Nuno Mindelis - Recusadas Por Gravadoras (Rejected By Record Labels) EP (2024)

Born in Cabinda (Angola) on August 7, 1957, Nuno Mindelis became a guitar enthusiast at the very young age of 5 and by the age of 9 he began building and playing self-made guitars. A primary influence at that time was Otis Redding and his great rhythm section Booker T. & The MG’s - made up of Booker T., Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, and Al Jackson. Nuno continues to enjoy the work of these musicians to this day. Because of a civil war, which made Nuno lose everything he had, he was forced to leave his country as an exiled at the age of seventeen. He joined an older cousin in Canada and remained there for about a year, jamming where possible and increasing his guitar knowledge. In 1976, following a year of separation from his family, he decided to rejoin them in their newfound home of Brazil.

Nothing eventful happened until 1990, when an independent recording he had made there began to receive airplay on local radio stations. In 1991 he was invited to record his debut solo album, “Blues & Derivados”, which received very positive reviews in Brazilian media. He recorded his second solo album, “Long Distance Blues”, for Movieplay Records joined by Larry McCray and French harp player J.J. Milteau, considered as the best Harp Player in France and one of the most important in Europe. The album received rave reviews from Brazilian media, and as part of his promotional tour for the album Nuno was fortunate to gain a spot in a blues festival in Sao Paulo featuring Robert Cray, Otis Clay, Ronnie Earl, Lonnie Brooks, and Bo Diddley.

In 1998, Nuno Mindelis was considered the world’s best blues guitarist by Guitar Player magazine in its 30th year edition.