Feelin The Blues

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Amos
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 05:39 AM

Azizi:

Put the word "blues" into the filter box at the top of the forum page where it says "Filter:" and set the "Age" drop-down to "All" for a survey of some really far-ranging discussions about Da Blues.

A

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 04:09 AM

Roger the Skiffler,

Your question "Can a blue man sing the whites?" was funny.

You get some "Brownie points" for that one.
--

And in my post on John Hammond Jr. 'BYW' was a typo. I was supposed to have typed BTW {By the way}..

But I have been known to make up some acronyms-none of which are memorable by even me..but it is a lot of fun to do so..


Toda (Hebrew for thank you} to all Mudcatters and their Guests who could easily join this welcoming Folk & Blues community...

Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 03:59 AM

Thread drift-sort of

Teresa was the only one so far that posted how to say "thank you"
in another language. So Merci Teresa.

And to demonstrate that googling is a wonderful, but addictive resource
[kinda like Mudcat there]

I decided to be pro-active and find a site that provided that information.

And they are legion...

Here is one:

Thank You Worldwide

And here are some examples from that site:

Ewe Togo (Africa) - Akpé (Appé)
Ewe Togo (Africa) - Apké na wo (Thanks to you)
Fijian - Vinaka
Finnish - kiitos (kee'-toas)
Fon Benin (Africa) - Kpè nu wé
French - merci (mehr-see')
French - Merci Madame - Thanks (to a woman)
French - Merci Mademoiselle - Thanks (to a young girl)
French - Merci Monsieur - Thanks (to a man)
F.Y.R.O.M. (Macedonia) - Hvala
Gambia (Mandinka) - Abarka
German - Danke (dahn'-kuh)
German - Danke schoen (literally: nicely thank you, outdated)
German - Danke sehr (Thank you very much)
German -Vielen Dank (Many Thanks)
Greek - Efharisto (ef-har-ris-tou')
Greek - Efkaristo poly
Guarani - Aguije (ah-we-JAY) native indian language of Paraguay and Western Brazil
Guinea (Mandinka) - Abarka
Gujarathi (India) - Aabar
Hawaiian - Mahalo
Hebrew - Toda (toh-dah')
Hebrew - Toda raba (thank you very much)
Hindi (India National Language) - Dhan-ya-vaad

So Akpe everybody!

PS. Since music makes the world world kin, we should learn more about our kinfolk, don't you think?


Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 03:59 AM

Sister Az, I came to the blues via Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, so I'm interested in the women blues singers, particularly the early ones. If you can, get hold of a double CD set called the Great Women Blues Singers, the Gold collection (Retro R2CD 40-75 is the UK version)which is a cheap label and is a good introduction to a wide range from Bessie Smnith to Nina Simone.
Happy hunting!

RtS
(Can a blue man sing the whites?)

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 03:48 AM

Since Brucie wrote one name only in his post I'm thinking that this Blues artist must mean a great deal to him.

And also I'm thinking that maybe he {Brucie that is] wants to see if I [Azizi that is] will not just wait around for knowledge to be handed to me on a silver platter but will put some personal effort into getting what I've admitted I wanted-that is-a greater familiarity with the Blues.

So-though it really wasn't that hard-I google John Hammond Jr.

Here is an excerpt from one website:

   "So how does he continue to do it and do it with such
    passion? "Because I love it, that's how," he said. "It's my
    life." Blues doesn't get any better than this, in concept or
    execution. Stay on the road, John Hammond. We need your blues."
    -- BlueSpeak

"From coffeehouses to concert halls, festivals and beyond, John Hammond has spent forty years entertaining blues, folk and rock audiences around the world, performing intense solo-acoustic blues. A Grammy Award winner and four time nominee, Hammond is also a multiple W.C. Handy award winner who has shared the stage and/or recorded with many of the masters, including Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf. John has recorded over twenty five albums and his passionate commitment to traditional blues made him the natural choice to host the BRAVO TV special and Sony Home Video, The Search for Robert Johnson...."

end of quote

More on John Hammond Jr,

---

BYW, the accompanying photos on that website show that John Hammonds Jr 'happens to be' White.

