The Blues is a genre of music that came out of African Americans communities in the Mississippi Delta just upriver from New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. It is generally accepted that this musical form was derived from African spirituals, African chants, work songs, revivalist hymns, and country dance music. The form of the blues has not changed that much from its beginnings with the most common form being a 12 bar phrase that goes I, (I or IV), I, I7,IV,IV,I,I7,(V or IV) I,(I orIV). If you listening to the blues that has lyrics then they most likely are about a person's hardships and personal life reflection. If there are no words then the person's reflection happens in the musicians solo. The soloist will play over the 12 bar phrase, and they can play as many times thought the changes as they want. Most of the time the soloist plays the 12 phase two times. Just like in Jazz music when you play the blues you will improvise a solo. The size of most blues groups are three to five people and that is it. The instrumentation of most groups are a vocalists, guitarist, bass player, drummer, and lead trumpet and or saxophonist. The group can also be as small as just one person playing the guitar and sing the verses.
This first song is I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters one of the greatest blues musicians to ever live. This is a perfect example of what the blues truly is.
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter. This is his song Stormy Monday.
This is BB Kings Paying The Cost To Be The Boss. These is a big band style of the blues.
The four song is just a man and his guitar. This Is Me and The Devil Blues by Robert Johnson.
The last song on the list is Miles Davis song So What. This is just a instrumentalist tune with the great Miles Davis on trumpet and Cannonball Adderley on alto saxophone.
First observation, there were cigarettes all through these videos. It must have helped them get the raspy feel. ;) Its interesting that each group is only three to five people. In my mind I had envisioned more. I love the fact that the beauty in this genre is the improvisation. Similar to the Jiangnan Sizhu or the Balinese Theater or Mandinka drumming. The skill is highlighted in the improvising!
I love the improvisation in blues! What amazes me the most however is how Miles Davis is able to portray the same sound as a man signing with his guitar, while playing a trumpet and not singing at all.
What surprised me the most was the rock-ish sound of the guitar in all the songs but "This is Me and the Devil". When I think of the guitar sound I think of what's displayed in "This is Me and the Devil" even though the playing makes the genre and not the timbre.
First observation, there were cigarettes all through these videos. It must have helped them get the raspy feel. ;) Its interesting that each group is only three to five people. In my mind I had envisioned more. I love the fact that the beauty in this genre is the improvisation. Similar to the Jiangnan Sizhu or the Balinese Theater or Mandinka drumming. The skill is highlighted in the improvising!
ReplyDeleteI love the improvisation in blues! What amazes me the most however is how Miles Davis is able to portray the same sound as a man signing with his guitar, while playing a trumpet and not singing at all.
ReplyDeleteWhat surprised me the most was the rock-ish sound of the guitar in all the songs but "This is Me and the Devil". When I think of the guitar sound I think of what's displayed in "This is Me and the Devil" even though the playing makes the genre and not the timbre.
ReplyDelete