Current Acoustic Country Delta Bluesman in Post War Blues Forum

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Current Acoustic Country Delta Bluesman

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pspotblues1920

Current Acoustic Country Delta Bluesman

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Posts: 796

Mar 7 09 10:10 PM

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If you were to name a currently performing and/or recording acoustic bluesman that defines the country delta blues of the late 20's and early 30's, who would that be? Thank you!

Brian

"It's All About The Music"

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MaskedMarvel

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Mar 7 09 10:51 PM

Guys like Robert Belfour and Jimmy Duck Holmes etc.

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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Goldilox3

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2110

Mar 8 09 1:36 AM

I thought of Robert Belfour too, but he is more the contemporary blues of the delta. For someone playing in a more 30s style you could check out Robert Lockwood's acoustic stuff, and I'm sure there's legions of people who do passable imitations of old styles around, but I can't bring any to mind.

New solo EP available now completely free of charge - just click here!

'served raw' by Stafford blues band 44 pistol was awarded 8/10 by Blues in Britain. Why not buy it? You know you want to....

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7844473

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 30580

Mar 8 09 1:52 AM

Keith B. Brown does pretty good versions from the pre-war repertoire. And his voice is fabulous, pretty haunting on songs like Death Letter Blues for instance.
But he's not from the Delta himself, though his family came to Memphis from Mississippi.
My favourite CD of his is Delta Soul - Alone & Acoustic, beautifully produced by Larry Skoller, but I googled it and couldn't find it.
It was released in 2005 (I think) but it looks like it's already OOP.

Rene
Paris, France.

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Sassie

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 18963

Mar 8 09 2:51 AM

I'd keep an eye (and wallet) out for Broke and Hungry's upcoming Pat Thomas recording, "His Father's Son".

And while not a bluesman, does Rory Block work? Or is she too contemp for what you're looking for?

Never put off til tomorrow what you can do the day after.

Colorado, USA

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oddenda

#5

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1033

Mar 8 09 9:52 AM

David "Honeyboy" Edwards, anyone? Certainly what Lockwood referred to as "that old time shit". Honeyboy is miraculous, especially for his age - even played for an Obama celebration in DC! His playing is still strong, while his voice was never that great!! Eddie Kirkland can do some of that sort of stuff solo as well, but he's only in his 80s!!!.

Peter B.

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pspotblues1920

#6

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Posts: 796

Mar 8 09 3:31 PM

Thanks to all so far!

I appreciate the input

Brian

"It's All About The Music"

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igotdabluze

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 4762

Mar 8 09 7:16 PM

Brian,great to hear from you!

sorry....

Age is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
Satchel Paige........

Libertyville.Illinois...

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jeffkonkel

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 4300

Mar 8 09 7:41 PM

Have to echo Pete here: David "Honeyboy" Edwards is just about the last living link to the pre-war Delta blues, and he can still really deliver the goods. His dexterity has slipped a bit with age, but he can still connect with the music. I never miss a chance to see him live.

I work with a lot of rural blues musicians in the Delta today. Several of them perform in a solo acoustic format, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that they're playing in the style of musicians from the '20s and '30s. We're all touched by modern influences, and blues musicians are no exception. Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, Pat Thomas, Robert Belfour and L.C. Ulmer all play in very traditional styles, but they don't sound exactly as musicians did 80 years ago. Nevertheless, if you like pre-war blues, I think you'd find a lot to like in their music.

Jeff Konkel
President and Founder,
Broke & Hungry Records
Myspace Site: Broke & Hungry Records
2007 Living Blues Award - Producer of the Year

"As record labels go, Broke & Hungry Records must be the discovery of 2007."
- Blues Revue Magazine

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CoyoteSlim

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1973

Mar 8 09 7:51 PM

There are several who are members on this forum!

Coyote Slim's website

Coyote Slim's Youtube Channel

Coyote Slim's Facebook Page

Coyote Slim on CD Baby

Rabbit told the 'possum, shake them 'simmons down."

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ettaj2

#10

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Posts: 243

Mar 12 09 6:35 AM

vasti(vasteye) jackson-hattisburg,miss. though not predominatly acoustic, he does enough of it to qualify. check him out here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y01C760-1Rk

GOING DOWN TO ROSEDALE.......

