Time, I think, for a posting about music. Some time back, I saw a TV programme in which Steven Fry visited Chicago. While there, he met Buddy Guy, who told him how the Chicago Blues scene was in steep decline, with many local Blues clubs having closed down. Steven Fry drew the conclusion that the Blues was "a dying art form". On the surface, this may be appear to be true, but I remember what Frank Zappa said about Jazz in the 1970s: "Jazz isn't dead, it just smells funny". Yet Jazz has survived and thrived.
So - is the Blues dying, or will it endure? All views welcome - especially from musicians!
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Not in the North West, if this website is anything to go by: www.bluesinthenorthwest.com
ReplyDeleteI used to go to some of the Wednesday Night sessions at the Albert in Southport last year and was pleased to see that some of the musicians that were playing the Blues were only 19 years of age (Rory Gallagher style)
ReplyDeleteThe problem with blues is that every song sounds the same. When you go to hear a live blues band, most often they'll be just mailing in the same 12-bar, 1-4-5 chord progression song after song after song after song. It's almost like they aren't even trying. In order for a music form to survive, it has to evolve. That's why jazz has thrived. Jazz today doesn't sound like jazz 50 years ago. Blues, for the most part, hasn't evolved a bit. In order for blues to survive, it needs young musicians to come in and bring some fresh ideas to the table. Unless I'm missing something, I haven't seen that happening at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Anon. I take your point about the Blues not evolving, but Blues fans would say that there are different types of the Blues - Folk Blues (Robert Johnson), Chicago Blues (Buddy Guy) and Rock Blues (eg, Gary Moore and Eric Clapton, etc. But you are absolutely right that the Blues needs "Young Blood" - but Robert Cray did that song 20 years ago!
ReplyDeleteThere is a new blues artist by the name of Rosalyn Candy, and she is bringing the heartbeat back to blues. Check out her song "Stroke It" on youtube or visit her website rosalyncandy dot com... She's awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anon. I think I'll put her on the "Featured Artist" page.
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