The plan here is to present some ideas that will, hopefully, provoke some kind of thought and responce. Although I take full responsibility for everything on this page, I don't mean any harm, I just don't know any better! I plan to try to post a new "Rant" about every month. Please respond by going back to the Guest Book and let me (and every one else) know what you think.

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What Is This Thing Called Blues?

Good question, I guess it's something I've pondered alot in all the years I've been listening to and playing this music. Academically speaking, Blues is a song form usually in a format of 8, 12, or 16 bars that moves through the I-IV-V chords in a given scale. Yeah, right. I guess that means "I Wouldn't Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)" is not Blues. For that matter neither is "Rollin' Stone" (sometimes known as "Catfish Blues") by Muddy Waters.

I guess we all know that "Blues" is more than a specific format, but just what is it? No matter how many times Kenny G plays a I-IV-V song, it will never be Blues. I've heard Paul Rogers,(not a bad singer) sing a Muddy Waters song, and baby, that ain't blues. On the other hand,("I have five fingers", thanks Blind Vic Flatpick), Taj Mahal can turn a pop ditty by "The Monkeys" into a beautiful blues.

OK, so how does this answer the question posed at the top? Well, it doesn't. I guess one answer is attitude. But this only conjures up a whole new kettle of gumbo. Namely, what is a "Blues Attitude"? When B.B. King performs in a tux, does he still have a "Blues Attitude"? You Betcha! If I perform with a fake rural southern "black" accent and growl from the throat when I sing, does that give me a "Blues Attitude"? Not likely. It's truly an elusive kind of thing. Quite a few years back, I had the opportunity to back up Big Walter Horton. He had some pretty specific ideas about what was not accepable as far as attitude.

Walter would NOT accept anyone drinking on stage, (Sorry Walter, did it for you, but can't say I always live up to that one now!) no cussing, clean and well dressed, on time, and ALWAYS respectful to the audience and the staff. Sounds like professionalism to me. I guess what I'm saying is I learned that a drunken "po-boy" with a razor and a pint in his pocket don't make a "Blues Man" any more than a baton and a tux makes someone a symphony conductor.

I don't know that any more examples will really resolve this. I have some ideas about it all, but what's your opinion? Let me know. Use the guest book.

Later and Greater...

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