Blues is such a huge category, it's hard to make comparisons across the many styles. When discussing a single performer playing guitar and singing, we're often talking about the country blues. I love country blues but it's hard to pick out a single favorite performer. Some are wonderful for their energy and emotion, some are wonderful for their instrumental expression. It depends on my mood, which performer I'd prefer at any given time.

Sometimes I really like Brownie McGhee; I'm thinking now of that little Folkways 10 in. record he released as a solo album. His playing is so mellow. Other times I prefer Broonzy. I tend to listen to those with more jazz influence but I also like the less polished shouters too.

Of course I love big band blues too; singers like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith are just wonderful. Modern blues is more like rock and roll but I enjoy that too but it's pretty hard to say I prefer SRV over Fury Lewis or Mance Lipscomb.

When I undertake the learning of a new (for me) piece, it's invariably an old number by a long dead performer. I guess that's where my heart is… or did I leave it in San Francisco?

      - Mark