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SuneBoy

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 755

Mar 12 09 11:07 AM

QUOTE (renemalin @ March 08, 2009 02:52 am)

Keith B. Brown does pretty good versions from the pre-war repertoire. And his voice is fabulous, pretty haunting on songs like Death Letter Blues for instance.
But he's not from the Delta himself, though his family came to Memphis from Mississippi.
My favourite CD of his is Delta Soul - Alone & Acoustic, beautifully produced by Larry Skoller, but I googled it and couldn't find it.
It was released in 2005 (I think) but it looks like it's already OOP.

GoogleGeek at your service! *insert heroic theme-song here*

http://www.raisinmusic.com/album.php3?albu...oul&numalbum=41

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7844473

#12

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 30580

Mar 12 09 3:52 PM

Thanks, SuneBoy !

Rene
Paris, France.

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jaycee

#13

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5165

Mar 12 09 4:24 PM

although not from the delta, he is from,iowa. catfish keith is an artist who is well worth checking out. he plays the old songs and a little contemporary blues, with his own unique twist.

work is the curse of the drinking classes

www.myspace.com/earlybluesman

human beings have two terminal conditions hope and death

www.twitter.com@birstallblue

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7844473

#14

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 30580

Mar 12 09 5:41 PM

I agree, Catfish Keith is great !
And I'm kind of proud that I was instrumental in getting him his first French gigs, at some major festivals to boot.

Rene
Paris, France.

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Nap

#15

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1343

Mar 13 09 3:27 AM

You may want to give Fruetland Jackson a try. I think his album "Blues 2.0" is one of the better acoustic blues albums out there. Old style music but many songs have newer themes.

Nap

Don't ask me to come because I just might show up - Lefty Dizz

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oddenda

#16

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1033

Mar 13 09 7:46 AM

Samuel James, a young Black guy from Maine (!) - "Songs Famed for Sorrow and Joy" from Northern Blues Records. Good stuff.

Peter B.

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MaskedMarvel

#17

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Mar 14 09 4:46 PM

Just a reminder Robert Lockwood Jr. has passed away about two years ago. I think there is a lot www of fine stuff on youtube , and of the famous there's as an example Rorry Block. I also like guys like our own Coyote Slim and Bighollowtwang. And I personally heard Lone Wolf doing superb IMO Skip James. So there is a lot to explore. There are also guys that are doing modern Delta Blues like Jimmy Holmes and Robert Belfour. And our own Grady Musick has done fine modern Blues that is strongly related to Delta Blues very much. There are a lot of interesting things and when I joined the Devil's Music forum 4.5 years ago I only had on my mind the old artists, but today I know that to almost any traditional Blues style, there are those who play the old style and those that evolve with it, and both does suprisingly well. What I think is weaker represented today is the Classic Blues (Bessie, Ma Rainey, etc.) , and the Pre War Urban style Blues (Leroy Carr, Bumble Bee Slim, etc) and from the Post War styles what is relatively weak currently IMO is the Swamp Blues (Lightnin Slim, Slim Harpo), and the very early Chicago Blues (Snooky Pryor, Sunnyland Slim, early Little Walter, early Howlin Wolf, etc. etc.) . But maybe it's me missing some good stuff in those styles!

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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7844473

#18

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 30580

Mar 14 09 7:52 PM

Actually, though I never thought about it before, I think your analyse is quite right, Tommer.
I only know two female singers who cover the Classic Blueswomen here in France, and it's not the main part of their repertoire.
And though a lot of bands cover Muddy, the Wolf, and the West Side Chicago Blues, I don't know of many who dig into earlier Chicago blues, even if Muddy and the Wolf could be considered masters of the genre.
As for pre-war urban blues, I seldom hear any live.
We had two bands in France who specialized in Swamp Blues, but one disbanded, and their leader is now more rock & roll oriented, while the other one evolved towards some more bues-rock style.

Rene
Paris, France.

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CoyoteSlim

#19

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1973

Mar 16 09 1:47 AM

Tommer, I play several Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell numbers (and thanks for the plug!).

But I think you're right about the "Classic Blues." A lot of female singers (with some exceptions) seem to do the whole blues-rock thing. There are some jazz singers who do a few songs that the "Classic Blues" singers also did but their approach is usually jazzier in a modern manner.

Coyote Slim's website

Coyote Slim's Youtube Channel

Coyote Slim's Facebook Page

Coyote Slim on CD Baby

Rabbit told the 'possum, shake them 'simmons down."

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57blues

#20

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