Which is cool with me. I'm not one of those people who believe that you have to be Black to really feel the blues.

I think that you have to have experienced SUFFERATION [to use a Jamaican Rastas term] to really play or sing the Blues. And sufferation happens to us all.

I believe that Blues is one way to express a persons experiences with sufferation. Playing, singing, and {yes} listening or dancing to the Blues helps both the artist & his or her audience to overcome, work through, and come out on the other side of sufferation-hopefully stronger because of that experience.

That being said, as even a beginning student of the Blues, I have already discounted the wide spread misconception that ALL Blues music is sad.

It just ain't so as the lyrics and tempos of many songs demonstrate...
--

And if I'm not mistaken John Hammonds Jr. is the first non-Black person listed in this thread of Bluesmen and Blueswomen.

So Brucie, asante sana {thank you very much in Swahili} for starting that ball rollin.

I'm certain that other 'Catters can recommend additional non-Black Blues musicians and artists.

I thank you in advance.

Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 12:57 AM

John Hammond, Jr.

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 12:19 AM

IT sure does. I've been here about 7 months, and it feels like I have some family here.

Like a lot of people, I listened to the Blues backwards.
I started with the electric stuff : Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, 60's stuff like Fleetwood Mac, Canned Heat, Allman Brothers...
Then, I found the people that influenced them, the REAL DEAL, like Robert Johnson, Son House, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Blind Willie McTell, to name a few.

The 'real' stuff has kept me ever since. It's what says the most to me & for me.

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 10:50 PM

Asante, Ero Hamano, Gracias, Merci, Thank you

for the information you all are sharing.

If anyone has any other ways of saying thank you I'll include them too.

Music makes the whole world kin.


Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 10:47 PM

Hey, dw, I got Honey Boy's book, too... Honey Boy be the da' man in that it seems that he's 'bout the last one standin'...

Wish ol' R.L. Burnside would get a book out but he's prolly a little too cranky... Too bad. I'm sure he's gotta a lot of good stories to tell...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: dwditty
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 10:25 PM

The blues is not just about the music....it is about the people who make the music. I just finished reading Honeyboy Edwards' autobiography, "The World Don't Owe Me Nothin'." Honeyboy is just about the last link to many of the country blues artists referred to in this thread. For example, he was there the night Robert Johnson was killed. I saw him perform about 10 days ago...at 89 he is still doing two shows and drinking shots of Jack Daniels in between. His book gives his personal accounts of those he ran with....Big Joe williams, Sonny Boy Williamson, Skip James, Son House, Charlie Patton, and of course, Robert Johnson....so many others. The book is a wonderful document...available at www.earwigmusic.com

This is not an advertisement!

dw

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Teresa
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 10:18 PM

Hi Azizi,

Just one comment about the local radio station. If it's public broadcasting, it may only play certain music at certain times. The website probably has a program guide or schedule you can look at for blues shows.

Oh, one more way to say thank you, as I do for starting this thread and helping me learn so much: merci in French (mehr-see) with the accent on the second syllable. :)

Teresa

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:35 PM

Sniff....

Gettin' real mushy 'round here...

(But, Bobert, ain't that what the blues is about???)

Heck no, it ain't. It's about celebratin' survivin' another week of drivin' that ol' Ford tractor on Boss Hog's plantation...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:33 PM

Yeah, I know, but I BEEN to his house. :~) He's also married to the best. Since you're the best too-- well, if you were to hook up with them, at their place, I think it would be so powerful the roof would blow off. So come to my place instead! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:28 PM

Hi Susan!

That's what I said.


Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:27 PM

Thanks Bobert,

I appreciate your offer and your response to my PM.

While I'm here let me say I also appreciate
Drayman's response to my PM.

You guys are ACE! {as my mother would say..}
that means "You are ALL THAT, and a bag of chips!"


