Miles Davis Bops the Blues

Miles Davis, still in his very early days, recorded some unreleased tracks with vocalists Earl Coleman and Anne Baker in 1946. These bluesy bop numbers were released under the album name "Bopping the Blues". The performances are very mellow and shows Miles at a young age, and that early bebop sound. It's not well developed but it is an interesting take on the blues.

 Of interest, are Gene Ammons on sax  Art Blakey on the drums.

The album only has 4 songs but each one has 4 alternate takes.

Here's  'Don't Sing me the Blues' with Earl Coleman on vocals.

'Snake Oil Blues' Now Available for Free Download

I'm happy to announce that my new song 'Snake Oil Blues' is now available for free streaming and download!

The song is my throwback to the old days of the blues. I hope you all enjoy it! 

You can view and download the track (and my older one Dem Blues is Coming) here.

Thanks to Fuad Murad of Household Productions and to Bachir Najjar for the cover design.

My New Song 'Snake Oil Blues' to be Released Tomorrow!

Be on the lookout tomorrow when I upload my latest song called 'Snake Oil Blues', written and performed by me and produced by Fuad Murad of Household Productions.

 Here's the official description:

Snake Oil has come to mean any product with questionable or unverifiable quality or benefit, most commonly associated with the American old west. 

This song describes a man's addiction to fake drugs. t's an old school throwback to the blues of old, in the style of country / folk / Delta blues. 

This song was recorded in one day, mimicking my previous track called "Dem Blues is Coming', of having one take per track to keep it sounding more spontaneous and 'live'. 

I used D standard tuning on rhythm guitar to get a fuller sound, but used E standard for the slide solo (to use the open strings that naturally fit the D chord). Bass was played with flatwounds on a Fender Precision with vintage pickups.

Never Trust a Woman... Until She's Dead

One day she says she loves you;
And the next day she'll throw you in the street.

She'll call you every mornin'
Every mornin' noon and night
She'll call you in between times
Just to see if you're doin' alright
She'll ask to borrow five
And then she'll beg for ten
And baby that five and ten
You won't ever see again!

- BB King

(Song heard in background)

Low Down and Dirty Dog Blues - Son House

Leave it to the master of Delta Blues Son House to take us off to the distant blue moods, with this track recorded in 1942.

Read all about the Font on the Cover of Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme'

An interesting website I discovered recently is called Rock That Font, which goes pretty in depth about the typography of rock and other music albums.

It was inevitable that John Coltrane's magum opus A Love Supreme was going to be a topic of discussion.

Apparently, the font used on the cover is "Anzeigen Grotesk, which in German loosely translates to “Advertising Sans-Serif.”

Read more [here].

New Music Store Opening in Kuwait?

My friend Omar K. has sent me this photo; a new music store apparently called "Music Square" will be opening at the Avenues Phase 3.

Could it possibly be music instruments? Or only audio? Time will tell, and if you have any news of this please let us know!

'Prisoner of the Blues' - Sons of Blues

Here's a great slow and mellow tune by Chicago blues vocalist and harpist Billy Branch and his band the Sons of Blues, which is great for the upcoming three day weekend.

Have a great long holiday!

My Review of Chris Byar's Jazz Quartet is Up on Kuwait Music!

Fear the beard.

As I mentioned yesterday, my review of the Chris Byars Jazz Quartet concert is now up on Kuwait Music.

It was a great night for Kuwait and Jazz.

 Check it out [here].

Tonight: The Chris Byars Jazz Quartet Live

I'll be going (and reviewing) tonight's concert featuring the Chris Byars Jazz Quartet at the Kuwait Museum.

You might remember I reviewed the show of 2011 on Kuwait Music (see it here), which featured Chris Byars and Ari Roland and I got to meet and talk with them.

Today, they return alongside Zaid Nasser on sax and Keith Balla on drums.

The show starts at 8pm. See the great information done by Kuwait Music [here] , and their interview with the band [here].