I've been trying to figure out how to share all the blues videos that I have on my blues playlist. I think I have it figured out. See the player below.
Andy Stahl hosts a short film on the significance of Sylvester Weaver - the first man to record blues guitar.
My online friend Prin, has created a new Blues Page. She is a big fan of the blues and loves to share her knowledge of the blues, as well as the latest news of about blues musicians.
Please go by and check out her new blog "Prin's Blues Page." Like me she is a prolific bloger and has many other interesting and cool blogs that you might like to read.
Taj Mahal, who is one of my favorite living bluesmen, has got his web site Taj Blues.com set up for the celibration of his 40th anniversary. The man has had a good run, so far.
You can check out his photos, videos and he has a cool embeded music player that I have been jamming to for the last couple of days. It plays the following tunes;
The Library of Congress has a Flickr account. Who knew? Well since I found out I have been spending all my free time looking at scans of pictures from the 30's and 40's.
Check out these cool pictures of Juke Joints from back in the day.
From Random House:
"Juke joint (or jook joint) is the vernacular term for an informal establishment featuring blues music, dancing, and alcoholic drinks, primarily operated by African American people in the southeastern United States. The term "juke" is believed to derive from the Gullah word joog, meaning rowdy or disorderly."
I wrote this post a couple of years ago, my mind has not really changed over that time, but I thought I would report it with links to Amazon.com this time. Enjoy, debate and let me know what you think of my list.
Here is my list of my top 10 favorite blues harmonica players. In loose order, the people listed below #6 can change depending on my mood, the first five guys are set in stone in my opinion. Feel free to leave me a comment with your top 10 favorites.
01. Sonny Boy Williamson II
02. Little Walter
03. Sonny Terry
04. Junior Wells
05. Sonny Boy Williamson I
06. Jimmy Reed
07. James Cotton
08. Charlie Musselwhite
09. Sugar Blue
10. Big Walter Horton
A good friend sent me this link. I had not seen a clip of these three great guitar players together at the same time.
World Cafe, June 12, 2008 - After decades of success, Chicago-based "rock-a-blues" legend Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater continues to try new things 16 albums into his career. In this session with host David Dye, Clearwater plays songs from the new West Side Strut.Eddy Clearwater.com
Sometimes I'm asked just what is the blues? Well it is a lifestyle. A way of looking at the world, a worldview, you might call it. It is universal and has been expressed by many cultures over time.
Although mostly associated with African American culture, it is in fact just an explanation of the condition of man. At least that is what I think. Consider the words of William Butler Yeats, who wrote, "We begin to live when we have conceived life as tragedy."
Now tell me if that is not a clear and concise statement of the blues.
Another friend was asking about a song called "Jelly Roll Blues."
Which lead me to this;
Bo Didley has passed on to the other side. While much more than a traditional blues man. We have to acknowledge the contribution to music in general and his inovations on the guitar will be learned by guitar players into the future.