Ero Hamano {Thank You} *

* I just learned this from a friend from the Luo ethnic group in
Kenya, East Africa

Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:25 PM

Bobert's.... the BEST.

~S~

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:09 PM

Like I said in the PM, Azizi, no problem...

Had you been 'round this joint longer I reckon you woulda knowed that I ain't got no bad bones an', hey, this is the way I really talk...

Folks who have met me will tell ya, "Yup, that's the way the boy talks, all right."

And the offer is still open...

I am a purdy good blues guitar teacher and could get you ramped up in no time...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 04:39 PM

Leadfingers,

I followed these directions that a Guest had posted for Brucie in another thread:

Subject: RE: BS: And It's 1,2,3 What Are They Votin' For?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 09:04 PM

1.Find a page you want to link to.

2.Right click on it and select properties.

3.That shows you the URL ( address)

4.Highlight the URL

5.Right click and select COPY

6.On the bit under the bit where you post your message to a thread, find the make clicky bit, press it.

7. In the space next to URL (top one) put your cursor and right click.

8. Select PASTE.

9. That puts the URL you chose in that gap.

10. Test that that does go to the page you want.

11. It then tells you on the page to copy and paste that into your thread.

12. Again just right click on it to copy it, and in the message part right click again to paste.
--

Hopefully, these directions worked for the forum you mentioned to me.

Click here for Blues' Forum

And, By the way..in yet another thread, someone had posted the
backdoor address for Mudcat if the front entrance wasn't working like this morning and some of this afternoon.

Here's that address, in case anyone doesn't have it.

http://207.103.108.99/threads.cfm

While that address will usually get you here, members are listed as guests and we can't Private Message..but we can still read the threads and posts..

And Gracias, Leadfingers!
Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 04:21 PM

Azizi - You may well be interested in Blindmans Blues forum ! I cant do Blue Clickies but stick Blindmans Blues in Google and have a look

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 04:07 PM

Wow! Jerry, you're the Man!!!

Asante sana {Thank you very much!!}


There's a PM comin your way.

Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 03:57 PM

Two CDs ready for you, Azzizi:

PM your address again, please...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST,PoppaGator
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 03:07 PM

For years, I had thought that "National steel" guitars were exclusively metal-bodied, and that the similar "Dobro" guitar often used in country music were always wood-bodied. I now know that it's not that simple; in fact, the whole mess is too complicated to go into here and now. There are several whole threads on the subject of resonator guitars you might find enlightening (even though you're not a player); one of the most recent was entitled something like "Oooh I want that stainless steel guitar."

"The Blues" can be defined in many different ways, as a very broad category of music or in a very narrow and restricted sense. The various responses appearing within this thread represent a number of different ideas about what music is "really" the blues. You'll have to decide for yourself what it means to you.

There is an old African-American tradition that draws a strict line between gospel ~ church music ~ and blues ~ the devil's music. I've never been able to hear that much difference between the blues and good soulful Black gospel music. (Of course, the lyrics differ.) There are a number of artists who divided their career into separate church-music and secular periods (Thomas Dorsey, Sam Cook[e], Al Green), but then there are others who always included blues and gospel in their repertoires at the same time (Fred McDowell, Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson).

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST,Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 02:37 PM

Dharmabum, thanks for the link!

Roger the Skiffler, you win the prize [if I had any to give out] for listing some women Blues singers other than Billy Holliday.

Now that you mention her name, I used to have a tape of Big Mama Thornton singing Hound Dog..and if I my memory is accurate, Elvis Presley copied off her.

And hey, PoppaGator! I appreciate that background on Nationals. WYSIWYG had posted the answer to my question regarding that the use of that word in the vivid comment that GUEST 08 Feb 05 - 11:28 PM made. Thanks for the info..

BTW, I know that I'm doin alot of alot of 'thanks yous' & 'I appreciate its' [mixed in with a couple of I apologizes]..but they are heart felt.

Maybe if I changed up a little and said 'thank you' in another language...well I know a tiny bit of Spanish-so I can say "Gracias".
And I know even less Swahili, but I can say "Asante" {ah SAHN-tay}.

