Saturday, June 30, 2012

Friday, June 22, 2012

Count: Count Basie

At least a couple of sources for his nickname
  1. In 1935 dgmagazine It was also on a live broadcast that Basie acquired the nickname Count. One night the host called Basie over to the microphone and said Bill was kind of an ordinary name and now that there was an Earl (Hines) and a Duke (Ellington), wasn’t it time to elevate him to Count?
  2. Another version is that his band called him this because he would count during rehearsals
There are of course so much excellent material on the Net - how to choose






Thursday, June 21, 2012

Booker White – Aberdeen Mississippi Blues HIFI

Wikipedia

Booker T. Washington White better known as Bukka White, was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a phonetic misspelling of White's given name Booker, by his second (1937) record label (Vocalion).


Junior Kimbrough - You Better Run


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Stone The Crows & Maggie Bell - Big Jim Salter (1971)


Hindi Zahra – Beautiful Tango

Wikipedia

Hindi Zahra (born 1979 in Khouribga, Morocco) is a Franco-Moroccan singer.[1] When coming up with a stage name, she simply inverted her birth name.[2] Her songs are mostly in English but some lyrics as in the song Imik Si Mik are in the Berber languages..... Hindi has drawn comparisons with Portishead, Manu Chao, Billie Holiday, Patti Smith, and Norah Jones.


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

willis earl beal - Acousmatic Sorcery

BBC

... He’s laid himself bare, and in doing so has created a home of sorts after a wandering-soul existence: this is his discomfort zone, but well worth paying a visit to.
>


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Melissa Lauren - The Other Side

Home Site

A refreshing voice with interesting lyrics that  make you feel good.  A refreshing change to have an artiste who depends upon her own songwriting abilities rather than has a derivative bunch of songs from others.  Well worth a listen.

In her own words
My primary genre is jazz, however I like to think that this album
combines old school style with a more modern pop sensibilities.  ....

As much as I love standards, I have decided that there is tons of room for

new compositions in the realm of vocal jazz…hence all the originals.

In terms of my background, I started singing with a swing band at a young

age and find myself loving everything jazz and blues influenced.  After
recording my first solo jazz CD in 2006 I was invited to perform at the
Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival as well as the Beaches International Jazz
Festival and have been immersing myself in the local music scene ever
since.   ....


What's different:   The past two years I have been employed as a music
teacher at a school  people with neurological disorders (basically music
therapy)  I have recently tapped in to a new way of delivering and writing
music in a simple way, and teaching voice movement to people with autism.
I have in fact shaped this into a Masters thesis which I love to talk
about if asked…:) I like to think it has shaped the songwriting on the
Latest album..




Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Betty Bebop: Betty Carter

Wikipedia
... In 1948, Carter was asked by Lionel Hampton to join his band.. Carter too had a deep love for bebop as well as a talent for it. Hampton's wife Gladys gave her the nickname "Betty Bebop", a nickname she reportedly detested.
Dedicated website




Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Cleo Laine and Ray Charles - Porgy and Bess medley from the 70s


Geoff Achison and Fiona Boyes

 Australian Blues Guitarists

Junior Wells song (2010)




Monday, June 11, 2012

leadbelly - house of the rising sun



Gary Clark Jnr - Presents Hwul Raw Cuts Vol. I

A good interview/review at kroq radio 'On Falling For The Blues'
“I thought that form of expression, the heart and soul and the energy that goes into it…I’d never heard anything like that


and perhaps one more well known


Sunday, June 10, 2012

Baron: Charles Mingus

Wikipedia
.... Nearly as well known as his ambitious music was Mingus' often fearsome temperament, which earned him the nickname "The Angry Man of Jazz." His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many on-stage eruptions, exhortations to musicians, and dismissals

allaboutjazz
.... When Mingus moved on to the Four Star label and recorded with his octet in 1946, promoter War Perkins added the "Baron" appellation to sell records and denote Mingus' presumed musical royalty. The stellar addition to Mingus' group was pianist Lady Will Carr, whose work subtly accentutated the more emotional approach of "This Subdues My Passion," her arpeggios fluttering behind the muted brass



Woody Guthrie – Dust Bowl Blues

Wikipedia

Dust Bowl Ballads is an album by Woody Guthrie, recorded for Victor Records during Guthrie's time in New York City in 1940. It was Guthrie's first commercial recording and the most successful album he made. It is sometimes considered the first concept album.


I Feel Like Going To Church - Ry Cooder - Jesus On the Mainline

This video is one of those rare gems that makes me want to clap my hands, just like my grandmother used to do when she said she was getting happy.



Notes from YouTube:

From "Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces: Let's Have A Ball", a film by Les Blank taped at The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA on March 25'th 1987. Awesome solo's by George Bohannon and Ry using slide on mandoguitar! (that was a first for me)

Comment from MrBillindallas:
Concert was from a two night run - the last of nine total dates on the NorCal tour. Shot on 16mm film with an audio remote truck in the alley. Movie was released in Europe but not in the US. Great band, at one of the best venues in the 'States, the last two nights of the mini-tour they were truly on fire. One venue was so small the band filled the stage and the dance floor.

