The Delta thread has got me thinking about a Greenville musician that I wish all of you could have heard. His name was "Boogaloo" Ames and he died this February, in his eighties I believe. I only heard him once, by accident, in a place in Leland, Miss. last year. He was playing blues/jazz piano with a motley group of 5 people, all of whom seemed to be playing for the sheer joy of it. And he SWUNG. And they swung. They careened from blues songs to jazz tunes to swing standards and on into stuff I didn't know what it was, but it was fine and I was amazed by their range.

Months later I heard that same totally amazing piano music in a documentary. What I loved about it it was, it was the perfect fusion of blues and jazz. It was knock-you-over fine. Anyway, I sat down and watched and listened. It seems Boogaloo had had a long complicated life elsewhere and moved to Greenville quite late in life. And was considered 'past it' in many ways. Meanwhile, a young blond Greenville woman had graduated college in piano but still didn't feel like she could really 'play'. And she came across Boogaloo. And asked if she could study with him, and he said yes. And they worked and played together and she learned how to REALLY play. And Boogaloo had more reason to get out and keep living and keep playing. And they each played well alone, and also together, and sometimes Eden would sing in her deep and real voice. It was synergy and magic. But then Boogaloo had to go.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you this story. He didn't put out shiny CDs and he didn't fit into the 'bluesman' pigeonhole well enough to be trendy. But he was here and he was master of his style, and he took time to pass it on when it would have been easier not to. And I'm so glad he was here.

So, if you're in the Delta and you hear Eden Brent is playing, go and hear her, and call her 'little Boogaloo' if you get the chance.