If anybody wants to share any more ways for me to say Thanks I will use them now and again..

And, PoppaGator, I guess we're all using the back door today.

What's up with that, anyway?

Azizi,
{Black lady tryin to listen to the Blues]

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST,PoppaGator
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 01:24 PM

Ooops -- that last guest was me; I forgot that I had to come by the servants' entrance (back door).

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 12:55 PM

National brand guitar = one with a metal resonator plate, often used by blues players especially those of the 1920s-30s. These guitars were designed to be LOUD, back in the days shortly before electric amplification firt appeared. The body (soundbox) of some models is metal, but National made 'em with wood bodies as well. The resonator guitar sound is instantly recognizable as "bluesy."

If you missed the PBS television series on "The Blues," see if you can rent it. I know that various people have their criticisms of this or that episode, and the series is of course not perfect, but it does provide a lot of great material and (most importantly) a very broad overview of the many varieties of the blues. Renting and watching these videos would probably be cheaper and easier than compiling a collection of blues CDs from square one.

If you're not yet familiar with the music of Mississippi John Hurt, I'd recommend that you look into him. Although John lived in the Mississippi Delta, his style is all his own and not much like that of other "Delta Blues" players; indeed, some would say that it isn't blues at all, but is more properly classified as "folk." Blues or not, it's so unique and so sweet that you ought to give a listen. Much of MJH's appeal has to do with his mastery of guitar fingerpicking, which might not interest a non-intrumentalist; however, the true basis of his appeal is his basic good nature and his storytelling skill, which you probaly *would* recognize and enjoy.

Another completely different personal recommendation, my favorite Chicago-style electric blues recording of all: "Buddy Guy: A Man and the Blues," recorded in the late 60s on Vanguard and still available as a Vanguard CD. Buddy was a member of Junior Wells' band at the time, and put together a group for this solo album featuring pianist Otis Spann, longtime member of the Muddy Waters band. The album is an extended duet featuring Buddy (guitar and vocal) and Otis (piano), with bass and drums in the background and a horn section adding a bit of flavor. A great example of how you can be slow and lyrical at the same time that you're playing loud and electric.

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST,Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:48 AM

Cute, Amos, cute.

But since the phrase fits,
I gotta wear it.


Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST,Amos
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:44 AM

And now, Azizi's feelin' the blues!!! :D

No harm done, ma'am -- we all get het up once or twice around here, and usually for wrong reasons we have to backpedal all over. Par fer the course!


A

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST,Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 08:26 AM

Okay Guest.

I'll accept that. I admit that I overreacted maybe a tad bit or maybe more. I offer no excuses besides my mood.

So Drayman, I publicly apologize for getting on a set about your use of the word 'man' in reference to me. I recognize now that you could have been using it in the way that Guest suggests.

And Bobert, I publicly apologize to you for taking your words and running with them-and implying that you are not a gentleman. For all I know, you are the most gentlemanly of gentleman.

And I do appreciate the help that you gave me by asking me to think of what Blues songs I like, and then posting the names of Blues artist who you think given that list, I would also like.

There was no need for me to publicly get up in your face about your use of words. I realize now that you meant nothing negative by those words, and indeed was just trying to be friendly to a fellow Mudcatter.      

I hope that you both accept my apology. I further apologize to all the readers of this thread, and hope that you also will accept my sincere apology.

Drayman and Bobert, I will PM you both.

Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 06:47 AM

Azizi - It still happens that a lot of Jazz and Blues people address EVERYONE as 'Man' , I still know jazzers who call me 'Daddy' For crying out loud ! But they are older than Me !!!
and Boberts posting style is somewhat idiosyncratic , as he does live in the hills and is ( I feel ) in fact a real gentleman !

