Some of you know that I'm a fan of the colour instruments - the free-reeds (the squeezebox family), saxes, and of course that crazy bulky wonder, the Hammond B3.
Here's a fantastic player, Barbara Dennerlein.
Suffering Music, featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith on organ
I love the organ on this next piece, None of us are Free by Soloman Burke
I believe Rudy Copeland is the organ player. The Blind Boys of Alabama are singing with Mr. Burke. What a great cut!
Wynonie Harris born in Omaha, Nebraska, was an American blues shouter and rhythm and blues singer of upbeat songs featuring humorous, with often ribald lyrics. With fifteen Top 10 hits between 1946 and 1952, Harris is generally considered one of rock and roll's forerunners, influencing Elvis Presley among others.
OK that's the official line - his voice and the style of records are just as relevant today I think.
On Mr Anchovy's recommendation - because I haven't heard these before and I like to learn!
Benjamin Darvill is a Canadian musician and singer–songwriter. Since 2000, he has been busy with his solo project Son of Dave, which has resulted in four albums.
I like this animation - it has a happy feel is technically sound and it gets my feet tapping.
The next two live sessions make we want to be there - I get the feeling that he is intimate regardless of the venue. Listen and enjoy.
I don't think I can recommend this mp3 album more enthusiastically. I love it, and think that fans of the blues, folk music, and gospel music will too. Just check out the various artist who are included here.
The cool part about mp3 albums is that you only have to buy the tracks that you like, but in this case each track is a keeper.
This DVD is published in the US on 20th October - the following suggest this might be quite an event.
Recorded Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall on February 10, 2009, the DVD features Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis, and the stunning songstress Norah Jones. The artists collectively bring their unique musical perspective to the legendary Ray Charles' hits such as “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” “Hit the Road Jack,” and “Unchain My Heart.” The evening’s musicians are supported by insightful and vibrant performances from saxaphonist Walter Blanding, pianist Dan Nimmer, bassist Carlos Henriquez, drummer Ali Jackson, and harmonica great Mickey Raphael.The DVD gives music lovers a front-row seat to the sold-out concert in New York City at Rose Theater, and includes rehearsal footage, exclusive interviews and photos.
Every time I see the below photo, I laugh. Howlin' Wolf could be so intense at times, here he is comic. The other two guys in the photo are being straight men.
Jamaica-born, Texas-raised and Phoenix-based Big Pete Pearson
In a review of his CD "I'm Here Baby" (Blue Witch Records) in the Phoenix New Times, Mark Keresman writes, "Likely among the last of the breed of Chicago-style bluesmen, Pearson has a burly, somewhat raspy, heartfelt bellow of a voice in the vein of late icons Muddy Waters and Junior Wells." .
Good stuff!
You may know Geraint Watkins as a side-man to the likes of Nick Lowe and Van Morrison. He also plays a mean accordion!
Here's Mr. Watkins back on keyboards, with a bluesy version of the great Van Dyke Parks / Brian Wilson tune, Heros and Villains. I heard him play this one a few years ago at Lee's Palace here in Toronto when he was opening the show for (and backing) Nick Lowe.
Finally, Watkins and co. mess around with Johnny B. Goode. It sounds kind of like a Cab Calloway thing through part of it.
"Not quite country, somewhere beyond folk, Holcombe's music is a kind of blues in motion,mapping backwoods corners of the heart." ~David Fricke- Rolling Stone Magazine
In the mid 1980’s, inspired by the British blues boom of the 1960s and 1970s, and fascinated by the differences between the UK and his hometown, Petit moved from California to London, England. During his initial years in the UK, Petit played alongside Phil May (The Pretty Things), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Ian Stewart (The Rolling Stones) in May's “Friends Band” which performed dozens of gigs in London's Leicester Square and Little Venice.
"The reason I am on the planet is to play blues guitar. I’m on a mission to spread the word about the blues and about the guitar – especially to young music lovers." - Stephen Dale Petit
Another guy who it's hard to slot into a particular genre - jazz? blues? I don't think it matters - just enjoy.
