Outspoken blues legend Howlin’ Wolf sings a powerful original during his appearance at the 1970 Washington D. C. Blues Festival. Wolf first recorded this song about being mistreated by a woman (one of his favored topics) for Chess Records on December 18th 1951. This live performance filmed … Continue reading
Saxophonist and composer Eddie Harris was born on October 20, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. Harris, along with Nat King Cole, Bo Diddley, Dinah Washington, and other classic Chicago artists, studied under Walter Dyett at DuSable High School. Harris consistently recorded throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, including the … Continue reading
Billy Strayhorn and William “Duke” Ellington got the writing credit on this one. When it became a hit as an instrumental, Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics, though it’s unclear if perhaps Strayhorn alone wrote it. Some time after its instrumental version became a hit, … Continue reading
Muddy Waters sings of longing, long distance love, and that all important phone call at the 1968 Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Today’s Copenhagen Jazz Festival was not officially established until 1979, but Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the … Continue reading
Lightnin’ Hopkins is captured on film performing his song “Mr. Charlie” for children in an excerpt from the 1968 Les Blank documentary “The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins.” Before singing this, he tells the story of a boy who stutters … Continue reading
Brilliant funk. Doing Their Own Thing. Recorded and released after a mutiny by most of James Brown’s late-’60s band, Doing Their Own Thing contains 12 slabs of superb early-’70s style funk. Mostly instrumental, radio play for the album and subsequent … Continue reading
Junior Wells – Cryin’ Shame. Junior Wells is joined by Buddy Guy once again, during an earlier performance filmed as part of the 1970 documentary “Chicago Blues.” Bassist David Myers, and drummer Sam Lay make up the rhythm section for this raw blues captured live … Continue reading
Few bass players in the history of modern New Orleans music are as storied as George Porter Jr. George Porter, Jr. is best known as the bassist of The Meters, along with Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli and Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste. … Continue reading
Taj Plays Robert Johnson At a live concert in 1986 Taj Mahal performs delta blues legend Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen.” Though the song has been covered by countless others Taj makes it his own through the application of his own instrumental treatment. Throughout his career, … Continue reading
There’s so little live footage of this groundbreaking band. Herbie moves quickly from period to period. If you’re unaware of this music, you would be doing yourself a huge favor to do some research. Clear your mind a bit, this … Continue reading