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 03:41 AM

Bobert has said it all, really. Fred McD, Leadbelly, Sonny & Brownie, Robert Johnson, Wolf,John Lee Hooker, Charlie Patton,Bessie Smith, Mama Thornton....pity you're stateside or you could browse my collection!! Get a good compilation set: Paul Oliver or Alan Lomax collections, for example, to get a feel for the different strands of the blues, look at the books by Bill Wyman (Blues Odyssey), Gayle Wardlow (Chasin' that devil music), Robert Palmer( Deep Blues) and Alan Lomax (Land where the blues began) to get more information, then go out & search out recordings by the ones that speak particularly to you. If you're lucky to have a blues club near you go out and listen to the music, there are a lot of lesser known but no less great blues men & bands out there, a few of them come to the UK to supplement the quite lively UK blues scene.!
Warning: you may end up with a house full of recordings & books!
Best of luck!

RtS
(White boy lost in the blues)

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 01:07 AM

that last post was supposed to say

"Thank you for asking"

and I do..

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 01:06 AM

chris nightbird childs
I could say
"Well, Honey child, Ise really don' know.."

but maybe that wouldn't be kosher...

Seriously, Chris, if I might call you that..
I just learned what acoustic means by googling the word..

'Any musical instrument not relying on external power for operation. Virtually all standard orchestral instruments are acoustic instruments while most instruments used by Rock musicians are electric.'

[This from a music dictionary site that I didn't bother to get the URL for]

I'm not sure but I guess whether the instruments in those songs I listed relied on external power or not.

I guess I'm not up on that either.

But that you for asking..


just plain ole Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 12:59 AM

See this is what happens when somebody posts something while you're writing a post..

Until now I never saw Bobert's post in which he SOOOO gentlemanly invited me to visit him and Harp Boy.

I particularly took note of the part when he said:

"I'll pick yer Azizi butt up and drag you out to my place on the Blue Ridge mountain an' me and "Harp Boy"( Vince Farrabaugh) will show you what it's all about"

"Drag me out to your place"..."DRAG my Azizi butt out to your place" and where-Oh joy-I'll be shown "what's it all about."

I wonder what "it" is.

See this is what I mean...I bet Bobert thought I was a man too..

[but would he drag a man by his butt anywhere...I think not, but then again I'm not up on [down with] Blue Eidge Mountain man lingo...

But Bobert, man, [I assume you are a man] since you were kind enough to compile that list of Blues artist for me,

I'm gonna play pass that post as the meaning that I got from it was probably other than what you intended...

Like I said it aint no biggie...

But as to your invite...
No thanks, Bobert [and Susan too].

Actually I'm saving up my money to visit someplace else..

And when I get there, music will only be a small part of the agenda.


Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 12:35 AM

Hi Sista, Ms... Azizi.
I think most of the lists on this thread are a good place to start, it really all depends on whether you're looking for electric or acoustic blues.
Which do you prefer?

- CNC

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 12:34 AM

What trip?

Is no one else invited?

What about all of the Mudcatters??

Or at least Everybody who posts on this thread...

Are you talking about a REAL event, Susan?

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 12:05 AM

We just need to get that trip up here organized, for both Bobert and Azizi. Meet here. You won't be sorry!

~S~

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:55 PM

Drayman -

I just saw your post..My bad..[another hip hop lingo that I love]..

Let me first ask this question...when you wrote

"If you're a storyteller, man, you got to love singing the blues.."

does 'man' in that sentence mean that you think that I am a male??

I ask: "Why does everybody here ASSUME that I'm a male?"
I answer: "Cause they haven't seen me that's why"

I assure you that this confusion about whether I am male or female has never happened to me in real life. {though I consider this Internet discussion forum to be a part of my REAL life..}

Because it's happened a number of times here, I started signing my name [actually my name and not a handle] Ms. Azizi, as the added 'Ms' would let people know that I'm a FEMALE.

Maybe I should sign Sista Azizi instead. Would that help?

It's really no biggie but I think people should know that there's alot of female Mudcatters around who have a thing or two to say.

-and to that, all the sista Mudcatters shouted "Amen!"

Anyway, Drayman- and I assume you are a man since your name ends with that word ;O))

I lied...I do sing in public. I intergrate songs into my children's stories and I lead the audience in a call & response way.. But that's the extent of my public singing...

