Blues musician Bullfrog Rata has been making a splash in many a muddy pond up and down the country for some time now.

His brand of earthy, primal blues has been a work in progress, from standing on street corners, busking in towns like Levin & Wairoa to jaunts on jet planes to play in some of London's most packed bars alongside the likes of Midge Marsden & The Exponents.

Though known as a bluesman his tastes are many and varied and like all good amphibians he is at home on water or land.

His own songs along with the blues and roots covers he chooses to deliver span a wide and eclectic mix of music genres.

There are swampy foot stomping grooves, alongside sophisticated jazz infused swing numbers, some Aotearoa reggae mixed in with finger picking country blues, and straight ahead drive 'em down electric blues along with the occasional Johnny Cash type country tune thrown in.

"I do all sorts of things depending on what feels right, with me, the band and the crowd at the time!" says the man himself 'But blues is definitely the glue that holds the gumbo together!"

And what a gumbo it is with Bullfrog amassing an impressive list of culinary achievements, which has seen him be the opening act for some stellar names in the music industry, these include Tina Turner, Duke Robillard, Jethro Tull, Charley Pride, Canned Heat, David Lindley, Junior Wells, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, RL Burnside, Charlie Musselwhite, lan Moss Band and The Amazing Rhythm Aces.

Joining the culinary team for the latest Gumbo are ‘The Cuba Express' featuring Abe Bailey on drums, Patrick Bleakely on double bass and Geoff Culverwell on trumpet.

Patrick Bleakley is a very busy part of the Wellington jazz fraternity originally starting out as part of the legendary Blerta roadshow when still a teen, he has played with many groundbreaking artists doing all sorts of cutting edge jazz. He is a very creative musician who often takes the music in new directions.

Abe Williams is the youngest member of the combo, just having turned 21. His drumming abilities reveal an accomplished music sensibility way beyond his years, he is fearless, which he needs to be to keep up with Patrick's bass escapades. The fact that he is in great demand in Wellington with many diverse projects on the go, attest to his skills.

Master trumpet player Geoff Culverwell rounds out the lineup. Ex member of the legendary Quincy Conserve he has gone on to become one of Aotearoa's finest jazz trumpeters, who is always busy gigging, recording and putting on music extravaganza's in concert halls all over the country.

"I am really thrilled to be playing with these guys" says Bullfrog "they seem to know where I want to go even before I do!'