Bluesman John P. Hammond

Subject: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 06:17 PM

I had the chance to hear this performer as an "extra attraction" at a Tom Paxton, Louden Wainwright III and Mike Seeger evening a couple of years ago. I have not been as big a follower of blues performers as some, and had not crossed paths with him. But Hammond gave a truly visceral and powerful performance doing traditional blues. He was superb instrumentally and sang with great emotion. He has influenced and worked with many well known performers, while managing not to be a household word himself. How many of you know him or have seen his shows?

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: Mark Ross
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 06:40 PM

A great performer, a sweet gentle man, a phenomenal guitar player and an extraordinary mouth harp player. I've known him since I was 17 in Greenwich Village and his powers have not been dimmed or faded over the last 40 years. I can't praise him highly enough.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: GUEST,Joseph de Culver City
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 07:05 PM

I have seen him play more than a few times over the years and have never failed to be favorably impressed. It's said that he even made a major impression on Howlin' Wolf himself back at the old Ash Grove club in LA. His daddy was also one of a kind.

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 08:39 PM

I haven't heard him at all lately, but he did an LP back in the 1960s that has been a favorite of mine ever since---although it got away from me somehow. The title is SO MANY ROADS, and I think my old friend, the late Mike Bloomfield, was in the band on that album too. I'm gonna have to find it on a CD one of these days.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 11:14 AM

John Hammond on myspace and here is his "Official" website.

Art, it looks as though you can get that very one at Amazon.

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: irishenglish
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 11:19 AM

Saw him once at the Turning Point. One of the best blues shows I have ever seen, simply put!

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 11:25 AM

I had front row seats a few years ago in a nice small club. He is a powerful performer indeed. Here in the south we tend to say that "he can flat tear it up". I prefer him as a solo performer but one of my favorite CD's of his is the one where he records a series of Tom Waits songs. Killer stuff.

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: theleveller
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 11:49 AM

Art, I had that album too but have lost it. Still got a few Mike Bloomfield albums, though - I once met his brother Chuck at a friend's in London. Seem to remember he was great guitarist, as well, but earned his living as a stockbroker or something.

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: PoppaGator
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 12:27 PM

I saw a documentary on JH a few years ago. It seems that he prefers playing with a band these days, and never records alone anymore, but that economics require that he tour as a solo act.

When I first heard John Hammond Jr, way back in the early 60s, I really didn't "get it." His style was a little too raw for me to comprehend at that time.

It didn't take too long for me to come around and learn to appreciate the real, down-home blues, and Mr Hammond the Younger certainly had much to do with my education.

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 10:57 PM

Theleveler,
Mike was indeed a fine guitarist, but he was absolutely NOT/NEVER a stock broker!! I'm still pissed off at him for ending his life the way he did. What a waste!

His father was quite rich though.

All the best,
Art

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: GUEST,harpgirl
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 12:27 AM

How about:

The Best of John Hammond

Vanguard 1970 (a double album, in my collection)

My babe Willie Dixon
Still a Fool (Two Trains Running) Muddy Waters
I wish you would come Back, Baby
Milk Cow Calf's Blues Robert Johnson
No Money Down Chuck Berry
They Call it Stormy Monday T Bone Walker

Big Boss Man Luther Dixon & Al Smith
See That my Grave is Kept clean Blind Lemon Jefferson
So many roads, so many trains Marshall Paul
Louise, Louise Blues J. Mayo Williams
Give Me a 32-20 Robert Johnson

Baby Please Don't Go Big Joe Williams
I'm A Man E. McDaniel
Stones in My Passway Robert Johnson
Get Right Church P.D.
Backdoor Man Chuck Berry
Statesboro Blues Blind Willie McTell

Travelin Riverside Blues Robert Johnson
Drop Down Mama Sleepy John Estes
Keys to the Highway Big Bill Broonzy
Barbecue Blues
Going Back to Florida Lightening Hopkins
Who Do You Love E. McDaniel

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: irishenglish
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 10:37 AM

Um...Art, the leveller was saying that Bloomfield's brother was a stock broker or something, not Mike Bloomfield himself.

Subject: RE: Bluesman John P. Hammond
From: theleveller
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 11:02 AM

Theleveler,
Mike was indeed a fine guitarist, but he was absolutely NOT/NEVER a stock broker!! I'm still pissed off at him for ending his life the way he did. What a waste!



Sorry, Art, didn't make myself clear - I was talking about his brother, Chuck, who was the one I met in London.