And BTW, I never said my voice was HORRIBLE. It's suitable for its purpose and I rather like it...

Also, I also have been known to pick up a sekere to accompany the djembe drummer who does the African storytelling presentations with me...

But that's the extent of my "instrumentationality" ability...

Not that I wouldn't LOVE to be a guitar player or a drummer or a saxophonist or a trumpet player-well I married one of those and that didn't turn out so well...

ANYWAY.. I'll pass on learning any instruments and concentrate on enjoying the music second hand...

Sorry, and this doesn't mean that I don't appreciate your interest in helping me "get this" music...I feel the good intentions and sincerity in your words..

But I still pass on that experience-at least for now...

Thanks anyway,
Sista Azizi, who would prefer just to sign "Azizi"

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:41 PM

A National is a kind of guitar.

~S~

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:39 PM

"Er, Azizi... Get you a ticket to on an airplane to Dulles International, I'll pick yer Azizi butt up and drag you out to my place on the Blue Ridge mountain an' me and "Harp Boy"( Vince Farrabaugh) will show you what it's all about...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:32 PM

Guest,

I love your writing style. Thanks for painting such vivid images with words.

When you said "She takes it off the front porch where the old guys sat playing bottleneck blues on a National", May I ask what a "National" is?



Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:28 PM

Etta James, perhaps. What a class act. And a voice to die for. She does what I call 'elegant' or 'uptown' blues. She takes it off the front porch where the old guys sat playing bottleneck blues on a National, and dresses up the tunes with horns and band arrangements for a big night out on the town.

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:17 PM

Susan,
Thanks also for that Pgh Blues Women site...I checked it out and it appears to be the name of a band {group?} of women singers. Though the site was last updated 2 days ago, most of the information posted on scheduling is one year old.

But it still goes to show you that there's a lot of resources in my own back yard that I never knew about and would not have been aware of were it not for great folk {folkies!} like you.

I appreciate it!

Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:09 PM

Bobert gave me a long list of Blues artist and then wrote:
"Now, when yer up on these folks, PM me and' we'll see what else we can come up with...."

Umm, Bobert, it probably will take YEARS for me to be 'up on' these artists or 'down with them' as I think the latest AA [African American]hip hop lingo is [it's interesting that they both mean the same thing.. I remember when 'being down on' something meant that you didn't like it; maybe the difference is the 'with' word]

Ahem!! Sorry about that...
I digressed big time..That was a stream of consciousness moment.

As I was saying...

Bobert, I do appreciate the list that you compiled for me. I will try to check them out on the radio and probably [as finances allow] purchase some CDs with those artist songs on them, and particularly be on the look out for Fred McDowell.

Of course I could get rid of this dial up and move on up to the high speed broadband all the time on Internet so then I can download some Blues songs, or did they make that illegal?

Thanks again & Peace,

Ms. Azizi, who is trying to get with the 21st century program while getting hip to one genre of early 20th century music of her people {and others} and needs all the help she can get..

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Drayman
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 10:55 PM

I saw Amos mentioned Sonny Terry...I recommend Sonny Terry along with his long-time blues partner Brownie McGhee.

Brownie sings a lot and Sonny Terry plays a mean harmonica.

Which brings me to Patrick Costello's advice: PLAY! grab that harmonica! No offense intended to the REAL harmonica artists out there, but even the rest of us can't butcher that harp too bad!

And SING! If you're a storyteller, man, you got to love singing the blues. Patrick's right again though. Learn to play a little bit and the singing will come too. I played the sax for a lot of years and never learned to sing a lick with that thing in my face all the time. Horrible singer, like you. Then I started fooling around with some banjo and hollering the loud, funny words at the same time.

Now...people don't run screaming from the room.

He's right! Play!

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 10:43 PM

Okay, Azzizi, 'er howver you spell yer handle...

