Chaz DePaolo

During this year’s Pony Penning Week, Chincoteague was treated to an afternoon of the blues when highly acclaimed guitarist Chaz DePaolo headlined the first Annual Pony Phest. DePaolo wowed the crowd in Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park with a playing style that drew influences from Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower and Stevie Ray Vaughn. His closing cover of Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Chile’ brought the crowd to its feet!

Chaz has toured extensively in the U.S. and Canada. He has been the opening act for Leon Russell, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Johnny Winter and Hubert Sumlin and has been featured on national television on “Fox and Friends” as well as on the BBC network in England. Chaz has developed a large following in Europe - especially in England, Ireland and, surprisingly, Poland. When I asked Chaz why, he said that “Polish audiences prefer live entertainment and have a respect and affinity for American roots music.”

George Fish writing in Illinois Blues said that DePaolo’s “single-string electric picking is elegant and tasty, and he adds just enough short, occasional bursts of elaborate technique that keep it interesting, yet he never gets carried away with the flash.” Chaz merges all of his influences – from the ‘old school’ blues stylists, East Coast R&B, rock and jazz to give us what Fish calls “contemporary blues.” England’s “Blues Matters” magazine wrote that DePaolo can really develop into one of the most exciting talents in 21st century eclectic blues music.” I think he already has.

Visitors to the Eastern Shore can see for themselves what the buzz is about when Chaz DePaolo plays Little Italy restaurant in Nassawaddox on September 18 and the Sea Shell Café on Chincoteague Island September 19.

Chaz recently released his fourth CD, Bluestopia, which debuted at number 26 on the Roots Music Report. He wrote five of the nine songs on the album and is backed by a stellar band including Muddy Waters Blues Band alumnus David Maxwell on piano and saxophonist Robert Chaseman. For more information, click here.