Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?

Subject: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 05:41 PM

I do folk - because it's what I do, but we don't get many blues threads on here. I was inspired by the latest comments on the Maxscepade thread to look for some Guy Davis stuff.

So http://guydavis.com/guydavis/videoclips.htm

For real lovers of minutiae, there is one clip of Guy playing an old Hagstrom but unless my eyes deceive me it's not what was his trademark Hagstrom Sammy H-22 but, I think, an H-45 (or J-45) and maybe (it's hard to get a good look at the relevant external features) a very early ladder-frame top-bout fan-strutted lower-bout one - of which I have one example on my wall but mine is a redburst not a tobaccoburst.

He is a very very impressive blues player and singer.

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 05:45 PM

He played Juneau last year. Very impressive playing, great stage presence and a nice guy. He socialized with everyone.   I have also seen him on Woodsongs.

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 05:53 PM

He's a great blues player to be sure. But I'm always uncomfortable when the word "best" is used when describing music or musicians. It's all in the ear of the beholder.

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 06:12 PM

I have met the man - He is a wonderful person, as well as being a great blues singer.......
And I am a Trad./trad. English singer!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: RTim
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 06:15 PM

It appears - somehow? I lost my Mudcat Id!!!!!
So the pervious post was from me.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: GUEST,ridgeplucker
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 07:48 PM

Guys,

Check out Little Toby Walker. His finger picking is amazing.

Pete

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 06:15 AM

Best modern bluesman?

As mentioned above calling someone the best anything is meaningless.

I listened to part of Guy Davis version of Muddy Waters' "I can't be satisfied" which Muddy performed in a way which made you believe that he really couldn't be satisfied. Davis turns it into a jolly little song for a club performance, absolutely devoid of any feeling.

One reason why there are so few blues threads here could be because ther are few if any really good blues performers around.

Being a good musician and a nice guy and an entertainer who sings blues songs doesn't necessarily qualify you to be a "bluesman".

Hoot

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 06:53 AM

I don't like the stuff on the banjo as much.

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 03:12 PM

Well I like blues banjo, and I like his performance of Can't be Satisfied. A lot of open G guitar blues transfer really well to the 5 string and it's nice to see it being done well.

I don't have a problem with it being done differently to Muddy Water's original. Maybe that's just me though...

Just what does qualify you the be a bluesman Hoot? Do you have to be dead?

Subject: RE: Guy Davis - the best modern bluesman?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 04:01 PM

I really like Guy Davis and his music. Susan and I did a workshop in which he also participated and he was very nice. He played harmonica along with one of Susan's songs and just transported it. We wound up singing his song "Hooking Bull at the Landing" at my dad's funeral. That is one fine song.