JamminÕ The Blues and Intensity – Boris PilleriÕs Blues-Rock Journey
Band Origins and Boris PilleriÕs Vision
JamminÕ 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), JamminÕ 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 MayallÕs Bluesbreakers, Albert Collins, Climax Blues Band, Eric Burdon, and Mitch Ryder, which helped cement JamminÕ The BluesÕ 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 ÒJamminÕ The BluesÓ (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 JamminÕ The Blues to record their debut album, aptly titled Intensity.
Intensity – Debut Album Background and Production
Released in 1987, Intensity was the bandÕs 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 bandÕs 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 JamminÕ 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 albumÕs 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 ÒDaniÓ 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 JamminÕ The Blues took credit for co-producing and mixing the album themselves (alongside Locher) ? – a testament to PilleriÕs 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 JamminÕ The BluesÕ bluesy and high-energy style ?. The albumÕs sound can be categorized as blues rock with a modern electric blues approach ?. PilleriÕs searing electric guitar work and gritty vocals drive the songs, supported by HaenggiÕs solid bass grooves and BeckÕs 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 JamminÕ 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 lifeÕs struggles, often delivered with a hard-rocking swagger or a touch of humor. For example, ÒDonÕt Take Advantage of MeÓ is a brassy plea against being mistreated in love – a song originally written by Chicago bluesman Lonnie Brooks in 1983 ? that JamminÕ The Blues deliver with their own spin. ÒSheÕs So SexyÓ (with a playful title) and ÒPlay GuitarÓ suggest a lighter, fun-loving side, likely celebrating rockÕnÕroll itself or personal passions. Meanwhile, a track like ÒReal LifeÓ hints at more introspective themes, perhaps reflecting on genuine experiences or life lessons. Throughout Intensity, PilleriÕs guitar solos and riffs are front and center, reinforcing the albumÕs purpose as a showcase of passionate blues musicianship. Indeed, as the title implies, the band plays with intensity – a raw, ÒliveÓ 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 JamminÕ The BluesÕ groovy, bluesy-funky sound, which Boris Pilleri and his band became known for on stage. (PilleriÕs influences – he was inspired by blues and funk greats like Johnny ÒGuitarÓ Watson – also come through in the musicÕs blend of blues, funk, and rock.)
Several songs stand out as highlights on Intensity. ÒReal LifeÓ was a significant track – it was featured as the A-side of a 45 RPM single in 1986 (paired with ÒDonÕt Take Advantage Of MeÓ as the B-side) prior to the albumÕs release. This made ÒReal LifeÓ one of the bandÕs earliest original songs to gain attention, and it embodies the bandÕs tight blues-rock songwriting. ÒDonÕt Take Advantage of MeÓ became one of JamminÕ The BluesÕ 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 BrooksÕ composition ?. JamminÕ 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 JamminÕ The Blues compilation. Another notable cut is ÒAll Over Now,Ó a spirited cover of the Bobby Womack song famously popularized by the Rolling Stones ?. By tackling ÒAll Over Now,Ó PilleriÕs trio paid homage to classic R&B/rockÕnÕroll, no doubt making it a crowd-pleaser at shows. ÒBus Stop Blues,Ó the longest track on the album at over 6 minutes ?, is a slow blues jam that likely served as the albumÕs emotional centerpiece – giving Pilleri room to stretch out on guitar solos. On the lighter side, ÒPlay Guitar!Ó (the exclamation in the title is telling) closes the album with an upbeat ode to the joys of guitar playing – essentially a statement of PilleriÕs life mission. In sum, Intensity offers a balanced set of songs: from covers that root it in blues tradition to originals that highlight the bandÕs 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 JamminÕ The Blues, Intensity was a culmination of years of work and a stepping stone to greater opportunities. The albumÕs 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 bandÕs momentum: following Intensity, Boris PilleriÕs outfit performed concerts across Switzerland, sometimes even augmented on stage by The Thunder Horns to reproduce the albumÕs soulful arrangements. The positive reception of Intensity and the bandÕs growing profile eventually attracted interest from bigger record companies. By 1990 JamminÕ The Blues had shortened their name to simply ÒJamminÕÓ 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 IntensityÕs 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; JamminÕ The Blues stood out as a band carrying the torch for that genre in the country. The albumÕs legacy is also tied to Boris PilleriÕs enduring career. Pilleri continued to lead the band (under evolving names) for decades, becoming a stalwart of Swiss blues. In 1989, JamminÕ The Blues officially renamed themselves to ÒJamminÕÓ (dropping Òthe BluesÓ from the name) as the groupÕs style evolved, though blues remained the bedrock of their sound. In 2008, the bandÕs name would be extended to ÒBoris PilleriÕs JamminÕ,Ó underscoring PilleriÕs personal brand as bandleader. Songs from Intensity continued to feature in the bandÕs live sets and compilations, showing the lasting appeal of those early tunes. For example, ÒDonÕt Take Advantage of MeÓ and ÒReal LifeÓ 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 bandÕs 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 JamminÕ 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 PilleriÕs JamminÕ The Blues and laid the groundwork for one of SwitzerlandÕs notable blues-rock careers.
Album Artwork and Further Resources
The album cover of Intensity reflects the bandÕs 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 bandÕs 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 albumÕs 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 albumÕs presentation in 1987. Such archival material underscores the albumÕs place in vinyl collections and preserves the visual identity that accompanied JamminÕ The BluesÕ musical debut.
