Opinion about Paul Butterfield?

Subject: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 08:33 AM

Can any harmonica players please give me there opinions about Paul's playing?This was the only blues harmonica I have really been around regularly. I am not a harmonica player,so I would just like to know what players thought about these performances?Thanks

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 08:41 AM

An excellent player, but why not go back to other great players - like Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson (1), Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson 2), Little Walter, Sugar Blue, etc. - and draw your own conclusions.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 09:00 AM

I was just never around other harmonic players every night watching them play live. Paul's performances seemed to be improv to a certain extent. I thought it was fantastic,but this was also the first time I was around the electric back-up with Mike Bloomfield,etc. I had heard the older blues players but not actually seen how they performed. I was just curious about how other players felt.Thanks.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: G-Force
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 09:23 AM

Well I don't know how you judge or compare, but he was certainly a very effective blues harmonica player. I bought the first PB Blues Band album recorded in 1965 when it came out (it was only the second album I ever bought) and absolutely loved it. Still do, only now it's the CD.

I thought the second album was 'good and bad in parts' and I didn't much like what I heard of the subsequent ones so I didn't bother getting them.

The 'lost' first album, i.e. the one which would have been the first album if they hadn't shelved the tapes, is also now available as 'the lost Elektra sessions' and is pretty good too.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 10:18 AM

What WillFly said... There's hundreds and hundreds of fine blues harp players, both deceased and alive, out there to hear...

Order my CD and you'll hear 4 different, but all very accomplished, harp players on it...

B~

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 11:43 AM

Excellent player in the Little Walter style. Paul put together a band that effectively blended 50s-era Chicago electric blues with a late 60s raga rock edge. I would put Paul in my top ten players. He also had a very distinctive vocal delivery that stayed true to the Blues influences like Muddy Waters who influenced him.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: pdq
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 12:01 PM

Lots of fine harmonica players such as Alan Wilson, Don Brooks, Jimmie Fadden, James Cotton, DeFord Bailey, Norton Buffalo, Mickey Rafael, Doc Watson, Charlie Musselwhite, even Pigpen had his moments. Who is great (or greatest) is a matter of opinion. Style is what counts, as well as how much the player adds to a song.

Paul Butterfield deserves a great deal of appreciation for starting a fine band that did a lot of great shows and made a plot of people happy. Some harp players were better technicians, some not as good. That ain't the only thing that goes into being a good musician.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 12:28 PM

True, pdq, lots of fine harp players. The few times I've heard Mick Jagger play harp I have been amazed at his tone and dexterity, by the way. I lean toward guys like Rice Davis who are more tone and taste players than guys who are very technically proficient.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: pdq
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 12:40 PM

It was sad to lose Norton Buffalo a short time ago. He did some fine playing on Steve Miller records. He is featured on a "novelty" CD called The Vultures with Dave Grisman and others. If you have not head it you should.

Paul Butterfield did an instrumental duet with John Sabastian,"Amazing Grace". It's on one of the Woodstock Review series. Goosebump time.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 12:54 PM

Paul Jones with the Blues Band rather than Manfred Mann is worth a listen
For jazz try Toots Thielemans.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: meself
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 03:48 PM

The question is about Paul Butterfield, so: a great player. I wish I'd had the opportunity to see him live. (Yes, there are other greats, and some who are superior in some ways, but he's the one being asked about .... )

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: GUEST,C. Ham
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 03:58 PM

I was not a big fan of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band albums of the 1960's. But I loved the two Paul Butterfield's Better Days albums that came out in the 70's.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 05:11 PM

A 2nd on the lose of Norton Buffalo... His work with Roy Rogers was tops...

B~

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: GUEST,SirCoughsalot
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 11:51 PM

One of the best. His playing blows my mind. The stuff he did on Mystery Train off the Band's Last Waltz is out of sight.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:08 AM

Thanks so much for the opinions on Butterfield. I heard ten sets per week and I thought he was terrific. They were playing all summer at a club in the Village;took a week off while Muddy Waters came,another when the Kweskin Jug Band played. This was the only time I really saw lots of live harmonica,so I was curious.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Chris C
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 09:20 PM

Hi Tigger
I'm not a harp player, but as a blues gtr player for many years, I've worked with a few really fine ones.
Butterfield is regarded by myself and all of the "blues guys" I've ever heard talk about him (some of whom knew him) as great. He's not without equal as a harmonica player or singer, but the whole package - his intensity, authenticity, vision, band-leadership - made for one of the greatest Chicago blues ensembles ever. And that's saying a lot.
I'd love to hear any recollections, stories, etc about your experiences having seen the band so many times...not to hijack the thread. Feel free to PM me if you want, but I bet lots of 'Catters would love to hear about Butterfield, Bloomfield and company back in the day.
Wish I coulda been there. (Take us back, please!)
Best,
~CC

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 09:24 PM

Hey, CC... Bobert here... You know me...

