The, as promised, Blues thread.

Mr. Gordo · #1 04-24-2007, 04:28 PM

Thanks Dirk!

I'll keep this brief on account of it being 7 in the morning and me being quite sleepy.

This is, obviously, just to talk about the blues in general, but I'd like to know who you would say are your greatest influences?

FunkyE9th · #2 04-24-2007, 05:59 PM

Stevie Ray Vaughan. The guy makes every note count, and when you watch him play, he looks like he is trying squeeze everything out of the guitar.

Robben Ford is another guy that makes every note count, but unlike SRV, when you watch Robben Ford play, it looks effortless, but of course very soulful.

-FunkyE9th

aPAULo · #3 04-24-2007, 06:00 PM

My greatest influences and favorite bluesmen are T-Bone Walker and Freddie King. I also like the obvious ones like B.B and Albert King.

T-Bone is more jazzyish blues and has some swing on some of his songs. He was a major influence on alot of bluesmen.

Freddie I recently discovered and immediately liked his music. Its more Texas Bluesy but he has alot of emotions poured out from his guitar.

How many people hear like blues slide guitar?

mr. beaumont · #4 04-24-2007, 06:21 PM

blues wise, there's nobody i like more than magic sam...

Mr. Gordo · #5 04-24-2007, 06:29 PM

Good slide guitar is amazing. I saw Derek Trucks when Eric Clapton came out here and he was terrific (although admittedly *slightly* outshone by Clapton, but who wouldn't be?). I've listened to a few Derek Trucks Band tracks, and I'd highly recommend them to anyone.

I can't seem to 'figure out' slide guitar though.

aPAULo · #6 04-24-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Gordo

I can't seem to 'figure out' slide guitar though.

Dont worry. Neither can I! Especially since I lost my slide. But after listening to Elmore James, I am starting to crave that slide!!

dirkji · #7 04-25-2007, 05:54 AM

I'm going to be honest, I don't like blues, it bores me. I think I might have heard too much blues when I was a kid, my parents liked blues and my family had and have a blues club. I do like Stevie Ray Vaughan though, he was a fresh wind in the blues scene in my opinion.

- Dirk

mr. beaumont · #8 04-25-2007, 01:10 PM

that's funny, because i feel exactly the opposite--i love good blues, but i'm derfinitely NOT an SRV fan-- different strokes for different folks, i suppose...

Mudtussell · #9 04-25-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Gordo

Good slide guitar is amazing. I saw Derek Trucks when Eric Clapton came out here and he was terrific (although admittedly *slightly* outshone by Clapton, but who wouldn't be?). I've listened to a few Derek Trucks Band tracks, and I'd highly recommend them to anyone.

I can't seem to 'figure out' slide guitar though.

If you want to hear a great slide player check out Warren Hayes. He plays with the Allman Brothers. I saw him in Atlanta and was completly blown away. I've never heard anything like it. You've got to see him live though. I didn't get the same effect just listening to him on albums.

seanlowe · #10 04-25-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirkji

I'm going to be honest, I don't like blues, it bores me. I think I might have heard too much blues when I was a kid, my parents liked blues and my family had and have a blues club. I do like Stevie Ray Vaughan though, he was a fresh wind in the blues scene in my opinion.

- Dirk

I'm afraid i completely agree with you dirk mate, it's the equivalent of listening to autumn leaves time and time again, the harmonic interest goes and there is very little movement.
On another note is that i would've said that nowadays very few of the guys who are playing blues really have the right or soul to; from growing up in middle class chicago and going to a private school or something.
But thats just me, i can appreciate why you guys do enjoy it, and good keep doing it we need people to like different things (dont wanna sound like im flaming anything) Out of interest my dad force fed me blind lemon jefferson and robert johnson from 1-16 years of age.

