Jammin’ The Blues and Intensity – Boris Pilleri’s Blues-Rock Journey
Band Origins and Boris Pilleri’s Vision
Jammin’ The Blues is a Swiss blues-rock band from the Bern region, formed in 1976 by guitarist-singer Boris Pilleri. Pilleri started the band as a trio after a jam session in Bolligen (near Bern) with drummer Peter Studer and bassist Urs Thomann. In their early years (the late 1970s), Jammin’ The Blues built a live repertoire mixing original blues-rock songs and a handful of cover versions, performing at school festivals, youth centers, and serving as the house band at a local club . By 1980, the hardworking blues-rockers had played around eighty concerts and begun to gain prominence in the Swiss live music scene. They even shared stages as a support act for blues and rock legends like John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Albert Collins, Climax Blues Band, Eric Burdon, and Mitch Ryder, which helped cement Jammin’ The Blues’ reputation as a solid live act.
Boris Pilleri proved to be the driving force of the band, not only as the frontman but also as a songwriter and organizer. In 1980 the group recorded their first single “Jammin’ The Blues” (released in 1981) in a Bern studio. An attempt to record a full album in the early 1980s fell through due to contract issues – the tapes from that session remained unreleased when a deal with BMG Ariola collapsed. Undeterred, Pilleri kept the band active and evolving. By the mid-1980s the lineup had shifted: Daniel Haenggi had taken over on bass, and Tom Beck became the drummer, joining Pilleri to form a tight three-piece core. After a decade of honing their craft live, Boris Pilleri finally led Jammin’ The Blues to record their debut album, aptly titled Intensity.
Intensity – Debut Album Background and Production
Released in 1987, Intensity was the band’s long-awaited debut album . Pilleri and his band self-produced the record under their newly formed imprint Pleasure Production, with distribution handled by the Swiss label COD Records. In practice, this meant the group took a DIY approach: their manager Andy Locher co-produced and managed the project, ensuring the album reached the market on their own terms  . Intensity was recorded on 16-track equipment at Satellite Recording Studios in Thun, Switzerland, capturing the band’s live energy in a studio setting. Thomas Wenger served as the recording and mixing engineer, helping to achieve a clean yet powerful sound .
The core Jammin’ The Blues lineup on Intensity consisted of Boris Pilleri on guitar and vocals, Daniel Haenggi on bass, and Tom Beck on drums . To enrich the album’s sound, they invited a horn section dubbed The Thunder Horns as guest musicians. This brass section featured Mike Maurer on trumpet (who also arranged the horn parts and contributes a solo), Thomas Baur on tenor saxophone, and Daniel “Dani” Meyer on alto saxophone  . The addition of horns gave certain tracks a soulful, R&B-inflected punch. All tracks were arranged by the band, and Jammin’ The Blues took credit for co-producing and mixing the album themselves (alongside Locher)  – a testament to Pilleri’s hands-on approach.
Intensity was truly an in-house creation in other ways as well. The album cover design and layout were done by Boris Pilleri himself, indicating his artistic vision extended beyond the music . The cover featured photography by Reto Camenisch of Obscura, Thun, giving the album a distinctive visual identity. (Notably, Pilleri is credited for both the cover artwork and even the label layout on the vinyl, underscoring the personal touch in this release .) The original LP came out as a Swiss pressing (catalog no. LP-8711-1) on Pleasure Production/COD Records, and was also made available on cassette and CD – a relatively ambitious multi-format release for an independent Swiss blues album in the 1980s.
Musical Style and Themes on Intensity
Musically, Intensity showcases Jammin’ The Blues’ bluesy and high-energy style . The album’s sound can be categorized as blues rock with a modern electric blues approach . Pilleri’s searing electric guitar work and gritty vocals drive the songs, supported by Haenggi’s solid bass grooves and Beck’s punchy drumming. The inclusion of The Thunder Horns adds an extra dimension – bursts of brass give some tracks a soulful, almost funk-tinged blues character (bringing to mind the horn-driven blues-rock of bands like the Fabulous Thunderbirds, whom Jammin’ The Blues had opened for). From up-tempo shuffles to slow-burning blues jams, the album covers a variety of moods within its genre.
Lyrically and thematically, Intensity sticks to blues-rock tradition. Many songs explore familiar blues themes: heartbreak, desire, and life’s struggles, often delivered with a hard-rocking swagger or a touch of humor. For example, “Don’t Take Advantage of Me” is a brassy plea against being mistreated in love – a song originally written by Chicago bluesman Lonnie Brooks in 1983  that Jammin’ The Blues deliver with their own spin. “She’s So Sexy” (with a playful title) and “Play Guitar” suggest a lighter, fun-loving side, likely celebrating rock’n’roll itself or personal passions. Meanwhile, a track like “Real Life” hints at more introspective themes, perhaps reflecting on genuine experiences or life lessons. Throughout Intensity, Pilleri’s guitar solos and riffs are front and center, reinforcing the album’s purpose as a showcase of passionate blues musicianship. Indeed, as the title implies, the band plays with intensity – a raw, “live” feel permeates the recordings. The production is straightforward and unpolished in a good way, letting the soulful vocals, rocking rhythm section, and occasional horn riffs shine without excessive studio gloss. In short, Intensity captures the essence of Jammin’ The Blues’ groovy, bluesy-funky sound, which Boris Pilleri and his band became known for on stage. (Pilleri’s influences – he was inspired by blues and funk greats like Johnny “Guitar” Watson – also come through in the music’s blend of blues, funk, and rock.)