High octane stuff to get you feeling good.
"Emotion-laden and incisive, it's Specter's guitar work you'll remember."
-Guitar World
"Specter effortlessly juggles rhythm and lead guitar, tossing off elegant, precise solos." - Living Blues
Happy Friday everybody. Isn't it about time? Your Friday treat for the day features David Clayton Thomas and the Shays from 1965. This is pre-Blood Sweat and Tears material, and I just love that groove. Note the nod to John Lee Hooker, when Thomas sings "Boom Boom Boom Boom". You might also call this a bit of Canadiana, as Mr. Thomas grew up in a suburb of Toronto, and I believe this was recorded up here.
These two video clips are from the critically acclaimed movie Ghost World. One of the subplots of the movie revolves around the relationship of Seymore (played by Steve Buscemi), and a young lady named Chloe.
The first scene is one where Chloe is teasing Semore about dropping his Skip James record. For some odd reason this is funny to me. The second scene is of her listening to the record. I thought it was cool and amusing how they wove this song into this movie.
I wish more Hollywood types would go back and take a look at some of the blues music of the past and use it in todays movies.
When Eddie Taylor Sr., a founder of postwar Chicago blues and the genius behind the famous Jimmy Reed, passed away in 1985, his red guitar, a Gibson 355 stereo, was left sitting in the corner.
Eddie Jr., the third son in the family, had grown up hearing blues, but his main interest at the time was the current hip-hop music. One day he started listening to his father's records, picked up the guitar, hooked it up to the old Fender tube amp, and started teaching himself to play and sing.
Lot of people talking about young girls being pregnant as of late. I think that poet, philosopher and master bluesman, Muddy Waters said it best;
"Young girls make strong babies."
The Mississippi Shieks
Here's a nice take on this theme... Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. What a great band they were!
Here's guitar great Doc Watson from 1962..
Finally, Wolf.
'nuff said.
Stanton Moore is a New Orleans native. Stanton Moore was one of the many musicians who suffered losses in the Hurricane Katrina floods, though afterward, he donated and helped to get donations for musicians affected, arranging and performing at benefit concerts. Moore recorded III after Katrina, and there is a suite of pieces on the CD inspired by the flood, that ends the CD.
He leaves you feeling good!
Emphasis (on Parenthesis)
III
Rock and roll pioneer - many of his hits were successes despite being banned.
If you're looking for youth, you're looking for longevity, just take a dose of rock 'n' roll—it keeps you going. Just like the caffeine in your coffee, rock 'n' roll is good for the soul, for the well being, for the psyche, for your everything. I love it. I can't even picture being without rock 'n'roll.— Hank Ballard
The AP is reporting that "Museum for bluesman B.B. King has strong 1st year"
According to the article;
A year after its opening, the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center has drawn about 30,000 visitors to the Mississippi Delta town roughly 100 miles northwest of Jackson where the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/guitarist once made his living on a cotton plantation.
Attendance exceeded a first-year projection of 25,000, despite the museum's opening last fall amid hurricanes, high gas prices, economic woes and the end of the traditional summer travel season, said Connie Gibbons, the museum's executive director.
On a tour of the UK with Bruce Channel, McClinton met a young John Lennon and advised him on his harmonica technique, resulting in the sound heard on the Beatles hit “Love Me Do”.
He won a 1991 Grammy for his duet with Bonnie Raitt, “Good Man, Good Woman”, and reached the Top 5 of the country charts with the Tanya Tucker duet, “Tell Me About It”. He recorded the opening title song “Weatherman” for the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day.
Sending Me Angels
An interesting British musician who's music shows many influences ranging from pop/rock through to jazz, classical and British folk. '21st Century Boogie' shows his attention to blues/boogie-woogie, while 'Based On A True Story' shows much more of an Indie-piano leaning. A very good listen as well.
Based on a True Story
There is an excellent biography of Trane here
I was completely sold the first time I ever heard a Love Supreme. Giant Steps
1. Giant Steps
Here's the Memphis Jug Band.