Mudtussell · #11 04-26-2007, 08:47 AM

To me, the Blues is where it all began. It is the first music to emphasize improvisation. I read in this article called, "The History of Jazz", (jazzitude.com) that any atempts to trace the roots of Jazz must take into account the influence of Blues. It said the influence of Blues on Jazz could not be overempahsed. I admit that sometimes Blues gets a little monatonous. And I completely agree with Sean about the fact that a lot of blues players nowadays seem to be just going through the motions. Playing the same old rehashed licks and not saying anything new. It's become a little too commercial which is exactly what Blues is Not suppose to be.
Still, there is nothing like being in the back of a dark,smoke filled shack in the middle of nowhere drinking a Jack on the rocks and watching this old blues man, all alone on stage with a beat up acoustic, just singing and playing his heart out. Just one man and his guitar. Nothing fancy and Nothing like it, in this world.

jesusjazz · #12 04-26-2007, 11:36 AM

I love the blues; I don't think you can blame 'Blues' in general on certain musicians just ''going through the motions'' or making it commercial. The feeling is still there, you just have to know that you can't go looking for it, you have to let it find you and hit you and throw you around a little bit.

About slide guitar, I'm surprised I'm the first to mention Duane Allman--he's absolutely amazing, and listening to him (especially from the Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East album) was how i first learned some slide guitar licks. Other blues favorites of mine are Taj Mahal, Albert King, Dickey Betts, SRV, Son House, it keeps going and going...

Mudtussell · #13 04-26-2007, 12:36 PM

jesusjazz,
You've listed some truely great musicians. For some reason I think Duane Allman does get overlooked sometimes. He was a monster on slide. And you are right. You do have to let it find you. I think of Blues as something that comes from way down deep and you can't fake it. You either feel it or you don't.

I think Dickey Betts is amazing to. I've had the pleasure of seeing him on several occasions. I'm down in South Ga. and fortunately for me the Blues scene down here is all you could ever hope for. It's easy to go out and find somewhere and somebody to sit in with.

aPAULo · #14 04-26-2007, 04:34 PM

I agree with you on the commercial growth of blues and the more recent players not showing anything new. But, I feel, without blues, there would be no jazz, and without jazz, there would be no blues. I think they grew from ideas from each other.

seanlowe · #15 04-27-2007, 09:25 AM

maybe jazz wouldn't be the same, but so much of jazz came from manouche and other east european musics, people forget a lot of that; dixie was the kind of step between american blues and jazz, but without anything else swing harmony wouldn't have started. But yes it was integral, i just think that players of blues could open their eyes a bit more

Mudtussell · #16 04-27-2007, 10:06 AM

Sean,
I was wondering if you would elaborate on your comment that Blues musicians should open their eyes a bit more. Are you speaking about musical knowledge? The use of more complicated scales or chord voicings?

seanlowe · #17 04-27-2007, 02:19 PM

More like introducing new sounds to the music (robben ford and SRV fair enough) by having new ideas, or listening to other music and taking influence from that. Just seems that a good 90% is recycled licks, with nothing musical to show any progress (dont get me wrong, huge numbers of every kind of musician do this, its just more obvious with blues)

Mudtussell · #18 04-27-2007, 02:44 PM

Yeah, exactly. I think in general there is a lot of that going around. When someone really great comes along though it just makes them shine the more brighter.

I need some new blues to get into so if anyone has any suggestions that would be great. Maybe something that has come out in the last couple of years.

wizard3739 · #19 04-28-2007, 02:00 AM

I like the blues and often use blues to start (break the ice) with a new group. It is easy to play and can be as complex as you want it to be. Sort of analogous to Rythym changes.

aPAULo · #20 05-08-2007, 07:38 AM

Mudtessell,

One of my favorite if not favorite blues musicians is Freddie King. You have probably already listened to him but just in case, there is one good suggestion. I just started to listen to him and I think he sounds great.

Mudtussell · #21 05-09-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aPAULo

Mudtessell,

One of my favorite if not favorite blues musicians is Freddie King. You have probably already listened to him but just in case, there is one good suggestion. I just started to listen to him and I think he sounds great.

aPaulo,
I have heard of Freddie King. But only a couple of tunes. Thats a great suggestion. I also just heard about some guy with the last name Sullivan but I don't know the first name. I have checked on the internet and haven't been able to find him.

Thanks for the suggestion.

