How come it is so hard to play the blues and R&B right? Any fool can learn to play the blues but very few can do it right. And what's right then you probably ask. Well, you know it when you hear it.THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THE BLUES (at least...)
I've played the blues since 1991 and toured since 1994. I've played more gigs than I can remember, I've listened to this music on an daily basis for 17 years and I've read a truckload of books about blues. Life has been quite hard from time to time. I've experienced my share of sickness, death, unemployment and heartache and I guess there's always more coming my way.Does this make me a "bluesman" ? No, still I struggle to get it right. Sometimes when I play I reach a short moment when the world around me disappear and I no longer play the blues, I become one with the expression that we call THE BLUES. That what I'm after. And at the most glorious of moments, on a few very rare occasions, the listeners connect with what I'm trying to tell them and what I feel then is something that can't be described with words. These moments are the reason why I've dedicated my life to the blues.
But hold on, blues has a very light entertaining side too, thank God! That's the beauty of this music. I've had some great nights during festivals where masters like Watermelon Slim, Knock-Out Greg, The Instigators, Junior Watson, Jo' Buddy and many more has provided very entertaining blues for my feet, heart and mind.
If I wanna get in a good mood on a friday night at home I put on Wynonie Harris, Big Joe Turner or just about anything released on SUN during the 50's.
And I love to sing these jumping R&B myself...
Well, anyway, the main reason I began to write today was to tell you about the record that I hold in my hands on the picture above. Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Kings. The record arrived from the US yesterday and what a record it is. Carlos Guitarlos, Gene Taylor (of the T-Birds), Top Jimmy and the other guys in this band knew how to make music that made you feel good. God, I wish I would've lived in L.A during the 80's.
Well, I'll tell you more about this band another time.
5 records that changed my life: RED DEVILS - King, King, SON HOUSE - Death letter, RAMONES - Rocket to Russia, JOHN MOONEY -Comin' your way and that very first compilation record I bought with Jerry Lee, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and many more as an 6 year old.
Slim