Cocaine habit blues
Coal Oil Blues
We're going back, way back, to the late 20's and early 30's today. One of the interesting things about this band is that the personnel changed regularly, usually centred around Will Shade who was the glue holding the group together.
These look and sound like ones to watch
Website here
MySpace here
Born & raised in Pasadena, California, Guy Tortora is now settled in London, in the UK. He does Americana — blues, jazz, folk and roots
Living on Credit
Get away, Jordan
Get away, Jordan
Get away, Jordan
There’s one more river to cross
And that’s the stream that flows,
Thru Bethlehem call the river Jordan.
Don’t you want to God Almighty…
O’ my Lord…
Get away, Jordan
Get away, Jordan
Get away, Jordan
I want to cross over to see my Lord
One of these mornings bright and fair
I want to cross over to see my Lord
Going to take my wings and fly the air
I want to cross over to see my Lord
Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Hornsby, Tom Petty, Don Henley, Iggy Pop, Alanis Morissette, John Mayer, Gavin DeGraw, and Keith Richards all count themselves admirers of Whitley's music. (Just for the record he tragically died of lung cancer in 2005 at the tender age of forty five.)
I like this type of guitar)
That was Clifton Chenier. Below we have Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas.
The Original Filé Gumbo Band
Sometimes a Wikipedia entry just stands out
Dana Gillespie was born to the Baron De Winterstein Gillespie, an Austrian radiologist and his wife. She grew up in England and her family's villa on Lake Maggiore, Italy. She was the British Junior Water Skiing Champion for four years until an injury forced her retirement.
She recorded initially in the folk genre in the mid-1960s, although she was more known at this time for being the girlfriend of Bob Dylan. Some of her recordings as a teenager fell into the teen pop category, such as the 1966 single "Thank You Boy", produced by Jimmy Page. Her acting career got under way shortly afterwards, and overshadowed her musical career in the late 1960s and 1970s. After performing backing vocals on the track "It Ain't Easy" from David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, she recorded an album produced by Bowie and Mick Ronson in 1973, "Weren't Born a Man". Subsequent efforts have been in the blues genre, appearing with her "London Blues Band". She is notable for being the original Mary Magdalene in the first London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar which opened at the Palace Theatre in late 1971. She also appears on the Original London Cast album which was released the following year.
She is a close friend and associate of Angela Bowie, David Bowie's former wife.
Gillespie is a regular at "Basil's Blues Bar" on Mustique Island in the Caribbean, for three weeks in January through to February. This mostly features her "London Blues Band", but she also invites other acts. In 2005, Mick Jagger appeared as a guest and sang songs such as: "Honky Tonk Women", "Dust My Broom" and "Goin' Down".
Blues It Up
Jump blues is an up-tempo blues usually played by small groups and featuring horns. Jump blues was very popular in the 1940s and was called "rock and roll" in the 1950s.
Jump accomplishes with three horns and a rhythm section what a big band does with an ensemble of sixteen. The tenor saxophone is the most prominent instrument in jump. Jump groups, employed to play for jitterbugs at a much lower cost than big bands, became very popular with agents and ballroom owners. Saxophonist Art Chaney said "we were insulted" when an audience wouldn't dance.
He has been on the UK Blues scene for 15 years or so - appearing on TV, radio and on British Airways radio. He has a good sound as the following should show - I hope you agree.
It's the birthday of bluesman Freddie King (aka Freddy King).
Freddie King @ SqueezeMyLemon
And as for the question, "Have you ever loved a woman?"
I have to admit that I have and still do, "so much that it is a shame and a sin."
Have you ever loved a Woman
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Freddie King: Ain`t No Sunshine When She`s Gone.
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Boogie Funk
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Freddie King
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The above video all come off (I believe) the below DVDs
Died March 2009
On April 3 2008 Mel Brown performed on stage with Buddy Guy in Kitchener, Ontario, mesmerizing the crowd. Guy left the stage to Brown to finish the show to a standing ovation.
Blues: A Beautiful Thing
By which all other tunes should be judged? Sometimes you just need to be reminded about the class of Ella's voice.
