Blues From Detroit: Little Sonny

We always hear about Chicago blues, Delta blues, or Texas blues... but not so much about Detroit blues!

In truth Detroit also housed several bluesmen who moved up north from the Southern states such as Mississippi and Tennessee, much like Chicago did. Detroit was the major hub of the automobile industry back in the pre-and post-war era.  However Chicago had a much higher output of musicians and it became the center of the electric blues sound.

They are quite similar in sound and concept, and the most famous of the Detroit bluesmen is John Lee Hooker, but many others such as Baby Boy Warren, Bobo Jenkins, LC Greene, and Little Sonny, had fame.

Here's Little Sonny's debut single from 1958 called 'I Gotta Find My Baby":

James Cotton's New Album 'Cotton Mouth Man'

James Cotton, one of the last remaining Chicago blues legends, released his latest album called 'Cotton Mouth Blues' on Alligator Records.

Here's a snippet from the official release [site]:

"His new Alligator album, Cotton Mouth Man, is a joyous celebration of his life in the blues. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/drummer Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Joe Louis Walker, Susan Tedeschi), the album is a riveting, good-time musical journey through sounds and scenes from Cotton's long and storied career. With seven songs co-written by Cotton (more originals than he's ever included on one release) and Hambridge (who co-wrote five additional tracks), the stories the album tells are Cotton's own, inspired by his colorful and sometimes perilous life. Throughout the CD Cotton's blast-furnace harmonica sound and larger-than-life personality are front and center."

James Cotton is most known for playing the harp in Muddy Waters blues bands in the 50's (and reunited with him for the 1977 Grammy winning album 'Hard Again'), and after going solo, won a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Traditional Blues Album, 'Deep in the Blues'. He stepped back a little after getting throat cancer, but now he's back in full swing!

Check out the title track off the new album, which is available now, featuring Joe Bonamassa!

A Look into the Church of St. John Coltrane

John Coltrane's 1964 album, A Love Supreme, is considered to be one of the best jazz albums of all time, and among the best of music in general.

Kristina Loring of KALW Radio in San Francisco, California, has written a very detailed and interesting article about the African Orthodox of John Coltrane. As discussed here before (see the link above), there is a church dedicated to the musical message of John Coltrane and was named a Saint by the African Orthodox Church.

Here's a quick excerpt from the article:

“I would say Coltrane Consciousness is the divine formula,” Marlee-I Hand says. She has many roles in the church that range from choir singer to outreach to drummer in the band. “Acknowledge, resolution pursuance to reach the love supreme, so acknowledge god, resolve to do all you can and continually pursue everyday. That’s Coltrane Consciousness. Follow those steps, that’s it. coltrane gave us the key.”

Read the full article [here], and do so while listening to "Acknowledgement", from the Love Supreme album.

You Can't Have the Blues...

All in good fun folks :)

Today Marks Eric Dolphy's Final Concert Album

On this day in 1964, jazz great Eric Dolphy recorded what would be his final concert album, "Last Date" in Holland. He would die on the 29th of the same month.

Eric Dolphy has an unorthodox style and he was highly influential in avant-garde and free jazz; his performances with John Coltrane are now considered staples of jazz, and he became a great band leader in his own right. He died at an early age where jazz really took off in the craziest of ways.

Below is a track of the concert, called "Hypochristmutreefuzz". Don't ask, just listen.

The History of 'Rollin' and Tumblin'

In blues and jazz, we often refer to classic songs that shaped the genre, or "standards", to get our fix or to be influenced by the legends as inspiration for our own music.

One such blues standard is "Rollin' and Tumblin", which started out as "Roll and Tumble Blues" in 1929 by Hambone Willie Newbern.

What followed was the usual bluesmen taking the standard and adding their own twist to it, such as Robert Johnson's "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day":

The most known and recognized version is Muddy Waters', who is also credited as a writer for the song along with Newbern. This was originally released in 1950:

And since then hundreds of artists have covered this song, such as John Lee Hooker:

And most recently Bob Dylan, which I wrote an article about here:

So you see, we refer to standards and give them our own twists... and this one happens to be one of the most covered blues songs ever.

The Blues Life of Baby Face Leroy

Today in 1958, Leroy "Baby Face" Foster died in Chicago suffering from alcoholism. He was only 33 years old; but this is the life of a bluesman.

He came to attention for performing in the mid-40's with the future king of the blues, Muddy Waters, and other greats such as Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, and Sonny Boy Williamson.

He was a drummer mostly, but also played guitar. Along with the above musicians, they performed at clubs, and gained the attention of several record heads.

He did record a few records for Parkway, but once Muddy Waters was signed to Chess Records, he sought to do his own thing but never really caught on.

Known for being rowdy and clowny, it even shows in his vocals, as seen in his track, "My Head Can't Rest No More".

Sneak Preview of Recording Sessions

I've been recording the bass for the upcoming album of one of Kuwait's top musicians. We aren't really ready to announce the project yet though.

Avant-Garde Music Projects has also worked out a deal with said musician, and we will announce this collaboration very soon.

In the meantime, here are a few behind the scenes photos from the recording!

'I Ain't No Iceman' - Cow Cow Davenport

Cow Cow Davenport was a blues vocalist and pianist, who was popular in the 30's. This song from 1938 features great a great horn section playing sweet jazzy blues, and of course features raunchy lyrics such as:

"I ain't no milkman : I ain't no milkman's son

But I can furnish you plenty of cream : baby until that milkman comes"

Have a mellow Sunday y'all.

'You Gotta Move' - Mississippi Fred McDowell

This song from 1964 is one of Mississippi Fred McDowell's darkest songs. If you want to delve into salvation and contemplate, hear this song out now.

" You may be high

You may be low

You may be rich, child

You may be po'

But when the Lord gets ready

You've got to move "