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slow blues music

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 5:48 pm
by julius
So, believe it or not, I really like slow, soulful blues songs. Yes, you think I am all about dancing fast and furious and DJing for my clones, but it's not true. I just like to keep my lindy hop separate from other dances, but that's neither here nor there.

Anyway, there are two songs that I'd like to mention, one of them courtesy Rayned. He played Topsy Chapman with the Magnolia Jazz Band, "You Can't Tell the Difference After Dark" at the SF exchange. Hilarious lyrics, especially since I was dancing with a pretty blonde at the time.

And I heard Dinah Washington singing "Trouble In the Lowlands" on KKJZ. This is a 9 minute workout that is really incredibly intense. It's available on her Compact Jazz cd so I can't imagine that it's really that obscure. The former seems like it would be though.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 1:51 am
by KevinSchaper
I wonder if "Trouble in the Lowlands" is the same as Backwater Blues?

I've also seen it just labelled "Blues" on a Basie in Europe Disc, killer tune.

Got any Jimmy & Jeannie Cheatham stuff? they do some killer slow blues.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:23 pm
by falty411
I am a huge Black and Tan Fantasy fan. The best is watching the short film "Black and Tan Fantasy" and watching Duke play it there.

I also love Bechet's version of Summertime. There are a TON of great blues songs out there that I absolutely love.

I also really like Savoy Blues by Kid Ory

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:32 pm
by julius
KevinSchaper wrote:I wonder if "Trouble in the Lowlands" is the same as Backwater Blues?

I've also seen it just labelled "Blues" on a Basie in Europe Disc, killer tune.

Got any Jimmy & Jeannie Cheatham stuff? they do some killer slow blues.
I'll compare Laverne's version with Dinah's version. I don't think they're the same, but they might be. I'll try to check out the Cheathams. Are they related to Doc?

I have that Bechet Summertime on my single "blues" CD that I keep in my binder. It's awesome.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:51 pm
by Yakov
recommended:
t-bone walker proper box -- lots of great songs, including a great "stormy monday blues"
nat king cole proper box has "blues in my shower" -- sweet showcase for cole's piano (although part of me wishes, with that title, the song had words...)
oscar peterson and count basie "satch and josh" (volume 1) -- S.J. Blues, the last track, 7 minute buildup of bluesy bliss

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 1:27 pm
by Greg Avakian
Two words:
Jimmy Witherspoon.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:22 pm
by KevinSchaper
I don't think Jimmy & Jeannie are related to Doc.. they actually live in San Diego, and most of their musicians live in LA - but I don't think I've really heard of them playing anywhere..

Hey Mike - what's yer favorite Black and Tan Fantasy?

I think I've spun both the 'new' one from '38 and the '56 Newport, and I'm not actually sure if I've got one earlier than '38..

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:57 pm
by Andy Reid
I noticed quite a bit of slow blues at the LA exchange, especially during part of saturday late night.

I was real into it. So into it that I didn't notice who was DJing.
It was a nice mix of shit that made me swing the fuck out and stuff that make get a little grit in my teeth.

Find that DJ. Get their stuff. Sounded pretty early era to me.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 3:03 pm
by Mr Awesomer
What time was it? I have a funny feeling it was Brenda. She kicked ass.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 3:06 pm
by Andy Reid
Hm. 2am? I'm not really sure.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 3:13 pm
by Mr Awesomer
Brenda went on at 2:30am... so I'm pretty sure it was her.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 3:59 pm
by julius
I played a couple of blues downstairs after everybody bailed for the upstairs at 1:30 am, and about 4:00 I took over for Brenda upstairs and played one or two more slow burns, but I'm thinking you were hearing her. Yeah, it was good stuff.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 4:24 pm
by Matthew
Remember Billie Holiday! Plenty of stuff under 100 BPM. I've got versions of "Solitude" (75 BPM!) and "Summertime" (100) that I enjoy a lot.