Here's some folks I thinks you will really enjoy:

R.L. Burnside
T Model Ford
Ted Hawkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Elmore James
Son House
Joe Richardson Express
Rory Gallagher
Johnny Winter
Guy Davis
Sparky Rucker
Five Points Band
Muddy Waters
Richard Johnston


Now, when yer up on these folks, PM me and' we'll see what else we can come up with....

...but get everything you can find by Fred McDowell 'cause he is like the father of this kind o' blues...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:49 PM

P'burgh blues women in those links of mine, 'Zizi.

~S~

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:38 PM

I forgot to say that I also love to dance.

But nobody would pay to see me do that either.

Peace,
Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:36 PM

GUEST,Patrick Costello,
you said:

"My advice would be to pick up an instrument (a guitar, banjo, piano- the blues has been played on just about everything. For all I know there is some guy howling away at blues bassoon somewhere) and get out into your community. The blues is everywhere. It's a living art form and as such there is going to be people to play with and learn from in your neck of the woods."

Sorry, it may be sacriledge to write this here, but actually I have no desire to learn an instrument in this life {maybe during my next incarnation}.

My "instrument" is my voice...I am a Storyteller and a public speaker. I also write. And I also love to LISTEN to music. And I love to sing also, but NOBODY-I repeat- NOBODY would ever pay to hear me sing...I sing just for the pleasure of doing so-at home, or in public settings like church along with other people...

But even if I don't play an instrument, I can still appreciate Blues and other music forms, can't I?

I believe so.


Ms Azizi

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:26 PM

Brucie was the one who posted the link to the http://tweedsblues.net site, and also gave the link to a site that had some very interesting historical information about Blues..

I'm lovin all this information and feedback...

Bobert, okay.. to give you a flavor of the types of Blues music that I have and I like right now, here's four CDs and some songs from them, listed in order of the ones I like the best:

Howlin' Wolf {from The Best Of Howlin Wolf, The Millenium Collection}
Spoonful
The Red Rooster
I Ain't Supersitious
The Natchez Burnin
Built for Comfort

Keb'Mo' {from CD of that name}
Angelina
Am I Wrong
Come On In My Kitchen

Raw Blues
Bo Diddley: Say Boss Man

Blues Collection {disc 1 of 3 disc set}
John Lee Hooker: Boom Boom
Elmore James: Dust My Broom
Johnny Otis: Barrelhouse Blues

--
This exercise was good for me since it helped me be more aware of the kind of music I like now {I say now because my tastes will probably change, or at least expand with increased exposure to this music..}
I note that I only have one instrumental on this list {I suppose this Johnny Otis is the same as the R&B artist?}

Also, I also noted that I didn't select any female Blues singers. Actually the only female singer who was included on any of these CDs was Billie Holliday and [dare I say it?] I mean her no disrespect, but I personally am not into Billie Holliday's voice or music..maybe because it's slow....

Bobert, given this list, I'm interested in reading what other artists you think I might like...

Thanks all!

Subject: RE: Feelin The Blues
From: GUEST,Patrick Costello
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:24 PM

Don't buy go out and buy a truckload of CD's. If you want to understand the blues you kind of have to go out and find your own answer. A recording that means something to one person won't mean squat to the next. You might fall in love with the work of Big Bill Broonzy, Gus Cannon, Hound Dog Taylor or some dude in your neighborhood that nobody knows about - but to really feel it . . .well, it has to be your discovery. Methodically buying a bunch of records won't get your mojo working.

The blues isn't a formula, a genre or any of that stuff. The blues just is what it is.

My advice would be to pick up an instrument (a guitar, banjo, piano- the blues has been played on just about everything. For all I know there is some guy howling away at blues bassoon somewhere) and get out into your community. The blues is everywhere. It's a living art form and as such there is going to be people to play with and learn from in your neck of the woods.

Get out there, get a personal connection with the music and let it take you where you need to go. After a while you won't just feel it, it'll be part of you.

-Patrick

PS
Don't try to tell me that nobody plays in your area. I grew up in Philly and managed to find people to play with: Cool Old Dudes
Finding Mississippi