Joachim Palden discovered his passion for blues, boogie-woogie, and piano early in life. The Vienna-based musician, with roots in Carinthia, found his love for the genre at the legendary Jazzland Vienna: “I grew up with this music and saw the first generation of blues musicians up close, which shaped me,” he says. His love for music has remained constant, evolving only in how he interprets the blues.
“Singing is an Expression of Joy”
“The music originally comes from the American cotton fields, but it’s not just sad music. Singing is an expression of joy,” Palden explains. He frequented Jazzland, listening to champions like Jack Dupree, Roosevelt Sykes, and Memphis Slim. It was during this time that he formed the Mojo Blues Band and began his collaboration with Dana Gillespie, who he will now join at a concert in Velden on March 15.
Gillespie’s career began early: she was connected with David Bowie from 1964, providing backing vocals on “Ziggy Stardust,” and Bowie dedicated the song “Andy Warhol” to her. Her path crossed with artists like Rod Stewart, Jimmy Page, and Donovan. She also worked as an actress, appearing in Ken Russell’s “Mahler” and “The Lost Continent” alongside Hildegard Knef. Gillespie achieved a number-one hit with “Move your Body close to me.” When Palden left the Mojo Blues Band, he formed his own trio – with Gillespie as the vocalist.
Blues Radiates Warmth
In Velden, audiences can expect to hear blues as Palden loves it: “It radiates such warmth,” he says. Palden’s musical voice has also been shaped by his travels. “If you go to Chicago today, you’ll hear loud, electric blues. I experienced it at the height of its bloom in 1982.” He visited Mama Yancey alongside Etta Scollo, even going to her home. Palden will be accompanied in Velden by Maria Petrova on drums and Martin Winning on tenor saxophone. Palden often visits Carinthia, as his grandfather grew up on a farm near St. Veit.
Pianist Joachim Palden is a master of the blues and boogie-woogie style © Peter Fichtinger/KK
Dana Gillespie had her biggest hit with “Move your Body close to me” © KK
