘s (tee-her-EE-na) has worked as a guitarist for internationally revered blues veteran Byther Smith, the legendary Harmonica Hinds and BB King’s daughter, Shirley King.
In 2012, he was awarded first place in the Southwestern ACLU chapter – New Mexico’s voting rights songwriting competition for his song, “Get In Line.”
His band is based in Albuquerque though the band is originally from Chicago, where in 1999 it won Chicagoland’s Rory’s Blues Talent Competition, which included 35 blues acts from across the country.
The band has shared the stage with Kansas, Head East, Canned Heat, Sonny Landreth, Coco Montoya, Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Kelley Hunt, Lucky Peterson, Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang, The Joanna Connor Band, Anders Osbourne, Michael Hill’s Blues Mob, The Campbell Brothers, Richard Johnston, and Ronnie Baker Brooks, among others.
Tijerina is accompanied by his rhythm section of Dave Heidt on bass/harmony vocals and Donnie Frank on drums/harmony vocals, both of whom have toured internationally and recorded with various blues, funk, Latin, rock, jazz and Americana artists.
Sample the band’s distinctive sound and learn more about them by visiting www.tijerinaband.com
“The songs on this new album span 17 years worth of songwriting for me that started back in Chicago,” Tijerina said. “The Mother Road brought me from my native Chi-town to Route 66 music in Bernalillo, where the album was recorded. Most of the songs reflect personal experiences and cover topics ranging from various social issues to inspiration and romance. We feel honored that the album did so well at the NMMAs and look forward to sharing our music at the Pajarito Pre Pub.”
The Pajarito Brewpub is at 614 Trinity Dr. in Los Alamos.
