Richard Sleigh interviews Dennis Greunling

If you're not familiar with Dennis Gruenling, I suggest you check him out - he's worth listening to. In fact, Dennis is a real student of the genre - virtually a blues historian.

The reason I'm posting these interviews here is because of a crucial point Dennis makes:You have to listen to what the OBGs (Original Blues Guys) listened to if you're going to really understand the music. Listen to too much modern music & you only hear PART of the story, filtered through someone else's soul. You have to hear this stuff undistilled, go back to the source, to really hear the music for what it was before it was covered, interpreted, remade into something else. It's like making a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy...get too many generations from the source and what comes out is almost unrecognizeable and certainly doesn't contain all the information, nuance, subtlety of the original. Imagine what the Constitution would look like if it had to be small enough to post on twitter, or what the Mona Lisa would look like if DaVinci were only allowed charcoal and an 8x10 canvas.

OK, so you're not interested in in playing just like it's already been done. Good. But how can your interpretation be authentic if you don't know what the source was?





The other part of the lesson here for musicians, i think, is to make yourself an expert on what you're doing and find every possible way you can to get yourself out there.

William Clarke

One of the most influential (to those in the know) contemporary harmonica players ever was William Clarke. Now, guys like the Walters and the Sonny Boys (and others) came before him and really laid the foundation for Clarke to build upon, but William Clarke took what they created (a unique roll within the Blues for my favorite instrument) and built upon it in a new way that connected the Blues and Jazz through the voice of the harmonica.

He learned his craft from George "Harmonica" Smith but ultimately developed a very personal style. His mastery of the harmonica was unique; his note selection and phrasing were so creative and individual, his tone and style all his own.

If you're interested in Blues Harmonica and haven't heard of William Clarke, you can learn a little more about him...
here
here
here
and here

Rick Estrin's Instructional DVD

Rick Estrin's new DVD Revealed! Secrets, Subtleties & Tricks of the Blues Harmonica is a must-have for any harmonica player that has already acheived a degree of facility on the instrument.



On the Disc, Estrin opens the Kimono and gives ALL the cool secrets away. And he does it while demonstrating a depth of musical vocabulary on the instrument that is staggering, along with a very entertaining and humorous delivery.

I HIGHLY recommend this disc for ANY blues Musician!

Plow

My friend Chris Clarke let me play a few tunes with his incredible band Plow up in Julian this evening & I had so much fun. Although their Old-Time & Bluegrass roots are very apparent, Chris, John, David and Doug go FAR beyond their roots in performance. They blend Jazz, Old Time (Americana), add some original ideas, mix it all up and come up with an eclectic and pleasurable musical stew that you won't be able to get enough of.
Do yourself a favor - please check out Chris & Plow for a rare treat to the coolest Old Time & original music around these parts. I bet you'll be telling your friends about them before long.

The Stillmores

Set 1: Ityy Bitty Pretty One, Up On the Roof, Cissy Strut


Hip Hug Her

Jack City Blues Band

Check out this video by my friends Jack, Sandy, Terry & Art!




Jack City Blues Band

Stealin'

I had the privilege to play a little benefit for the Lou Curtis Sound Library (an amazing collection of music!) with my my friend Allen Singer recently.

There were a number of local entertainers there, including Sarah Petite, Tanya Rose's band, Plow, Patty Hall, and Robin Henkel, among others.

Here's Allen and I playing "Stealin'"

Highway 51

An older performance with Allen Singer, opening for Carolyn Hester.

St. Louis Blues

Adam Gussow really does a fine job on this tune!



I'm not sure it can be done without those overblows (but I'm tryin').

Jimi Lee

Adam Gussow is the man. I was checking out his YouTube videos (I'm a subscriber & I watch EVERY ONE) and this one of Jimi lee just knocked me out. Definitely one of the all-time coolest solo harmonica/guitar performances I've seen. Check out Adam's YouTube stuff - he's worth the effort.