Train Through Oakland
J&T Records
Carlos Zialcita is an Oakland, California bluesman who has played for a quarter of a century with the best Bay Area blues bands, including those of Jimmy McCracklin, Lowell Fulson, Charles Brown, Percy Mayfield, Big Mama Thornton, Pee Wee Crayton, and Sonny Rhodes. Zialcita is a harmonica virtuoso who can sing with the best of the blues belters. Carlos Zialcita's debut CD is a blues tour de force and his vocals are some of the best of recent blues artists. Highly recommended.
BLUES BEAT ARTIST OF THE MONTH:
Fresh off tour with the great Sonny Rhodes, harmonica wiz and singer Carlos Zialcita, Oakland's own "Thrilla from Manila,"
has released a delightfully vibrant CD, "Train Through Oakland."
The recording was executive-produced by his great friend, Johnny Otis and Carlos is expertly backed up throughout by Johnny's terrific band.
Just brimming with heart, the both new and very old songs on the CD have been chosen and arranged with loving care.
Hop aboard this one, friends, and while you're at it, check out Johnny (and Carlos') website at www.johnnyotisworld.com
Maria Bainer, also of Southland Blues Magazine says "This exciting CD has some varied R&B and blues tunes that are pleasant to hear.
Carlos Zialcita blows a soulful harp and the Johnny Otis Band adds some imaginative arrangements and talent.
It all results in a tasteful package of tunes that one could enjoy hearing many times. Check it out!
In her review of a performance by Sugar Pie DeSanto at an event in the Filipino community,
Marivi Soliven Blanco had these additional comments: "Backing her up on the harmonica was
another Pinoy musician, Carlos Zialcita. It's hard to imagine a virtuoso performance on such a
humble instrument, but Zialcita managed to make it sound like a wailing trumpet,
a human soprano and various other wild things, cupping both hands over his mouth
and flaring the left to produce a musical flourish."