Setlist for the two nights in Santa Cruz:

3-24-87 Santa Cruz, CA (the Catalyst):

Showtime
Little Sister
Smack Dab In The Middle
Lets Have A Ball
Me and Frank
unknown title [Spanish lyrics]
Hell Have To Go
If Walls Could Talk
Jesus on The Mainline
How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times & Live?
One Meatball
Atom Bomb
Teeny Weeny Bit of Your Love
Why Dont You Try Me?
Down In The Boondocks
The Things That Make You Rich Make Me Poor
Crazy Bout An Automobile (Every Woman I Know)
encores:
Chain Gang
Down In Hollywood
Goodnight Irene

3-25-87 Santa Cruz, CA (the Catalyst):

Smack Dab In The Middle
Lets Have A Ball
unknown title [Spanish lyrics]
Hell Have To Go
If Walls Could Talk
Jesus On The Mainline
How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times & Live?
One Meatball
Atom Bomb
Teeny Weeny Bit of Your Love
Down In Mississippi
instrumental
The Things That Make You Rich Make Me Poor
Crazy Bout An Automobile (Every Woman I Know)
Chain Gang
Down In Hollywood
Goodnight Irene

Band:
Ry Cooder: guitar, vox
Jim Keltner: drums
Van Dyke Parks: keys
Jorge Calderon: bass
Flaco Jimenez: accordion
Miguel Cruiz: percussion
Steve Douglas: sax
George Bohannon: trombone

Singers:
Bobby King: tenor
Terry Evans: baritone
Arnold McCuller: tenor
Willie Green Jr: bass



Thursday, June 07, 2012

The Fire Meets The Fury - Stevie Ray Vaughan

Taken from the final two nights of The Fire Meets The Fury Tour 1989 , during which Vaughan was paired with British guitar legend Jeff Beck for a 28 date run ....
1. The House is Rockin
2. Tightrope
3. Look at Little Sister
4. Texas Flood
5. Leave My Girl Alone
6. Wall of Denial
7. Superstition
8. Cold Shot
9. Life Without You
10. Crossfire
11. Voodoo Chile









Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Esperanza Spalding at the White House honoring Stevie Wonder


Marcia Ball "Peace, Love and BBQ" 2008

 SBBS
this a consistently good album that confirms Marcia Ball’s piano expertise and good taste. I’ll listen to it a lot. 






Sunday, June 03, 2012

Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble


It's The Birthday of Jimmy Rogers

Jimmy Rogers was born on June 3, 1924 and he passed away on December 19, 1997. He was a blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, who was best known as a member of Muddy Waters' band.

According to Wikipedia;

Jimmy Rogers was born James A. Lane in Ruleville, Mississippi, on June 3, 1924, and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee. He adapted the professional surname 'Rogers' from his stepfather's last name. Rogers learned the harmonica alongside his childhood friend Snooky Pryor, and as a teenager took up the guitar and played professionally in East St. Louis, Illinois (where he played with Robert Lockwood, Jr., among others), before moving to Chicago in the mid 1940s.[citation needed] By 1946 he had recorded his first record as a harmonica player and singer for the local Harlem record label (not to be confused with the New York based label of the same name), although his name was not including on the label — the record was issued under the names 'Memphis Slim and his Houserockers'.

Rogers joined Muddy Waters the next year, with whom he helped shape the sound of the nascent Chicago Blues style. Although he had several successful releases of his own on Chess Records beginning in 1950 with "That's Alright", he stayed with Waters' until leaving his band for a solo career in 1954.

In 1995 Rogers was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame


His Best


Jimmy Rogers @Amazon.com


I Feel Like Going to Church - Rev. Gary Davis - Oh Glory How Happy I Am

Oh Glory How Happy I Am



LYRICS:

Oh, when I was out in the world of sin
I had no one to be my friend
Jesus came and he taken me in
Glory, hallelu

And he taken my feet out the miry clay
He placed them up on a rock to stay
I thank God that I can say
Glory, hallelu

Oh, Glory how happy I am
Oh, Glory how happy I am
My soul is washed in the blood of the lamb
Glory, hallelu

New Blues & Gospel





I was out in darkness and I could not see
Jesus came and he rescued me
He claimed me and gave me a victory
Glory, hallelu

And one day while Jesus was passing by
He set my sinful soul on fire
He made me laugh and he made me cry
Glory, hallelu

Oh, Glory how happy I am
Oh, Glory how happy I am
My soul is washed in the blood of the lamb
Glory, hallelu

When I could not understand
Jesus, he give me a lending hand
Led me away to the promised land
Glory, hallelu

Oh, well he give me a horn and he told me to blow
Go in peace and sin no more
He led me away to the upright shore
Glory, hallelu

Oh, Glory how happy I am
Oh, Glory how happy I am
My soul is washed in the blood of the lamb
Glory, hallelu

I know something that's mighty swell
A sweet little story I love to tell
Jesus saved my soul from Hell
Glory, hallelu

Oh, stand back Satan, get out of my way
I don't want to hear not a word you say
I'm on my way to the King's highway
Glory, hallelu

Well thank God I got over at last
Thank God I got over at last
My feet is planted in the narrow path
Glory, hallelu

Oh, Glory how happy I am
Oh, Glory how happy I am
My soul is washed in the blood of the lamb
Glory, hallelu

When I had no home to claim
I begin to call on Jesus' name
He saved me from old Satan's chains
Glory, hallelu

Now I'm fire-baptized and holy ghost-filled
I'm out here to do my master's will
I must keep going, I must keep
Glory, hallelu

Oh, Glory how happy I am
Oh, Glory how happy I am
My soul is washed in the blood of the lamb
Glory, hallelu


Saturday, June 02, 2012

Jo Harman - Underrated Gem

Very very good.

bio here

The music should talk for itself




Nick Moss

Last.fm
Chicago blues is now synonymous with guitarist Nick Moss.... this young Chicagoan stands tallest in the current generation of blues performers that honor the letter and spirit of the great urban African-American music ...



Friday, June 01, 2012

Billie Holiday

Here is an interesting video about the life and times of Billie Holiday, gives a different perspective on her life and music.