Ignoring the politics of blues music is like ignoring the crocodile swimming in your Coco Pops. Elwood the Apprentice looks at Gussow’s essays on how to position yourself within the blues tradition. “He was wearing a pink tuxedo and patent leather shoes. He towered over me… Suddenly he was quivering with anger, his finger in [...]
Read more..A rivitting read We recently featured a post about Split Rivitt, a largely unknown band from the UK’s R&B boom of the early 1980s. From our last post, you may recall that England’s 2009 Ashes Test victory over Australia had reminded the Good Doctor of the BBC’s Test Match Special theme, Soul Limbo by Booker [...]
Read more..Elwood the Apprentice seeks wisdom in the holy scriptures (of blues harmonica) [UPDATE: Part 2 of the review is now live.] Well, as I was saying – it’s the end of a Gussow era but not the end of the Gussow era. There’ll be no more free YouTube lessons, but there’s more Gussow wisdom to [...]
Read more..I like it, I love it, I want some more of it.. Don’t just sit there, check out our Music Store and order a copy now. You’d be stark staring mad not to. This is a phenomenal piece of work. It is THE comprehensive tutorial book we’ve all been sitting around hoping someone, some day [...]
Read more..The evolution of the people’s instrument I first picked up a copy of this excellent book by Kim Field shortly after the updated edition was published by Cooper Square Press in 2000. At that time I was only interested in the blues, which meant half the content went unread. But this is a goldmine I [...]
Read more..Can you recommend a good book for learning blues harp? I am often asked this question and the answer is yes. One I often prescribe is Blues Harp from Scratch by Mick Kinsella, published by Wise Publications. I remember its first incarnation, Play Blues Harp In 60 Minutes, which I picked up at a Johnny [...]
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