Favorite Artists

[charlyg]

This thread can be where we turn each other on to artists we hadn't heard.

My two new fellows are Smokin Joe Kubek and Ronnie Earl.
I tried to get into Anson Funderburgh, but he didn't do much for me. Kinda like Kenny Wayne Shephard, in that sense anyway.


Keb Mo, Gary Moore, Alvin Lee, and Delbert McClinton always seemto get a lot of play time on my iPod.

Let's hear your fave blues artists, and if you can find a youtube performance, that would be cool!

[sloop_john_b]

I'm into the classics - Elmore James, Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt. I'll go through my iTunes and my LP's and see if I left anyone out.

[melibreits]

Cool, Charly! Congrats on your own Forum corner!

The Glenn Kaiser band is one of my faves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXEWZapnO0M

(Hmmm.... I tried to embed it, but couldn't figure it out, so anyway, there's the link...)

[admin]

A great topic, Charly.

A guitarist that I never seem to grow tired of is Mike Bloomfield who made some outstanding recordings with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. His terrific tone is equaled only by his exquisite performances. He was the kind of player who makes you want to play the blues.

[charlyg]

I LOVE Mike Bloomfield! Very underated IMHO!

And thanks Mel, I also like Glenn! A couple more would be Darrell Mansfield, and Larry Howard, at least in that corner of the genre!

JB - I can't get into the acoustic stuff too much, for whatever reason. I LOVE when we electrify that old stuff! I think that Gibson humbucker tone on the blues is what goes right to my bones! It is funny that Johnny Winter put a Strat pup on his FIrebird so it would sound like a Strat, but wouldn't have a Fender neck!

I've always wanted the sound of Muddy Waters' early records - only louder
-Eric Clapton

[soundmasterg]

If you check around your area, you'll probably find a lot of good to great local artists who don't have the recognition but can use the support. We have several here in the Portland, Oregon area such as the late, great Paul DeLay, Curtis Salgado (The original inspiration for Belushi's Blues Brothers character), Suburban Slim and the Strangetones, The Insomniacs, Terry Robb, Jim Meci....the list goes on.

There are lots of mainstream blues cats that I like in no particular order, plus a lot more than what I listed:

BB King
Albert King
Freddy King
Eric Clapton
Buddy Guy
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Peter Green
Junior Watson
John Mayall
JB Lenoir
Frankie Lee Sims
Jimmy Reed
Howlin Wolf
Hubert Sumlin
Willie Dixon
Muddy Waters
Little Charlie and the Nightcats

[charlyg]

That's what I'm Talkin bout! Greg, You are absolutely right, there is a local fellow here named John Marks, who is at Cozy's on Monday night and runs a blues jam! He plays tasty stuff, with a lot of jazz voicings in his chords. The "house" band plays for an hour (with John on lead), and then John sets up the jam bands. I have started lessons, as I want to get up there and jam! I figure by the spring, or summer at the latest, I will have enough of a "catalogue" to overcome my fear of jamming.

There are a few names on that list I need to check out! I HAVE to give credit to Steve/Ben on the Smokin Joe find. I can't get enough of that guy. His singer/rhythm player could be on his own! They are better together though, tasty stuff, and not recycled or redundant, at least so far!

[winston]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Colin James. He is a first rate bluesman. Check him out. He plays every style. I also really like Jeff Healey. Now there's a man that can play with feeling.

BTW Whats wrong with Kenny Wayne Shephard? He's just young man, thats paying his dues learning the craft. Presumably he can only get better and better. Give him a chance he might just arrive at the "crossroads" one day.

[jps]

We recently lost our local blues legend, Robert Lockwood Jr. He was the last direct link to Robert Johnson.

[charlyg]

I just downloaded some Hubert Sumlin. There was stuff I didn't care for, but I got 7 real tasty tunes! I highly recommend Blues for Henry. So now, off to check out Colin James. I don't pretend to know all of the good blues artists, so this is a great learning thing for me, and I'm lovin every minute of it!

I haven't heard from Healy in years. I had his first two "albums".

[charlyg]

I should clarify my remark about Kenny Wayne Shepherd. His music has an edge that turns me off a bit. To compare, Garry Moore is Smo-o-o-o-oth.

I liked Jony Lang's version of Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, as good as any version I've heard. I do not like what Interscope is trying to do to him. His last album sounds like ****,no blues, all this loud whatever it is that passes for music these days. I say leave the kid alone, and let him play the blues!

[jimk]

This rather betrays quite obviously my folk roots. I'm another one of those guys who really got interested in the blues guys of the '20s and '30s, and those who were rediscovered in the '60s.

Rev. Gary Davis
Mississippi John Hurt
Blind Blake (what a right hand!)
Blind Willie McTell
Blind Boy Fuller
Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry
Furry Lewis
Big Bill Broonzy
Lightnin' Hopkins
Charlie Patton
Robert Johnson (of course!)
Guy Davis (he's modern, but sounds old-time)

Electric Guys:
Muddy Waters
B.B. King (naturally!)
T-Bone Walker

That's a start. I'm sure I'll think of more.
JimK

[sloop_john_b]

Blind Blake (what a right hand!)

YES! Check out "Come On Boys Lets Do That Messin Around". Some incredible fingerpicking in that tune.

[charlyg]

No one has mentioned Coco Montoya yet either....

[peewee]

I see a few of the cats that I really like and a number that I've worked with or have shared bills with over the years. Personally, I'm not into the "modern" Blues/Rock guys that much, although I respect the opinions of those who are. I guess that I'm a bit of an "old school" guy and my influences are evident in my playing.

I've always been a fan of the Gulf Coast and NOLA guys. There's a certain attitude that's prevelent in the music from this region. Some of the folks who've knocked me out with their playing and sheer grit are:

"Guitar Slim" aka Eddie Jones
Lonesome Sundown
Lightnin' Slim
Weldon "Juke Boy" Bonner
Melvin "Li'l Son" Jackson
Earl King
"Guitar Junior" aka Lonnie Brooks
Guitar Gable

For modern era guys who add their own twists, I like:

Jr. Watson
Alex Schultz ( formerly with The Mighty Flyers )
Kirk Fletcher ( both with and w/o The Fabulous T-Birds )
Joel Foy w/ James Harman
Michael Mann aka "Hollywood Fats"
Dave "Kid" Ramos
Anson Funderburgh
early Ronnie Earl Horvath w/ Roomful of Blues & The Broadcasters
and waaaaay too many more.

There's so much available these days that you can never get enough.

I also love the old acoustic players and lap steel players like:

Black Ace
Hop Wilson
Memphis Minnie
Willie McTell
Blind Willie Johnson
Charley Patton - The King!
Blind Lemon Jefferson
L.C. " Good Rockin'" Robinson

Man, it'd be easier for me just to break it all down by region! Maybe for some other thread and another time