By Eugenio Amézquita Velasco
– César Valdomir, Argentine harmonica player, leads classic blues from Córdoba.
– He recorded Working for the Blues with John Primer, a Chicago blues icon.
– He has performed at festivals in the U.S., Mexico, and Spain.
– He took Argentine blues to Guanajuato at SalvaBlues 2025.
– His style honors rural African-American blues.
The renowned representative of classic blues and harmonica master, César Valdomir, will perform in concert in Celaya on Saturday, August 30, at the Jardín Principal at 7:00 p.m., announced music promoter Juan Carlos Guevara López, who coordinates the event alongside the Celaya Institute of Art and Culture.
Born in Buenos Aires in January 1977, César Valdomir is a harmonica player, singer, and composer. He began his career in 1994, training with local masters and attending international workshops with figures such as Carlos del Junco (Canada) and Rick Estrin (USA). Since 2002, he has lived in Córdoba, where he established himself in the blues and jazz circuit.
He has performed at international festivals such as Blues en el Río (Corrientes), Aires de Blues (Salta), and Cosquín Rock, where he was part of “La Casita del Blues” in the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2025 editions. La Voz del Interior named him “Artist of the Week.”
Discography and Featured Pieces
Valdomir has recorded several albums that reflect his commitment to traditional blues:
- Blowing the Blues (2010)
- 4 Armónicas Argentinas (2014), alongside other national harmonica players
- Working for the Blues (2016), featuring special guest John Primer
- Blowing on the Countryside (2025), an EP with the band Poor Boys, focused on country blues
The album Working for the Blues was reviewed by Redacción 351:
The article highlights Valdomir’s consolidation as a key figure in traditional Argentine blues. It emphasizes that this second album, presented with his band The Blue Midnight, is a tribute to classic blues heritage, with direct influences from the Chicago style and homages to legends like Muddy Waters and Little Walter.
The review also notes the special participation of American guitarist John Primer, former member of Muddy Waters’ band, which lends the album international credibility. It mentions that the album was recorded in Córdoba and officially presented at the Studio Theater, with a performance that combined sonic fidelity and respect for the genre’s African-American roots.
Valdomir is portrayed as both a harmonica player and a curator of rural blues, positioning him among the few Argentine musicians who have entered the international blues circuit without compromising authenticity.
He also collaborated on the album Enlazador de Mundos by the Black Amaya Quinteto, led by the former drummer of Pescado Rabioso and Pappo’s Blues.
Among his most frequently performed pieces are renditions of classics such as It Hurts Me Too, Blues Before Sunrise, Dust My Broom, and Sweet Home Chicago, along with original compositions like Working for the Blues.
Tours and International Performances
Valdomir has brought Argentine blues to stages in:
- Chile (Santiago, Valparaíso)
- Brazil (Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, Canoa Quebrada)
- Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Benicàssim)
- Mexico: CDMX, Guadalajara, Puebla, Puerto Escondido, and the SalvaBlues Jazz Festival in Salvatierra
- United States: King Biscuit Blues Festival (Arkansas) and Bukka White Blues Festival (Mississippi), as part of the band Heavy Suga & Sweetones.
His upcoming performances include August 22, 2025, at Parker & Lenox in CDMX with the Tomy Esposito Band:
and August 30, 2025, in Celaya, Gto.
Artists He Has Shared the Stage With
Valdomir has performed alongside blues legends such as:
- John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Eddie Shaw, Tail Dragger, Anthony Sherrod, Tom Holland
- In the U.S.: Larry McCray, Slam Allen, Heather Crosse, Rip Lee Pryor, Tia Carroll, among others
- In Latin America: Alejandro Medina (Manal), Botafogo, Javier Calamaro, Luis Robinson, Indio Márquez, Marcelo García (León Gieco)
Artistic Philosophy
Valdomir defines himself as a guardian of classic blues, rooted in rural traditions with contemporary branches. His approach emphasizes authenticity, improvisation, and respect for the genre’s African-American origins. In his own words:
“The harmonica is the protagonist, but blues is collective, organic, and emotional.” #GuanajuatoDesconocido #MetroNewsMx
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