DVD REVIEWS
February Is Black History Month
Legends Of The Country Blues, Vol. 1, Vestapol Productions, 2002
I have spent some considerable effort in this space reviewing various trends in the blues tradition, including country blues. As is fairly well known country blues got its start down in the South during the early part of the 20th century (if not earlier) as a way for blacks (mainly) to cope with the dreaded, deadly work on the plantations (picking that hard to pick cotton). In this volume (and a second volume that will be reviewed separately) Stefan Grossman, the renowned guitar teacher and performer in his own right has taken old film clips and segments from early television and produced an hour of classic performances by the masters of country blues guitar picking and singing (Sorry, no women players presented in these productions, although there were a few. Women blues singers came into their own a little later.).
Country acoustic blues guitar playing was a central form of entertainment for those who lives in the country, desperately needed entertainment during and after work and for the most part had no access to electricity. Thus, this favored form of entertainment was provided in the backwoods “juke joints” where the whiskey, women and words came fast and furious after a hard work week. A small body of men, mainly in Mississippi, but also elsewhere in the South (notably Texas and North Carolina) fought to be “king of the blues”. And the qualifications to win that title included being able to wield that old National Steel guitar for all it was worth and sing something about two-timing women, the rascally boss or overseer or just plain not having any money to show for the week’s work after that Saturday nights bout. In this volume the “king of the hill” is one Son House. This film contains the famous television performance of House’s "Death Letter Blues". It is mesmerizing as he flails away at that old National Steel guitar and trance-like invokes the ghost of his dead woman friend whom he has come to regret treating so badly.
Also present here are other classic performers such as Mississippi John Hurt, one of the key influences on the Northern urban folk revival of the early 1960’s, and his quiet style of picking and singing: Josh White with his more urbane, almost jazz-like style; Big Bill Broonzy, a performer worthy of more extensive separate comment, in several pieces; Mance Lipscomb and his Texas style: and the Reverend Gary Davis and his clean picking and deeply religious moanings. I might note that some of the performances were done on a show that Pete Seeger hosted so that is an added treat although he, and others, are reduced to looking on in awe. That seems about right. This DVD is useful both for the experienced guitar player who is looking to see how the masters did it and for those novices unfamiliar with this kind of music as a good potpourri of styles to introduce the genre.
Legends Of The Country Blues, Vol. 2, Vestapol Productions, 2002
Part of this review has been used in a separate review of Volume One.
I have spent some considerable effort in this space reviewing various trends in the blues tradition, including country blues. As is fairly well known country blues got its start down in the South during the early part of the 20th century (if not earlier) as a way for blacks (mainly, although here Sam Chatman is given some space I think to represent the mountain music contribution to this rural music) to cope with the dreaded, deadly work on the plantations (picking that hard to pick cotton). In this volume (and a first volume that has been reviewed separately) Stefan Grossman, the renowned guitar teacher and performer in his own right has taken old film clips and segments from early television and produced an hour of classic performances by the masters of country blues guitar picking and singing (Sorry, no women players presented in these productions, although there were a few. Women blues singers came into their own a little later.).
Country acoustic blues guitar playing was a central form of entertainment for those who lives in the country, desperately needed entertainment during and after work and for the most part had no access to electricity. Thus, this favored form of entertainment was provided in the backwoods “juke joints” where the whiskey, women and words came fast and furious after a hard work week. A small body of men, mainly in Mississippi, but also elsewhere in the South (notably Texas and North Carolina) fought to be “king of the blues”. And the qualifications to win that title included being able to wield that old National Steel guitar for all it was worth and sing something about two-timing women, the rascally boss or overseer or just plain not having any money to show for the week’s work after that Saturday nights bout.
In this volume the “king of the hill” is one Bukka White. Son House the star of Volume One is relegated to second place here as Bukka just flat out plays that old guitar better, with more feeling and a better sense of showmanship in presenting the material. "Aberdeen Mississippi Women" is an extremely good example of his mastery. I have mentioned in a previous review that Bukka White was not as familiar to me and those who I know who share my interest in the blues. That deserves immediate correction and Brother White will certainly be the subject of a later, separate entry in this space.
Also included here is the previously mentioned Son House, again flailing away for all he is worth; The Reverend Gary Davis demonstrating his prowess as a guitarist: Huston Stackhouse with his playful voice; Big Joe Williams being, well, Big Joe with some guitar that I could not count the number of strings on (as usual); and, Lead Belly. Lead Belly, who may have been one of the most well-known black country blues performers of all time (certainly through his connection to "Goodnight, Irene"), is rather flat here. Too bad. There are better clips of his performances elsewhere.
February Is Black History Month
Legends Of The Country Blues, Vol. 1, Vestapol Productions, 2002
I have spent some considerable effort in this space reviewing various trends in the blues tradition, including country blues. As is fairly well known country blues got its start down in the South during the early part of the 20th century (if not earlier) as a way for blacks (mainly) to cope with the dreaded, deadly work on the plantations (picking that hard to pick cotton). In this volume (and a second volume that will be reviewed separately) Stefan Grossman, the renowned guitar teacher and performer in his own right has taken old film clips and segments from early television and produced an hour of classic performances by the masters of country blues guitar picking and singing (Sorry, no women players presented in these productions, although there were a few. Women blues singers came into their own a little later.).
