Remembering Gil Scott Heron

I never got to see or hear Gil Scott Heron live, and when it was announced last year around this time that he was coming to perform in Israel, I thought I would finally get a chance, and maybe even to say hello, shake his hand, and tell him how much joy his words and music gave me over the years. Unfortunately, someone got to him before the date, and persuaded him to cancel his trip to Israel...

I believe that it was near the end of the 1970's that I picked up the album "Bridges", and fell in love with the infectious funky Jazzy sounds of Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson. That is probably his happiest, funkiest, most upbeat album of all the collection. Just check out a few of the tunes on these YouTube links:

Hello Sunday, Hello Road

Under the Hammer

Racetrack in France

Little by little, I also found some of his more political albums with more of his "rap" - he definitely had a way with words, and a strong sense of humor too. Gil Scott Heron was a poet, a stand-up comedian, political/social commentator, and a fine musician with deep Blues and Jazz roots.

Gil Scott Heron was a deadly serious man with a message, but he didn't hit you over the head with it - he preferred to present his views as a conversation with the audience, filled with positive ideas and lots of humor. When you heard him speak, everything he said made sense, he had some very astute observations, and most of the time, he could see right through the layers of lies that we build in our culture to try and protect or legitimize our way of life.

I really felt sad to hear that in recent years he had messed up his life with heavy drug use, got into trouble with the law, did jail time, and eventually, also destroyed his health - to the point where he just didn't make it, and passed away last week at age 62.

Rest in peace brother Gil.

Yesterday's Blues Phrase: Wild Women Don't Have the Blues

Wild Women Don't Have The Blues

movie clip

by Ida Cox
recorded July 1924





"I hear these women raving 'bout their monkey men
About their trifling1 husbands and their no good friends
These poor women sit around all day and moan
Wondering why their wandering papa's don't come home
But wild women don't worry, wild women don't have no blues

Now when you've got a man, don't never be on the square
'Cause if you do he'll have a woman everywhere
I never was known to treat no one man right
I keep 'em working hard both day and night
'Cause wild women don't worry, wild women don't have their blues

I've got a disposition and a way of my own
When my man starts kicking I let him find another home
I get full of good liquor, walk the streets all night
Go home and put my man out if he don't act right
Wild women don't worry, wild women don't have their blues

You never get nothing by being an angel child
You better change your ways and get real wild
I wanna tell you something, I wouldn't tell you a lie
Wild women are the only kind that really get by
'Cause wild women don't worry, wild women don't have their blues"

Today's Blues phrase: I'll be your mule

I'll be your mule



"A mule is a creature that can carry any load
up the highest mountain or 'long the roughest road
but you better feed him right and treat him like a friend
'cause once he turns his back on you ,
he will never look at you again"

"I'll be your mule, I'll be your mule, I'll be your mule
I'll be your mule, I'll be your mule
I'll be your mule, but I will refuse to be your fool"


Steve Freund,
from the album "I'll be Your Mule" (Delmark 752)

R.I.P. Willie Pinetop Perkins 1913-2011

I met Pinetop in 2006 on the Blues Cruise.

He was a very sweet man, and when he got on stage, it was as if he was 40 years old again, the voice, the piano playing, were all there as if he was in his prime.

Just 2 months ago he won a Grammy for his latest album with Willie Big Eyes Smith - "Joined at the Hip: Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith."

Here is one of the newspaper notices of his passing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8397186/Legendary-blues-musician-Pinetop-Perkins-dies-age-97.html

R.I.P. Big Jack Johnson - 1940-2011

Sad news from Bob Corritore (March 14, 2011) :

Big Jack Johnson passed away this morning at 6am in his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi after a long battle with heath issues. He was 70 years old.

Big Jack's inventive, energetic, Delta-rooted guitar, rich confident vocals, down home songwriting, and larger than life stage presence made him one of the most celebrated bluesmen of Mississippi. His long music career included much national and international touring, many amazing record releases, and a huge amount of praise and respect.