Several songs stand out as highlights on Intensity. “Real Life” was a significant track – it was featured as the A-side of a 45 RPM single in 1986 (paired with “Don’t Take Advantage Of Me” as the B-side) prior to the album’s release. This made “Real Life” one of the band’s earliest original songs to gain attention, and it embodies the band’s tight blues-rock songwriting. “Don’t Take Advantage of Me” became one of Jammin’ The Blues’ signature tunes; not only is it a catchy, brass-laden blues-rock number, it also connected the band to the broader blues lineage by covering Lonnie Brooks’ composition . Jammin’ The Blues often performed this song live – even appearing on Swiss television to play it in the late 1980s – and decades later it remained a fan favorite, appearing on a Best of Jammin’ The Blues compilation. Another notable cut is “All Over Now,” a spirited cover of the Bobby Womack song famously popularized by the Rolling Stones . By tackling “All Over Now,” Pilleri’s trio paid homage to classic R&B/rock’n’roll, no doubt making it a crowd-pleaser at shows. “Bus Stop Blues,” the longest track on the album at over 6 minutes , is a slow blues jam that likely served as the album’s emotional centerpiece – giving Pilleri room to stretch out on guitar solos. On the lighter side, “Play Guitar!” (the exclamation in the title is telling) closes the album with an upbeat ode to the joys of guitar playing – essentially a statement of Pilleri’s life mission. In sum, Intensity offers a balanced set of songs: from covers that root it in blues tradition to originals that highlight the band’s own voice.
Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, Intensity made an impact in the Swiss blues and rock community, even if it flew under the international radar. Contemporary reviews in mainstream press were limited (Swiss blues-rock was a niche scene in the 1980s), but the album was certainly noticed by local audiences and blues enthusiasts. For Jammin’ The Blues, Intensity was a culmination of years of work and a stepping stone to greater opportunities. The album’s release helped the band secure a broader fanbase in Switzerland and proved they could deliver original recorded material to match their live reputation. It also led to an upswing in the band’s momentum: following Intensity, Boris Pilleri’s outfit performed concerts across Switzerland, sometimes even augmented on stage by The Thunder Horns to reproduce the album’s soulful arrangements. The positive reception of Intensity and the band’s growing profile eventually attracted interest from bigger record companies. By 1990 Jammin’ The Blues had shortened their name to simply “Jammin’” and landed a deal with Mercury/PolyGram, resulting in the follow-up album Too Many Nights on a major label. This was a significant leap that might not have been possible without the groundwork laid by Intensity’s independent success.
Within the Swiss blues-rock scene, Intensity holds a bit of a pioneering status. In the late 1980s, not many Swiss acts were dedicated to blues-rock; Jammin’ The Blues stood out as a band carrying the torch for that genre in the country. The album’s legacy is also tied to Boris Pilleri’s enduring career. Pilleri continued to lead the band (under evolving names) for decades, becoming a stalwart of Swiss blues. In 1989, Jammin’ The Blues officially renamed themselves to “Jammin’” (dropping “the Blues” from the name) as the group’s style evolved, though blues remained the bedrock of their sound. In 2008, the band’s name would be extended to “Boris Pilleri’s Jammin’,” underscoring Pilleri’s personal brand as bandleader. Songs from Intensity continued to feature in the band’s live sets and compilations, showing the lasting appeal of those early tunes. For example, “Don’t Take Advantage of Me” and “Real Life” still appeared in later best-of tracklists and retrospectives, underlining that these tracks had become classics for the group.
In the broader context, Intensity can be seen as a foundational recording for Boris Pilleri and his band’s trajectory. It marked the beginning of a recorded catalog that would grow in the ensuing years (with albums like Too Many Nights (1990), Wildlive! (1991), and Playground (1993) following in quick succession). Decades later, in 2016, Boris Pilleri celebrated 40 years on stage, with Swiss music magazines acknowledging his contributions to blues and jazz music. That long journey traces back to the achievement of finally releasing Intensity. Sadly, Boris Pilleri passed away in 2022, but his legacy lives on – the remaining band members decided to continue performing as The Jammin’ Band, carrying forward the bluesy-funky spirit that began in 1976. Intensity, as the first album, holds a special place in that legacy: it captures the youthful passion of Boris Pilleri’s Jammin’ The Blues and laid the groundwork for one of Switzerland’s notable blues-rock careers.
Album Artwork and Further Resources
The album cover of Intensity reflects the band’s hands-on approach. As noted, Boris Pilleri designed the cover artwork himself, with photographer Reto Camenisch providing the cover photo. The front cover of the Intensity LP features the band’s name and album title prominently, and the imagery (in classic blues-rock fashion) conveys the mood and intensity of their music (for example, many blues albums of the era used performance photos or expressive graphics to represent the music – Intensity was no exception). For fans and collectors, high-quality images of the album cover, the back sleeve, and the vinyl record labels are available online. In particular, a dedicated vinyl archive webpage hosts hi-res photos of the Intensity album’s packaging along with detailed descriptions. These images showcase the original Swiss pressing in all its analog glory – a treat for those interested in the visual and physical aspects of the record. (See Vinyl-Records.nl for the Intensity gallery and description.) This resource provides an up-close look at the cover art and even the label designs that Boris Pilleri put together, offering a tangible sense of the album’s presentation in 1987. Such archival material underscores the album’s place in vinyl collections and preserves the visual identity that accompanied Jammin’ The Blues’ musical debut.
