Who is your favorite blues artist?

Subject: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,MusicCityChick
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 10:48 AM

So who are your favorite blues artists? I have several…lots of classic blues and a few contemporary blues artists such as Buddy Guy, Howlin Wolf, Son House and Robert Cray. By chance, is anyone familiar with Kemp Harris? He's been one of my favorite blues artist since his first album "Sometimes in Bad Weather" came out in 2002…do you have this one?

I'm waiting in anticipation for his new CD that's coming out on March 13th and joined up to be part of his street team.   I heard some of his new music on MySpace and it sounds like The Holmes Brothers are singing on the song "Sweet Weepin Jesus." http://www.myspace.com/kempharrismusic

Would love to know if anyone else here has heard of Kemp as he's a fantastic pianist/vocalist in my opinion.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 10:55 AM

For acoustic blues I'd have to say Mississippi John Hurt. No contest there. But Blind Boy Fuller is a favorite too. Along with Son House and yes - Robert Johnson.

For electric stuff which I listen to far less often I's have to say Muddy Waters. What a voice. That's the blues.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,Bubba
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 10:59 AM

Etta James, ain't none better.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: avrosimones
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:03 AM

I'm a fan of Blind Willie McTell personally. He wrote some cracking tunes.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: gnu
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:19 AM

Each of the names brings feelings of awe. Favourite? Can't be said, but, since I was introduced to blues by Dutch Mason, The Prime Minister of The Blues, I gotta say he holds a special place in my memory. Of course, my memory also floats back to the first time I saw Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh play a blues harp.... no favourites, just grand memories.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: redsnapper
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:20 AM

Skip James

RS

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:30 AM

Bubba - I read an interview (I think with Frank Zappa)where he was asked about his favourite guitarist in various genres. He said his favourite slide player was Elmore James; "He played the same solo for every song, but I get the feeling he really meant it."
Wesley - I love John Hurt too, but don't really think of him as a blues singer. Like Lead Belly, he did some blues, but a lot of other stuff too.
I've just rediscovered Karen Dalton while organizing my vinyl, and though she performs in a variety of genres, she sure can sing the blues.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Alec
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:36 AM

The only Blues track by Robert Petway I know is "Catfish Blues" but he does that so well I consider him worthy of a mention on the strength of it.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,Scoville
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:44 AM

Semi-blues: Mississippi John Hurt & Mance Lipscomb, who was much less polished than Hurt but very interesting musicologically.

My mother got me a Brownie McGhee CD when I started taking guitar lessons. I consider him to be sort of "easy-listening" but sometimes that serves a purpose, too. At least, he's less harsh than some of the others (I still haven't learned to play like him, though. Sigh. One of these days).

Etta Baker. Very interesting country/blues style.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 12:42 PM

etta baker, missippi john hurt,sam mcghee all good.
but blind blake and big bill broonzy great too, but my favourite is memphis minnie.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 12:53 PM

Blind Blake -dead acoustic players.
Paul Geremiah - live acoustic players
Roy Buchanan - best electric blues player, dead or alive.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Teresa
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 12:59 PM

I don't listen to a lot of blues, but I do like them from time to time. Have to echo Mississippi John Hurt and also I just *love* Bonnie Raitt. She can sing sweetly or earthily and it all sounds amazing.

Teresa

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 01:38 PM

Son House, what a voice.

And I really like Sonny Boy Williamson II(Rice Davis) because of his harp technique and vocal tone.

Robert Johnson for his unique and innovative guitar style.

John Mayall for being such an excellent preserver of the tradition, and getting so many great white blues guitar gods their start.

Janis for giving us all of it, every time.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: gnu
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 01:53 PM

Oooooh Lord, wontcha buy me a Mercedes Benzzzz... yup, she did.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: oldhippie
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 03:38 PM

Rory Block

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Bernard
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 03:48 PM

Dai Thomas...

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Alec
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 04:19 PM

Great link Bernard!

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Bernard
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 04:21 PM

You should see Dai in person... I've yet to meet anyone so knowledgable, skilled and entertaining.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: mrdux
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 04:26 PM

all of the above -- especially Muddy and Wolf and Fuller . . . and a few more:

acoustically:
Blind Willie Johnson -- amazing Texas slide guitar
Rev. Gary Davis
Charlie Patton
Fred McDowell

and out of Chicago:
Magic Sam
Otis Rush
Little Walter

michael

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 04:57 PM

Picasso, 1901-4.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Armen Tanzerian
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 05:14 PM

Leroy Carr

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 05:27 PM

Charley Patton, John Lee Hooker and T-Bone Walker.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 05:42 PM

Surprised nobody's mentioned B.B. King yet, so I will. The very first time I even HEARD the blues...being raised rural and uninformed was also the first time I smoked weed. Someone put the 'Live AT Cook County Jail' LP on the stereo and I sat there completely pasted. Never heard anything so audacious, fun and painful...all at the same time. Have seen him several times...love 'im, just love 'im.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 06:09 PM

Hmm, no mention of Jo-Ann Kelly

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Elaine Green
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 06:17 PM

So many great ones, and I love most all of them, but if I had to pick one, it would probably have to be Patton. What an innovative, brilliant mind. What a voice.

