hi all!
so i'm playing my cbg some time and listening to a lot of blues.
can someone explain the defference between types of blues and how can I classify them by hearing? (delta, chicago, R&B, etc...)
can you point me out so a documentary ir something..
thanks
Replies
To Paraphrase Hugh Laurie in his PBS documentary.
"There are two types of music (blues), there is good music (blues) and bad music (blues), the rest is just indexing."
Brian Hunt.
Hey, y'all,
Look what showed up on another part of the site: Alan Lomax's documentary, "Land Where The Blues Began!"
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/a-diddley-bow-on-lonni...
Wes "Moaning Mule" Yates said:
When I studied the history of Jazz in college, we learned about the three basic forms of jazz [read: roots] -- New Orleans, St Louis, and Chicago. Now this also translates to blues, however blues does extend WAY beyond that. I'm not 100% sure of this, so its my opinion, but I think blues originated mostly from negro field songs and gospel (listen to gospel and mountain gospel and you will see a similarity to 'blues'). From that, Blues -- street music, and Jazz -- more of a formal musical arrangement as a band. BOTH rely on the performers ability to showcase talents in the form of improvisation.
'20s ragtime, New Orleans brass bands, St Louis bands, Chicago bands, lead the way for Jazz and Jazz Combos as well as Big Bands of the 30s and 40s up to the 50s. Which from there we see the advent of Rock and Roll. Its quite a convoluted but well rooted tree.
Now, any REAL Blues/Jazz expert will obviously disagree with me and with good reason, but basically, this is a rough evolution as I remember (25 years ago folks).
There is on Wikipedia, a number of genres of blues, all of which are unique. Piedmont blues (country blues) which is around my area (Blind Willie McTell, Pink Anderson, Floyd Council, Blind Boy Fuller, Sonny Terry, Etta Baker) are names from the Piedmont blues genre which is heavily influenced by ragtime rhythms and chord progressions. NOT the standard 12 bar blues for sure. But these are considered blues none the less.
Anyhow, I digress. Interestingly enough, MANY modern (60s-80s) rock bands rely on Blues rhythms. Led Zep. Aerosmith. ZZ Top. Eric Clapton (sorry Shane, but you know its true). All these and more _have_ to look back on the blues for inspiration. Blues in modern music is quite alive. I no f'ing idea what modern (90s-20s) R&B has to do with Blues. Its beyond me, but...
Good luck!
-WY
Yes, read this. even tho Wikipedia has a questionable reputation, but I think it does a MUCH better job than any as a quick online reference and overall I do trust it. MIND YOU, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! Wikipedia is a starting point.
-WY
Oily "Strat-O'-Nine-Tales" Fool said:
I have the cd of "Lightning In A Bottle" and it is one of my favorities, especially disc #2. Also must list Kenny Wayne Sheppard"s "10 days Out, Blues From The Backroads" (cd and dvd). It features a lot of old time blues artists, many of whom are no longer with us. And some damn fine performances.
Oily "Strat-O'-Nine-Tales" Fool said:
Of course there are lots of blues documentaries but they seem to delve into particular styles. He was asking for an overall view of the genre. Like Wes is saying, he might do better with a CD compilation.
There is a good list of styles and artists in the All Music Guide to the Blues.