B~

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 09:42 PM

Interesting thread.
I've played the blues harmonica at pro level since the mid 60's,and I saw Paul twice in London in '66 and once around '84.
In my opinion he was one of the greatest of all time and stands alongside Little Walter.
His tone and note choice was incredible and his sound was pulled from his diaphragm with great technique.
He was more than a populariser,he was a great original!

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 01:03 AM

Born in Chicago was one of Butterfield's staples and this version reflects his typical overdriven sound but is also fun beause its an opportunity to see and hear some decent rockers get deeper in the blues.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 03:34 AM

Opinion about Paul Butterfield?

... Cushie!


Sorry,
I'll get me coat!

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 01:04 PM

Check out Adam Gussow's Youtube "dissertation" on Paul Butterfield.
Adam really rates Butter and sees him as a true innovator on the blues harm.

Adam on Butter

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: GUEST,grover
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 11:37 PM

Yeah, I was about 10 or 11 when my brother brought home a PB live album. As a Beatlemaniac I was absolutely pasted. It scared me a little as I recall.

A few years later as an up-and-coming musician in Chicago I had many opportunities to jam w/some great harp players including, Peter 'Madcat' Ruth, Sugar Blue and Steve Hays. James Cotten and PB were always mentioned w/a great deal of respect.

More recently, I played bass in a blues band w/a GREAT harp player named Buck Worley from Louisiana. He always cited PB, Buddy Greene and Charlie Musselwhite as his primary influences. He was a big fan of John Mayall as well. Not to mention the Red Devils from LA.

That all being said I can say PB was MY first introduction to blues harp. Definately an innovator and among the greats. Should be in the Musician's Hall Of Fame in Nashville.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Elmore
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 03:21 PM

Loved Sonny Terry. Aldo enjoyed

Loved Sonny Terry.Also enjoyed

Loved Sonny Terry. Also enjoyed Rev. Dan Smith whom I'm afraid has been totally forgotten. He didn't record a whole lot.

rev. Dan Smith

the Rev.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: number 6
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 03:36 PM

Being a young 14 year old white middle class kid from suburban Canada back in 1965, hearing Paul Butterfield's first album (The Paul Butterfield Blues Band) just blew me away. I never heard anything like it before. It was an introduction to a form of music that I never had heard before. I did eventually have the opportunity to see Paul Butterfield live at the Masonic Temple in Toronto in 1969. I still remember that concert as if it was yesterday.

BTW .... I still have that vinyl album "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" and is probably the most cherished record in my collection.

biLL

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 06:52 AM

I am really glad to hear that so many people came to appreciate Butterfield over the years. I really did not understand what I was hearing,but I thought it was fantastic. No one made much fuss in those days.I was always rather impressed by the improv Butterfield and Bloomfield did on some songs,some nights. Actually many of these live performances were much better than the recordings.I really enjoyed watching Mike Bloomfield,who had a good time. They would have considerable time between sets,so they were in the back room for long waits;I thought they were all very nice to Big Joe Williams and me. It was pretty relaxed back then.

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: PHJim
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 04:07 AM

I also still have my first Butterfield record with Sam Lay's gold boots on the front. I also have it on CD, One of the few records that I have in both.
Another singer/songwriter/harmonica virtuoso who played mostly rack harp while playing guitar or mandolin was Willie P. Bennett. Here's a clip.
Willie's version of Stardust

Willie played Lee Oscars upside down (low notes to the right)

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Feb 12 - 04:45 AM

I thought I'd flag up a later Butterfield performance that could still be seen as politically relevant today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS_x1A4LXCM&feature=related

Subject: RE: Opinion about Paul Butterfield?
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 07:00 AM

Richard,thanks very much for the link on this later performance. This is actually a very good example of his stage presence from twenty years before. I was really surprised in the old days when sometimes he and Bloomfield did not drive an audience wild. I was very young,but I thought they were absolutely terrific.They were also very nice to me,perhaps realizing that I suffer from musical over-exuberance.