Also, I'm really getting into John Lee Hooker's stuff. "Tupelo" and "The Road is So Rough" really get me into that blues "dreamland."

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 4:30 pm
by Platypus
Etta James. Not just the overplayed stuff. She is definately the top blues-requested artist in town.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:01 am
by djstarr
Andy Reid wrote:I noticed quite a bit of slow blues at the LA exchange, especially during part of saturday late night.

I was real into it. So into it that I didn't notice who was DJing.
It was a nice mix of shit that made me swing the fuck out and stuff that make get a little grit in my teeth.

Find that DJ. Get their stuff. Sounded pretty early era to me.
thanks! You guys have just made my year! Here is my set list; most of the picks I've gotten from reading this board - a big collective thank you to everybody! And even though it was a bit funky, I got a real kick out of Marcelo's Wade in the Water/Cottontail remix.....

I've asterisked the slow songs in the set; one of my favorite artists is Curtis Stigers, who was mentored by Gene Harris; I don't see him mentioned very much, he's worth checking out.

Jack-Armstrong Blues – Louis Armstrong All Stars – That’s a Serious Thing
All That Meat and No Potatoes – Fats Waller – The Very Best of Fats Waller
**Love Me or Leave Me – Billie Holiday – The Quintessential Billie Holiday 1940 – 42 Vol. 9
He Ain’t Got Rhythm – Benny Goodman Orchestra w/Jimmy Rushing – Sing Sing Sing
Lester’s Bebop Boogie – Lester Young – Proper Box Set
Porter’s Love Song – Roy Milton and his Solid Senders – Specialty Series
I’m Gonna Stomp Mr. Henry Lee – Eddie’s Hot Shots w/Jack Teagarden – That’s a Serious Thing
Some of These Days – Cab Calloway [request]
**Honey Hush (Solid Old Man) – Barney Bigard and his Jazzopators – Ellington’s Small Units
Jumpin’ at Deuces – Slam Stewart – Bowin’ Singin’ Slam
Savoy – Lucky Millinder – Apollo Jump [request]
Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea – Dicky Wells w/Django Reinhardt – Django Reinhardt and his American Friends
La Mer – Pearl Django – Swing 48
On the Beach at Bali-Bali – Jimmie Lunceford – For Dancers Only
Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home – Jimmie Lunceford – Lunceford Special
Sweet Georgia Brown – Benny Goodman Quartet – The Very Best of Benny Goodman
Special Delivery Stomp – Artie Shaw – Complete Gramercy Five Sessions
Bugle Call Rag – Horace Henderson w/Henry Red Allen – Ride, Red, Ride
Sent For You Yesterday – Count Basie w/the Mills Bros. – Board of Directors/Annual Report
**Satin Doll – Duke Ellington – Ken Burns Jazz
Drop Me Off in Harlem – Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington – The Great Summit
Pie Eye Blues – Duke Ellington – Blues in Orbit
**Centerpiece – Curtis Stigers – Baby Plays Around
Seventh Son – Moses Allison
Blues’N’Bells – Lester Young w/Junior Mance – Proper Box Set
Out West – Swing Session – The Swing Session
Borneo – The Dream Team/Live at the Lindy Binge [request]
Belleville – Django Reinhardt and the Air Transport Command – Django Reinhardt and his American Friends
**Everybody Eats When They Come to My House – Ernestine Anderson – Love Makes the Changes
See See Rider – Ernestine Anderson – My Kinda’ Swing
Massachusetts – Maxine Sullivan – A Tribute to Andy Razaf
Wade in the Water/Cottontail ReMix (courtesy of Marcelo)
**I’ve Got a Mind to Ramble – Alberta Hunter – Amtrak Blues
Viper Mad – Sidney Bechet – Ken Burns Jazz
**After You’ve Gone – Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti – Jack Teagarden Jazz Archives 1931 – 1934 (last 30 seconds is fast!)
** Two Sleepy People – Fats Waller – The Very Best of Fats Waller