The style and sound of this 4-man formation is inspired by how the blues sounded in the many blues clubs in Chicago in the 1970s. With a line-up of 2 guitars, bass, drums and of course vocals (and some harmonica here and there) Chicago Four puts down this raw club sound. An important example for the band is the straightforward blues of Magic Slim & The Teardrops. Most of Chicago Four's repertoire was also on Magic Slim's "set list.
Frontman Robbert Fossen (vocals, guitar, harmonica) has over 30 years of experience with this style and has toured several times with two of the original Teardrops John Primer and Nick Holt. And.... He replaced his hero Magic Slim in 2012, due to illness, as frontman with his Teardrops. He has several national and international blues awards to his name, including that of best blues singer in the Netherlands.
Guitarist (and singer) Ber van Zanen, known among other things from The Groovetakers, a fixture on the Dutch blues stages, can, besides great soloing, also accompany very well and tastefully. In this style of blues, a strong guitar accompaniment, fused with a grooving rhythm section, is essential.
And that strong rhythm section includes bassist Jan Markus, who like no other can and dares leave out all the frills, to be part of the important foundation of this blues style; the keynote is often enough.... Decades of experience, also as a drummer, makes him understand what is needed; never too much, always enough.
The foundation is completed by drummer Jeffrey van Duffelen; as 'rock' in the surf in the 'drivers seat' he lays the foundation on which the band can lean and takes the audience into an almost hypnotic groove with, where necessary, always a creative filling of 'the holes'.
If you want to hear, feel and experience what it sounded like in the heyday in and around Chicago's clubs, Chicago Four is your guide!
