The Mighty Flyers land in town
On the opening track of The Mighty Flyers’ latest
Delta Groove CD, ThrillVille, singer/harmonica player Rod Piazza dials down the volume and says, “This number was first cut by the great Little Walter when he was on Chess in Chicago.”
The band is cooking along on the boogie thing called “Hate to See You Go,” which morphs into “Shake Your Hips” by Slim Harpo. Piazza then acknowledges the late Louisiana bluesman and adds: “He heard it and put his spin on it .... He twisted it around and did it just a little bit like this.”
With that, Piazza launches into Harpo’s classic. A couple of licks later, he’s directing the band back into the Walter version. It’s vintage Piazza. Who else but a deep student of the music would know that kind of blues minutiae? Second, who else could pull off the tricky transition in mid-tune? 
Quite simply one of the greatest players of his generation, Piazza is a harp master who has carried the tradition with him, while advancing those who came before him in the process. Still traveling after more than 40 years on the scene, Piazza and the band returns to town this weekend.
“We have to travel to make a living,” he says, speaking by phone from his home in southern California. “Blues music has always taken a second seat and the economy isn’t helping any kind of live music. I don’t know what’s ahead, but I’m happy to be working.”
The Flyers are airborne these days as a quartet. In addition to Piazza, the band features Honey Piazza (Rod’s wife) on piano. She doubles on bass with her left hand. The guitarist is Henry Carvajal and Dave Kida is the drummer.
The Piazzas have been working together for many years and have, over that time, penned many sets worth of original material — but when its in town, expect the band to also play the hits. Commenting on their repertoire, Rod says, “At this point in my career, now at 60, I’m not trying to write the greatest song in the world anymore. I just like to play what I like to play and a lot of that is traditional material.” 
As a player, Piazza is known for his stunning command and control. He can wow you with quotes from the masters and turn around and knock you out with distinct originality. These days, he says his approach is first and foremost, to connect emotionally.
“Years ago I thought I had something to prove musically,” he says. “I figure I played as good as I’m going to play. So now it is about moving somebody, playing melodically versus trying to show them what I know.”
For more, visit www.themightyflyers.com or www.deltagrooveproductions.com o
