Mother's Day Blues

Leadbelly sings about the hardships of mothers everywhere; give your mom a hug today.

Celebrate Spring With the Blues

Spring is here... sun is shining, birds are singing, flowers start blooming, but you still have the blues. For the blues ain't got no season.

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'Gangsta's Paradise' - Schmoove 1920's Jazz Version

Imagine you were in some speakeasy, drinking illegal moonshine, got some mobster on your tail; and listening to this version of the insanely popular song by Coolio "Gangsta's Paradise".

Not only is the music pretty much spot on for the Jazz Age of the 20's, but Robyn Adele Anderson and the Post-Modern Jukebox Band look the part as well! The song has gone viral too.

PMJ Website: http://www.postmodernjukebox.com/
Robyn's Instagram account : https://instagram.com/robynadele19/

Dan Aykroyd Starts 'Blues Brothers Records'

The face of Elwood Blues, actor Dan Akyroyd, and wife of John Belushi AKA 'Joliet' Jake Blues, have started a music label, appropriately called 'Blues Brothers Records'. It will be run under Capitol Music Group label Blue Note, also appropriate. The purpose of the label is to promote blues and new blues artists.

Aykroyd says:

"The recorded music industry today presents huge challenges but also great opportunities," Aykroyd says. "Judy and I are excited to partner with the master ear for talent Don Was and Blue Note Records in fulfilling the true 'Mission From God' — to find, develop and nurture emerging blues performers. After all, that's where American music began in the first place and now it is in the hands of the next generation." 

[SOURCE]

'Mean Mistreatin' Mama' - Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr was an old school blues player from the old generation; he was a pianist whose crooning blues style influenced the second wave of blues musicians. He died in 1935 from nephritis, and was a severe alcoholic.

Here's 'Mean Mistreatin Mama' which features Scrapper Blackwell on guitar, from 1934. This song was famously covered by many musicians, including Elmore James in 1965:

Jazz Has Become the Least Popular Music Genre in the USA

According to the latest Nielsen Music US Report, jazz has become the least popular music genre in the US in 2014. Jazz currently represents just 1.4% of total US music consumption. 

Although Classical music is also at 1.4%, it just barely outsold jazz albums by 100,000 units, putting it at the bottom.

5.2 million albums were sold by all jazz artists in 2014 in the USA. In comparison, the best-selling artist of 2014, Taylor Swift, sold 3.7 million copies of her latest album ‘1989’ in the last 2 months of 2014 alone.

This is sad news, especially that many reports have shown that jazz listeners are declining year after year. 

It brings up the age old question again.... how do you save jazz?

Standard of the Week: 'My Babe' - Little Walter

In 1955, the great blues harpist Little Walter released 'My Babe', which was written by Willie Dixon, bassist and blues songwriter extraordinaire. The song is based on old gospel songs but with lyrics changed to be about love and cheating. 

The song reached #1 on the R&B charts and was a great success for Walter and Chess Records:

Since then it's become a blues standard and was has been covered by just about everyone, including:

Elvis Presley

Sonny Boy Williamson with The Animals

Chuck Berry

George Thorogood & The Destroyers feat. Charlie Musselwhite

Ike & Tina Turner

Columbus Short as Little Walter, from Cadillac Records

Video: 'That's Alright' - Ali Sleeq w/ Jon Teagarden

I had a most musical weekend; first at the Alwan Festival with Karrouhat Band:

and then Qout Market the next day, where I performed a blues set with special guest Jon Teagarden, a superb guitarist. Check out the video below of 'That's Alright' by Jimmie Rodgers (thanks to Sala6a for the video!)

via @khalidnikon

The Sonos Blue Note Limted Edition Speaker

Audio company Sonos and legendary jazz label Blue Note Records have announced a collaborative effort to bring high quality jazz audio to the masses, with the Blue Note Limited Edition Play:1 speaker due March 5 (update: already sold out!)

Staying true to the Blue Note aesthetic, the design features a smooth vertical faded finish reflecting the deep bass and richly detailed highs and lows that come through the immersive sound of the PLAY:

All PLAY:1s come with two custom-designed drivers with dedicated amplifier

Contains exclusive playlists, hand selected by legendary Blue Note artists and famed record producer Don Was to commemorate their 75 years (available for one year)

Stream your entire music library, popular music services, and internet radip

Start with one, add more over time to fill your home with music

Simple to set-up; control from anywhere with your smartphone, tablet or PC/Mac

Teaser for My First Official Single

Coming soon for digital download and cassette; my first official single!

 News and details at a later stage! 

Design by Bachir Najjar