Big Jack was born in Lambert, Mississippi in the summer of 1940, and learned guitar from his father at age 13. He rose to prominence in the early 1960s working as a key member of the legendary Jelly Roll Kings, a champion blues band which also included Frank Frost and Sam Carr. Big Jack first appeared on record in the 1960s as the guitarist on two famous Frank Frost albums; Hey Boss Man on the Phillips International label (an offshoot of Sun Records) from 1962, and My Back Scratcher on Jewel from 1966.

In the late 1970s, Michael Frank debuted his Earwig Music label with The Jelly Roll Kings / Rockin' The Juke Joint Down which also was a recording debut for Big Jack's great vocals. Soon afterward, Big Jack Johnson would start a solo career for himself, independent of the Jelly Roll Kings. His solo debut album, Oil Man (Big Jack used to hold down a day gig delivering oil barrels in Mississippi) on the Earwig label was released in 1987. This led to additional CDs for Earwig, a nice run with M.C. Records, and additional recordings for Rooster Blues, P-Vine Records, Right Coast Recording, and Big Jack Music. There was also a nice Jelly Roll Kings reunion album called Off Yonder Wall that came out in 1997 on the Fat Possum Records. Additionally, Big Jack appeared in the influential 1992 documentary movie Deep Blues. He was a popular festival and club entertainer, a warm and hospitable person, and an amazing musician.

Big Jack Johnson was the last original member of the Jelly Roll Kings. His passing leaves a gap in the blues that will never again be filled. To see his amazing performance of "Catfish Blues" from the movie Deep Blues, click here. Thanks for all the great music Big Jack. You are loved!"

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I remember Big Jack visiting Israel and playing in a small club in Tel Aviv.

The host guitarist who invited him to Israel (and shall remain nameless) was trying his usual tricks of one-up-manship and trying to intimidate his guest, as he often does with various people he invites on stage.

Jack Johnson didn't even flinch, stood his ground, played and sang his solid Blues, and managed to push this rude host guitarist into the opposite corner of the stage with his no-bones Mississippi roots attitude. I think that this was the first time I saw anyone really stand up to this guy, and Jack Johnson gave a great show that night!

R.I.P. Robin Rogers 1957 to 2010

This news comes just 2 days after Robin was nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist for the 2011 Blues Music Awards. This week her latest CD reached # 4 on the Blues Roots Music Charts.

From Bob Corritore's newletter:

"Singer / harmonica player Robin Rogers has died today in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. She had been struggling with terminal liver cancer for a month now. Robin was well loved within the blues community and had some highly successful CDs which frequently ended up with nominations, and she was honored with a Blues Blast Music Award in 2009, for "Best Female Artist".

Her humble and sincere personality, coupled with her unmistakable talent, made us all take her in as an adopted little sister. She had lead a very hard life, complete with homelessness, and drug and alcohol abuse, but she had turned her life around, and found a positive outlet in blues music. She had been sober for 21 years and happily wed to her husband, and musical partner Tony Rogers who was by her side until the end.

Many benefits sprouted around the country and her latest record Back In The Fire, on the Blind Pig label, was met with great success, and has recently been nominated for a Blues Music Award. Please spend a few minutes to hear the NPR interview with Robin, from a few weeks ago. . Thank you Robin, for your great music, and your strong heart. To read more about Robin Rogers, please visit www.robinrogers.com"

R.I.P. James Peterson 1937-2010

I first discovered James Peterson's solid Blues on a CD from the early 90's. Only later did I discover that he was also the father of the high energy singer (and multi instrumentalist) Bluesman Lucky Peterson.

Well, James Peterson passed away this week, on Dec. 12, 2010.

He was active in recent years in the Tampa Bay Florida Blues scene.

Rest in peace James.

See and hear James Peterson - live performance video.