I also love Mississippi John Hurt, though I guess he was more of a songster than a bluesman (though that element was always present). I love his gentleness and that beautiful, beautiful guitar style.

I base my life on the teachings of these two masters. Now excuse me while I go murder someone in the flood.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 07:00 PM

Bobert.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 08:10 PM

Bobert

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 08:42 PM

She's been gone a long time, but the choice is easy. Jo Anne Kelly.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 08:46 PM

Bobert's Ok, but that Pedestrian's harmonica player...WHEW!!!!

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 09:53 PM

Here's your blue clicky, MusicCityChick.

http://www.myspace.com/kempharrismusic

Kemp Harris reminds me of Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo', two artists I like. But I feel that I still don't know enough about the Blues to name my favorites.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 09:58 PM

There are a lot of good names mentioned here.

I would re-endorse:

Bessie Smith
Sonny Terry
Brownie McGhee
Lightning Hopkins
Spider Joe Koerner
Josh White
Taj Mahal
Rory Block
Missippi John Hurt
Robert Johnson

Actually no one mentioned Bessie Smith and Lightning Hopkins. For shame!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 10:08 PM

Bobert, of course- and his harmonica player, of course. :) Actually you guys sound very good together.

But I've been converting some albums to CDs for Buddy Tabor and I've fallen in love with some stuff I'd never heard before. Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry- now, I realize they are a kind of country blues but they are luscious.

And the Reverend. I listened over and over to my favoUrite one of his, 'I am a True Vine'. Buddy brought over about 6 of the man's albums and this one was my favorite. I knew I liked his guitar work, on both 5 and 12 strings, but I hadn't actually heard his voice before.

Seguing from blues- Buddy brought another album that blew me away. 'Young Django'. Stephane Grappelli on violin, and the group together were awesome.

Buddy's tastes are eclectic- his whole life is music so he brought some stuff I didn't care for. I was surprised to find that Eric Clapton- well, he bored me. I recognized his musicianship but for me the balance is bad- I want the voices up front, not back there buried in the whanging stuff.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Alba
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 10:55 PM

Too many amazing Blues Artists to be limited to one only.
Three that stand out for me though are Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith and Mississippi John Hurt.


Special soft spot for Stevie Ray Vaughan throwing it down on 'Pride and Joy'

Jude

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: number 6
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:29 PM

Otis Spann

John Hammond jr.

biLL

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:52 PM

Jimmy Reed.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Wordsmith
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 12:21 AM

When I first started reading this thread, I immediately thought: BB King, then Etta James, Roy Buchanan, Janis, surprised me, but I thought Ian, and then Joplin. John Lee Hooker, yes. I was amazed to see Reinhardt and Grappelli, but then "Minor Swing" is my favorite song of theirs, and it's kind of bluesy. I see I have a lot more names to sample from above. Although, I recognize a few more. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Azizi
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 01:20 AM

It took me a moment {okay, more than a moment}, but I finally "got" Peace's referent to Picasso's blue period .

Picasso sure does give added meaning to the referent "blues artist".

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Alec
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 03:20 AM

I thought it was one of Peace's better ones Azizi.
Peace, I doff my hat in your general direction.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 04:11 AM

Some stuff about Jo-Ann (who I knew slightly, but my late wife Jacqui and her first husband Barry knew rather better - to the extent that Jo-Ann and Jacqui would swap maternity and baby clothes according to the state of budding) is here Jo-Ann Kelly

Now is there an argument about whether she was a blues singer or a revivalist? Grin.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: JennyO
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 05:03 AM

Oh - where to start?

I love the old blues artists, like Bessie Smith, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, then there's Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and BB King.

Then of course, there's Sidewalk Bob (Bobert) - love his stuff!

Probably lots of others that I've forgotten too.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 05:32 AM

Most of them... but Fred McDowell of the men and Bessie Smith of the women stand out.

RtS

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 06:22 AM

Thanks JennyO, someone at last mentions Big Bill Broonzy! The Man!!!

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: John Hardly
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 09:06 AM

Chris Smither, though I've lately been listening to Susan Tedeschi a lot.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Alba
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 09:37 AM

Susan Tedeschi is a mighty fine performer John.
I have been an admirer of her voice/music for some time now.
Jude

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: John Hardly
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 09:47 AM

First time I ever heard the CD "Just Won't Burn" you could have wrung what was left of me into a very small saucer.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Homeless
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 09:53 AM

Sonny & Terry.
Although as far as composers go, I frequently find that songs I especially enjoy are credited to Willie Dixon, no matter who the artist covering it is.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 10:19 AM

JennyO-

Thanks for mentioning Big Bill Broonzy.

I still have fond memories of attending my first blues concerts way down to Boston, featuring Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, back in the early 1960's. I don't have a clue what the concert hall was, either Brookline or Cambridge. That was a 3-hour drive one-way from Maine in those days.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: JennyO
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 10:25 AM

Lucky you, Charlie! I haven't had the opportunity to see any of them live. I just love listening to the music.

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: Deckman
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 10:33 AM

MudCatter Reggie Miles, of Sultan, Washington

Subject: RE: Who is your favorite blues artist?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 12:31 PM

Vi Redd didn't record much, (I only know of one album, Lady Soul. I think it came out before Aretha started using that title) but she had an amazing voice and could vocalize like no one else. She also cooked on the alto sax.