Biography
Supersonic Blues Machine formed as a blues-rock supergroup whose core consists of widely admired session musicians. While drummer Kenny Aronoff enjoys widespread recognition, bassist and producer Fabrizio Grossi together with guitarist and vocalist Kris Barras likewise command deep respect among fellow players. The three musicians deliver an energetic, guitar-centric style rooted in classic blues and riff-heavy hard rock. Their 2016 debut West of Flushing, South of Frisco introduced the practice of featuring prominent guest guitarists, among them Billy Gibbons and Warren Haynes. The approach continued on every later release: Californisoul from 2017 brought in Eric Gales, Robben Ford, and Walter Trout, while Voodoo Nation in 2022 added Joe Louis Walker, Sonny Landreth, and Ana Popovic to an expanding roster of contributors.
Aronoff and Grossi first worked together in 2010 as the rhythm section for Goodfellas, a loose jam collective of studio veterans fronted by Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. Seeking to develop that idea into a stable, touring and recording unit rather than an ad-hoc session outfit, the pair began exploring permanent options. Grossi was producing an album for guitarist and vocalist Lance Lopez when he introduced Lopez to Aronoff. Shortly afterward, Billy Gibbons reached out to Grossi about co-writing and producing a commercial track; he then encouraged Grossi to compose nine additional songs and assemble his own band. Although the commercial project never materialized, the resulting material became “Running Whiskey,” the lead single from the 2016 album West of Flushing, South of Frisco, which also featured Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Walter Trout, Robben Ford, and Chris Duarte. The record charted on the blues albums list, prompting the trio to tour clubs and festivals throughout the United States and Europe.
Thereafter the musicians functioned as a steady collective whose revolving lineup of guests sometimes joined them onstage when schedules aligned. Californisoul emphasized a lighter, summery atmosphere by blending blues-rock with the funk sound popularized by George Clinton, with whom Grossi had collaborated extensively; the album further incorporated Steve Lukather and Eric Gales among its distinguished guitar guests. After the record’s release but before touring began, Lance Lopez departed. English singer and guitarist Kris Barras, whose style draws heavily from the British Isles blues-rock lineage of Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, and Gary Moore, replaced him; Barras had already fronted his own band since 2015. The reconstituted trio toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, and Asia in 2018. In 2019 they issued the live document Road Chronicles: Live! marking Barras’s first appearance on record with the group; Billy Gibbons appeared on six of the fourteen tracks, and the album reached the blues charts.
Following a lengthy COVID-19 interruption that stretched through most of 2020 and into 2021, Supersonic Blues Machine resumed U.S. dates during the summer and fall of that year. Late in 2021 Barras recorded his solo album Death Valley Paradise, which entered the Top 30 in England upon its March 2022 release. Prior to that date the band tracked its third studio album Voodoo Nation, issued in June. The set reunited the musicians with Eric Gales and introduced several new collaborators, including Louisiana slide guitarist Sonny Landreth, Ana Popovic, Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke, Joe Louis Walker, Kirk Fletcher, King Solomon Hicks, and Josh Smith. Its overall tone turned darker, more intimate, and immediate while expanding to accommodate Barras’s songwriting perspective and influences.
Aronoff and Grossi first worked together in 2010 as the rhythm section for Goodfellas, a loose jam collective of studio veterans fronted by Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. Seeking to develop that idea into a stable, touring and recording unit rather than an ad-hoc session outfit, the pair began exploring permanent options. Grossi was producing an album for guitarist and vocalist Lance Lopez when he introduced Lopez to Aronoff. Shortly afterward, Billy Gibbons reached out to Grossi about co-writing and producing a commercial track; he then encouraged Grossi to compose nine additional songs and assemble his own band. Although the commercial project never materialized, the resulting material became “Running Whiskey,” the lead single from the 2016 album West of Flushing, South of Frisco, which also featured Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Walter Trout, Robben Ford, and Chris Duarte. The record charted on the blues albums list, prompting the trio to tour clubs and festivals throughout the United States and Europe.
Thereafter the musicians functioned as a steady collective whose revolving lineup of guests sometimes joined them onstage when schedules aligned. Californisoul emphasized a lighter, summery atmosphere by blending blues-rock with the funk sound popularized by George Clinton, with whom Grossi had collaborated extensively; the album further incorporated Steve Lukather and Eric Gales among its distinguished guitar guests. After the record’s release but before touring began, Lance Lopez departed. English singer and guitarist Kris Barras, whose style draws heavily from the British Isles blues-rock lineage of Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, and Gary Moore, replaced him; Barras had already fronted his own band since 2015. The reconstituted trio toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, and Asia in 2018. In 2019 they issued the live document Road Chronicles: Live! marking Barras’s first appearance on record with the group; Billy Gibbons appeared on six of the fourteen tracks, and the album reached the blues charts.
Following a lengthy COVID-19 interruption that stretched through most of 2020 and into 2021, Supersonic Blues Machine resumed U.S. dates during the summer and fall of that year. Late in 2021 Barras recorded his solo album Death Valley Paradise, which entered the Top 30 in England upon its March 2022 release. Prior to that date the band tracked its third studio album Voodoo Nation, issued in June. The set reunited the musicians with Eric Gales and introduced several new collaborators, including Louisiana slide guitarist Sonny Landreth, Ana Popovic, Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke, Joe Louis Walker, Kirk Fletcher, King Solomon Hicks, and Josh Smith. Its overall tone turned darker, more intimate, and immediate while expanding to accommodate Barras’s songwriting perspective and influences.
Albums
Voodoo Nation
2022
Road Chronicles: Live!
2019
Californisoul
2017
West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco
2016
Singles