MattEg · #22 05-09-2007, 12:06 PM

I love the blues, mostly Delta and Chicago. The blues is the music I got into after I was playing metal/punk guitar for a little. Got turned onto it by a local Harp player as a teen after I had sold all my gear for drugs. I like to sing the stuff and interpet it my own way. I do believe I got a lot of bad guitar playing habits from it(percussive body hits and such) and the rut of always going to 1-4-5 and pentatonic scales. This isn't bad if you use it here and there, but I've always used it. I'm retraining my self with Jazz.

I like Charley Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Muddy and the Wolf ,Willie Dixon, Little and Big Walter, Charlie Musselwhite, Junior Wells with Buddy Guy. The Allman Bros. super charged blues covers really blew my mind too.

Yeah I'm a harmonica player too, thats why those harpers are in there, they usually played with blues guitar stars. I had to listen to steal licks

aPAULo · #23 05-09-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudtussell

I also just heard about some guy with the last name Sullivan but I don't know the first name. I have checked on the internet and haven't been able to find him.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Cant help you with that but I can suggest a few more obvious people.

T-Bone Walker- One of my favorites. Hes from the earlier days and he was kind of a jazzy blues player.

B.B. King- Just in case. All famous B.B.

Albert King- Stingy sound. Not really one of my favorites, but he is a good musician.

Elmore James- Previously mentioned and a great slide guitarist.

Theres also SRV, Clapton, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, and many other. Hope this helps

seanlowe · #24 05-10-2007, 12:39 PM

Check out john Mooney the slide player, by all accounts he is one of the best alive (im told by blues afficionados

but yeah he is good) and obviously ry cooder is class but more bluegrass and cajun inthe... Bill frisell is also an amazing slide player, along with everything else!

mr. beaumont · #25 05-10-2007, 02:40 PM

hey, if ya like elmore james, check out his brother, "homesick" james. the album "blues on the south side" is a classic.

swingbilly · #26 11-28-2007, 02:08 PM

check out Buddy Whittington ... he's on Youtube with John Mayall...he is a true blues master & hometown Texas boy...he is definately not just "going through the motions". he plays with a "fire built under his azz" type of force that SRV had IMHO.

kulzak · #27 01-02-2008, 11:43 AM

How can you not like blues ?

It is the roots of Jazz.

Blues is more about feel than it is about music. Two different artists can play the same three chord blues and it will sound completely different.
It's more about the timing then it is the notes. Some of the early delta blues had some very simple notes but the negroe players in the South had a feel that few these days can mimic. Some try but they get too heavy trying to play fancy notes when it's really the sincipation, the rythem and the beat in the vocals and in the instrument that makes it sound so rich.

I don't like a lot of the modern Blues artists for that reason.

So what about Retro Swing Blues players such as Hollywood Fats or
Jr. Walters ??? any of you into this kind of playing ?

Scolohofo · #28 01-02-2008, 04:00 PM

hey,you should listen to Ronnie Earl who is sometimes jazzy.
Ronnie Earl

Check Ronnie playing solo on his learn dvd
YouTube - Ronnie Earl - Blues Guitar with Soul DVD

Chrizzia · #29 01-05-2008, 04:27 AM

Wow, I am actually stunned that there are jazz players who don´t like the blues. It is the most played set of changes in jazz and in my opinion you gotta have blues feeling to play great jazz. It is all of the black culture with spirituals, gospels and the blues that is running through me when I play jazz. Jazz is a natural development of blues. More harmonically sophisticated and maybe a bit more mysterious.
I love jazz and therefore I love blues. Not that there isnt real crappy blues as there is crappy jazz, I just think that it is the root of it all. I´m a jazzplayer, but I feel a bond between jazz and blues players. We are in the same ballpark. It is all about the need to tell a story and the heart that express it...
Just my 2 cents...

gravitas · #30 01-05-2008, 09:12 AM

I'm pretty fond of Kelly Joe Phelps. This guy right here:

YouTube - Kelly Joe Phelps - Goodnight Irene

Does a good job of reenergizing the tradition, I think.

Also the standards: T Bone, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Ry Cooder... To me, the Blues is only interesting acoustic. Pure Electric Blues bores me to death. T Bone wasn't what one would call straight blues, I like his jazzier explorations. Same applies to jazz. When Russell Malone or Grant Green play the blues I get very excited.

What's the opinion on John Mayer?