Help: Blues fiddle players

Subject: Blues fiddle players
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 04:38 AM

Sitting in at the monthly session at the Cuckoo (Wollaston, Northants) last night with Julie B, we suddenly found ourselves playing along with a blues tune (Dobro slide in the lead, several "normal" guitars, accordion, snare drum, mandolin (me) and fiddle (Julie)). It was a lot of fun, especially with the unconventional instruments. Halfway through, Dobro said "over to you, fiddle player!", much to J's consternation. I'm pleased to say she took to it as to the manner born, despite not having the decades of exposure some of us have.

This made me think. I remember hearing about (though never hearing) blues fiddlers cotemporary with the Johnstons and Jeffersons who are household names, but I couldn't name one. I know I've come to the right place--what can you tell me?

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: Blues fiddle players
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 07:22 AM

Just for a start:

Lonnie Chatman played fiddle (and guitar with the Mississippi Sheiks, Henry 'Son' Sims played with Charlie Patton and Eddie Anthony played with Peg Leg Howell.

Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Blues fiddle players
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 07:23 AM

I dunno, but we have two blues fiddle books. Would these be of interest?

One thing I found interesting-- one came with a practice CD. We had bought a bluegrass fiddle book with CD as well, at the same time. The bluegrass seemed to hard for where Hardi's at right now, so we turned to the blues book. Laughed our asses off-- speed up the blues fiddle part, and the licks were identical.

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: Blues fiddle players
From: GUEST,Brian Hoskin
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 09:34 AM

Seem to have lost my cookie. Anyway, missed out the closing bracket after the word 'guitar' on that last posting.

Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Blues fiddle players
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 09:53 AM

OK, got my cookie back. There were quite a number of fiddle players playing in jug bands and string bands, which meant they played some blues. For example,James Cole, E.L. Coleman, Sid Hemphill, Clifford Hayes of the Old Southern Jug Band, Will Batts who played with Jack Kelly's Jug Busters, Elijah Avery who played with Gus Cannon and Bo Carter (Bo Chatmon) of the Mississippi Sheiks. The fact that we now tend to celebrate the lone guitarist as being the heart of the early blues (exemplified by Robert Johnson) means that the role of the fiddle and the importance and popularity of the jug band has been largely forgotten.

Also, some better known bluesmen who are largely thought of as guitarists also play fiddle, for example Bo Diddley and Clarence Gatemouth Brown

Subject: RE: Help: Blues fiddle players
From: GUEST,djh
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 09:54 AM

Dan Sans with Frank Stokes. That isn't unconventional blues instrumentation as far as I am concerned. Mando , Banjo, and fiddle were common instruments back in the Hey day of the Wonderful Weird ole Blues. I use this instrumentation in my acoustic trio in NY to play the blues. I am almost done with my self-produced album which is primarily blues and one or more of those instruments are featured on every track. - Buzzard Lopin' in NY

Subject: RE: Help: Blues fiddle players
From: Stewie
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 09:54 AM

Check out the 2 excellent blues fiddle albums on the Old Hat label:

Click Here

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help: Blues fiddle players
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 12:23 PM

Thanks to Mudcatter Jeri who loaned me her fiddle, I've gotten into the blues style played on the albums reccommended by Stewie. Great fun.

A suggestion for anyone who wants to give it a try....

I'm using two tunings primarily. ADAD and GDGD. Lots of slides, harmonies and unisons. Easy to change the tunings (but not the intervals) to GCGC, FCFC and AEAE. This gives you five keys to play in.....D, G, C, E, and F.

Rick