Open Letter to Gil Scott Heron

Hello Gil,
I was so elated when I first heard that you were coming to perform here in Tel Aviv, both my wife and I were really looking forward to seeing and hearing you in person.
I have been a big fan since the 1970's when I happened upon your album Bridges (Hello Sunday, Hello Rose), and I have tried to follow your career through the years, as well as introduce my friends to your music. I also do the occasional radio show and I have broadcast your music many times, as well as introduced other radio people here in Israel to your albums.

Today, I am very disappointed in you. The newspapers are announcing that you have canceled your Israel show at the urging of a few individuals and based on hearsay and political propaganda.
I really thought you were more intelligent and sensitive than to swallow lies from propaganda machines. In the past, I think that you had the keen observation tools to see through the establishment "bull", and to form your own very unique opinions - that is at least the Gil Scott Heron that I thought I knew...

Regardless of your scheduled performance here, I invite you to come to Israel, walk around Jerusalem with me, walk around a few other towns, meet some local artists, feel the pulse of the people here, see for yourself!!!

A couple of things to ponder -
would a country or a people that has such a "bad rap" politically in the world today be able to produce a democracy where Arab citizens of Israel sit in its parliament and openly criticize the government on a regular basis?
Would an "ogre" or a "pariah" people have such great artist and musicians, especially in the international Jazz world which requires sensitivity and creativity at the highest level?

Please do not take the word of those who only seem to have hatred, death and destruction on their agenda, and completely deny our right to exist peacefully, come here and make up your own mind!!!

And maybe you can help to bridge the gaps and change attitudes with the magic of music!!!

Sincerely,
Eli ("Dr. Blues") Marcus

Lazer Lloyd Blues Band - new Blues in the Holy Land

This is a repost and update - the Lazer Lloyd Blues Band is recording a new album,
and I hope to have more news soon of special appearances and touring by this amazing dynamic power Blues/Rock trio.





Lazer Lloyd is an American guitarist and phenomenal Blues/Rock artist who lives in the Holy Land of Israel.
He is known worldwide for his power Rock Blues trio Yood.

Lazer has recently renewed his Blues power trio -
the Lazer Lloyd Blues Band,
and he's opening on March 27, 2010 for the Snowy White Blues Project,
which is performing in Tel Aviv, Israel for the first time.

Listen to recent recordings by Lazer on his MySpace page,
and check out live video at Lazer Lloyd's YouTube Channel


enjoy...

R.I.P. Marva Wright - NOLA Gospel and Blues singer

Gospel, blues artist Marva Wright dead at 62

(AP) – 7 hours ago

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans blues and gospel singer Marva Wright died Tuesday at age 62, her former manager said.

Adam Shipley confirmed that Wright died of complications from a stroke she suffered last year.

She sang traditional jazz and gospel standards but was better known for sultry, sometimes bawdy blues songs. Among her best known songs were "Heartbreakin' Woman" and "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean."

She released a series of albums on local and international record labels, and frequently performed in Europe and at blues festivals around the country. With her band, the BMWs, she drew large crowds for performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

As a child, Wright listened to her mother sing and play piano at church. Among her childhood memories were visits to Chicago, the adopted home of New Orleans gospel great Mahalia Jackson, who had grown up with Wright's mother.

"My mother would go to the national Baptist convention," Ms. Wright once said, according to an account in The Times-Picayune newspaper. "When it convened in Chicago, Mahalia would say, 'Girl, you don't need to get no hotel. Stay with me.' That's what my mother would do. I met Mahalia when I was 9 years old, but I never realized she was that popular until I got older."

But Wright didn't start singing professionally until she was almost 40, according to a biography on her Web site.

Wright was hospitalized last June after suffering a serious stroke following a gig at the CoCo Club on Bourbon Street. Relatives said then that she had just recovered from an earlier, less serious stroke.

On the Net:

• http://www.marvawright.com

Poor man, but a good man, Skip James

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