Country acoustic blues guitar playing was a central form of entertainment for those who lives in the country, desperately needed entertainment during and after work and for the most part had no access to electricity. Thus, this favored form of entertainment was provided in the backwoods “juke joints” where the whiskey, women and words came fast and furious after a hard work week. A small body of men, mainly in Mississippi, but also elsewhere in the South (notably Texas and North Carolina) fought to be “king of the blues”. And the qualifications to win that title included being able to wield that old National Steel guitar for all it was worth and sing something about two-timing women, the rascally boss or overseer or just plain not having any money to show for the week’s work after that Saturday nights bout. In this volume the “king of the hill” is one Son House. This film contains the famous television performance of House’s "Death Letter Blues". It is mesmerizing as he flails away at that old National Steel guitar and trance-like invokes the ghost of his dead woman friend whom he has come to regret treating so badly.
Also present here are other classic performers such as Mississippi John Hurt, one of the key influences on the Northern urban folk revival of the early 1960’s, and his quiet style of picking and singing: Josh White with his more urbane, almost jazz-like style; Big Bill Broonzy, a performer worthy of more extensive separate comment, in several pieces; Mance Lipscomb and his Texas style: and the Reverend Gary Davis and his clean picking and deeply religious moanings. I might note that some of the performances were done on a show that Pete Seeger hosted so that is an added treat although he, and others, are reduced to looking on in awe. That seems about right. This DVD is useful both for the experienced guitar player who is looking to see how the masters did it and for those novices unfamiliar with this kind of music as a good potpourri of styles to introduce the genre.
Legends Of The Country Blues, Vol. 2, Vestapol Productions, 2002
Part of this review has been used in a separate review of Volume One.
I have spent some considerable effort in this space reviewing various trends in the blues tradition, including country blues. As is fairly well known country blues got its start down in the South during the early part of the 20th century (if not earlier) as a way for blacks (mainly, although here Sam Chatman is given some space I think to represent the mountain music contribution to this rural music) to cope with the dreaded, deadly work on the plantations (picking that hard to pick cotton). In this volume (and a first volume that has been reviewed separately) Stefan Grossman, the renowned guitar teacher and performer in his own right has taken old film clips and segments from early television and produced an hour of classic performances by the masters of country blues guitar picking and singing (Sorry, no women players presented in these productions, although there were a few. Women blues singers came into their own a little later.).
Country acoustic blues guitar playing was a central form of entertainment for those who lives in the country, desperately needed entertainment during and after work and for the most part had no access to electricity. Thus, this favored form of entertainment was provided in the backwoods “juke joints” where the whiskey, women and words came fast and furious after a hard work week. A small body of men, mainly in Mississippi, but also elsewhere in the South (notably Texas and North Carolina) fought to be “king of the blues”. And the qualifications to win that title included being able to wield that old National Steel guitar for all it was worth and sing something about two-timing women, the rascally boss or overseer or just plain not having any money to show for the week’s work after that Saturday nights bout.
In this volume the “king of the hill” is one Bukka White. Son House the star of Volume One is relegated to second place here as Bukka just flat out plays that old guitar better, with more feeling and a better sense of showmanship in presenting the material. "Aberdeen Mississippi Women" is an extremely good example of his mastery. I have mentioned in a previous review that Bukka White was not as familiar to me and those who I know who share my interest in the blues. That deserves immediate correction and Brother White will certainly be the subject of a later, separate entry in this space.
Also included here is the previously mentioned Son House, again flailing away for all he is worth; The Reverend Gary Davis demonstrating his prowess as a guitarist: Huston Stackhouse with his playful voice; Big Joe Williams being, well, Big Joe with some guitar that I could not count the number of strings on (as usual); and, Lead Belly. Lead Belly, who may have been one of the most well-known black country blues performers of all time (certainly through his connection to "Goodnight, Irene"), is rather flat here. Too bad. There are better clips of his performances elsewhere.
Did You Hear John Hurt?
ReplyDeleteWords and Music by Tom Paxton
It was a frosty night. It was beginning to snow,
And down the city streets, the wind began to blow.
We all came to the cellar. We all emptied the bar,
To hear a little fellow, play a shiny guitar.
[Cho:]
Did you hear John Hurt play the "Creole Bell,"
"Spanish Fandango" that he loved so well?
And did you love John Hurt? Did you shake his hand?
Did you hear him sing his "Candy Man?"
On a straight back chair, with his felt hat on,
He tickled our fancy with his "Avalon."
And everyone passing down on MacDougle Street,
Cocked their heads and listen to the tappin' feet.
[Cho:]
[Repeat first verse and Chorus]
Here is Brother Hughes take on the blues. I think that he is on to something here.
ReplyDeleteThe Blues by Langston Hughes
When the shoe strings break
On both your shoes
And you're in a hurry-
That's the blues.
When you go to buy a candy bar
And you've lost the dime you had-
Slipped through a hole in your pocket somewhere-
That's the blues, too, and bad!