Piano Blues

For some reason, when I started getting into blues, I found that Piano blues was what really got me grooving. I found this guy and thought to myself, "Yep, I've found it, this is the blues." And oddly enough, the title of the album I have to share attests just that!

Otis Spann was a Mississippi native, who became known as a solo performer for a unique piano style. But, before forming his own band in 1968, he was a member of Muddy Waters' band for 16 years. He also played with a huge number of greats during his solo career: B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Big Mama Thorton, etc.

Unfortunately Spann died at a very young age of 40 from Liver Cancer, but not before recording a number of great albums, and today I have the first of his solo recordings, "Otis Spann is the Blues." This album is great, this guy really was a fantastic blues artist. I have the song "Worried Life Blues" from the album for you to check out, and if you dig it the album for download down below.





Otis Spann Is The Blues

Do You Hear?

So Today we come back to some authentic blues. I've been talking about jazz and other nonsense too long, and I know that it is high time I put something on here that really brings us back to that great blues sound. I found just that. Carey Bell is a prime example of a bluesman. Born in Mississippi, his family was too poor to afford the saxophone he wanted, so they bought him a harmonica instead. Soon he was interested in the music of Little Walter, and both Sonny Boy Williamsons. He was quite proficient at an early age, and became a fantastic harpist in the same tradition that he grew up listening to.

Today's tune is "Do You Hear?," it is more laid back and a little mellower than most of the true blues numbers I've posted, but I really dig it, and the harp featured is great. So listen to it and jam. I've got the album for you down there below. I've got a bunch of Bell's Albums and they are sure to be featured later on, too.

Second Nature

Not quite blues today

So today my post is not about blues. I know, I know, I leave you hanging for several days then I come back with some folk-glam-femme shit, but listen, this is one of my new favorite albums. A few years ago I found a couple awesome tracks by a dude named Ben Sollee. He plays the cello and sings, and I just thought that combo was awesome. Well he kind of fell to the wayside as other things became more important...until recently. I have recently acquired an album by Ben and a young guitarist named Daniel Martin Moore.

They are a great duo, with Sollee on the cello and Moore on the guitar, and I really dig their sound. I don't think this is for everyone, but this is not everyone's blog, it's mine. So give it a listen, then decide whether you like it or not. I find it particularly nice while reading a book or just chilling. I have the album to post, but I think this is a nice video also, please forgive the long introduction, they really hate Mountaintop removal. This is a song called "Flyrock Blues," and it's actually only Moore, but it's the only song with blues in the title so I wanted to share it.




Sollee also has some great solo stuff, which is actually what I was turned onto first. Here is "How to See the Sunrise" Performed by Sollee alone:




And I actually do have an album here for you to download, but these guys are just starting out. And please, if you like them, buy their next CD. They're just trying to make a living like anyone else.

You could probably get any of their collaborative or solo stuff here: Subpop records

But either way, I'm not one to keep good tunes out of the hands of good people, so here it is:  Dear Companion (2010)