When the average fan thinks of hotbeds of the blues, he or she thinks of cities like Chicago, Austin, and Memphis, and even such far-flung outposts as London and Paris. That’s all set to change, however, as this red-hot Brazilian, guitarist Big Gilson a TopCat Records artist, is poised to put Rio de Janeiro on the blues map. Gilson have released eleven CDs in his native country, and honed his chops the last fourteen years gigging on his own (in Brazil, Argentina, Europe and USA) and as the opening act for Steve Winwood on his Brazilian tour, Johnny Rivers (70.000 people audience), and twice to the master B.B. King. While touring America, and gigging at such clubs as Florida’s Bamboo Room, New York’s Blue Note, and all over Chi-town, the band knocked out such blues gods as Corey Harries, Duke Robillard, Lonnie Brooks, Magic Slim, Saffire, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Buddy Guy, who extended the Boy from Brazil an open invitation to play his Legends Club anytime. In 2005 he spent the whole month on May touring in UK and came back there for another tour in September / October this year. In the mean time between those tours in Europe he toured in the US, performing in four different states in such important venues such as the Blue Note, NY (fifth time), the Bamboo Room, FL (third time) voted four years in the row the best blues club in America, the Tobacco Road (one of the oldest clubs in America, for the fifth time, the best Dallas club, the Deep Ellum Blues among others. Gilson released in 2005, LIVE IN TEXAS, a live recording CD produced by veteran player, producer and multiple W.C Handy award winner Richard Chalk, who produced the blues legends Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Big Mama Thornton and Big Joe Turner, among many others. LIVE IN DALLAS was recorded live at the legendary BLUE CAT BLUES club in Dallas, Texas on September 23rd 1999. This is Big Gilson's last release playing his trademark Gibson SG. Just after this show, he switched to his "new baby" Fender Stratocaster NIKITA. (He blames it on those Texans, hehehe...) 2007 starts with the US Tour. Gilson is touring January in California, performing at the NAMM SHOW – one of the finest musical instruments show in the world, Florida, and New York among other venues. In March and April,, he will be touring in Europe, performing in Spain, Belgium, UK and Germany, where he spent a whole week performing at the MUSICMESS in Frankfurt. Now, he’s touring all over in he’s country, and working on he’s upcoming CD to be released this fall when he will be touring in the US again. The most important venues where he played gigs: BLUE NOTE – NY; BB KING’S – NY; BUDDY GUY`S LEGENDS – Chicago; KENNEDY CENTER - Washington DC; NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART - Washington DC; BBQUE BLUES BATTLE (50.000 people) - Washington DC; BAMBOO ROOM – Florida; NAMM SHOW – California; TOBACCO RD – Florida; BLUE CAT BLUES – Dallas, Texas; THE MUDDY WATERS – Dallas, Texas VIII FESTIVAL DE BLUES CIUDAD DE CORDOBA – Córdoba, Spain; SALA ARENA - Madrid, Spain; FEATURED ON TV ON WASHINGTON NEWS CHANNEL 4, 6 O'CLOCK NEWS There are lots of bands out there, in America and around the world, who play the blues. They play the blues but you can tell they don’t feel the blues. Big Gilson is most definitely not one of those bands. This boy may hail from Rio, but he plays like he was born and raised in South Oak Cliff, and there is no higher testament a native Texan and lifelong blues freak can give. John Nova Lomax - Music