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Work Songs devised in the United States in the 1600’s plantations and prisons told a simple story heavy accents call-res

The Blues. Work Songs devised in the United States in the 1600’s plantations and prisons told a simple story heavy accents call-response good work-song leaders were in demand. The Blues Time Line. Country (or Rural) Blues: 1890 - 1930 (most active period) City Blues:

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Work Songs devised in the United States in the 1600’s plantations and prisons told a simple story heavy accents call-res

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  1. The Blues • Work Songs • devised in the United States in the 1600’s • plantations and prisons • told a simple story • heavy accents • call-response • good work-song leaders were in demand

  2. The Blues Time Line • Country (or Rural) Blues: • 1890 - 1930 (most active period) • City Blues: • 1912 - 1941 (most active period) • Rhythm and Blues: • 1948 - present (most active period) • Rock and Roll: • 1952/3 - present (most active period)

  3. Country Blues • blues is the root and foundation of jazz • country blues were developed at the same time as the work song • earliest blues songs were sung by itinerant male singers in the South and Southwest • informal, unrestrained, improvised • songs were basic: • sex • love • poverty • death

  4. Country Blues • developed into a 12-measure (bar) format containing 3 equal phrases (ABA) • 5 major characteristics of Country Blues • 1. Unsophisticated lyrics and uncomplicated chords • 2. Uses blue notes and personal inflection in the vocal line • 3. Free from any traditional rhythmic restrictions • 4. Relies on only a few harmonies per verse • 5. Conveys a feeling of simplicity and personal identity

  5. Blues Characteristics • Unsophisticated lyrics and uncomplicated chords • blue notes • bending notes away from their original pitch • based on African tonal scales • fundamental blues scale contains only 7 notes • singers also growl, slide, swallow the sound • freedom from traditional rhythmic restrictions • take many liberties with the rhythm • add or drop a beat • Free to sing as the lyrics move the singer

  6. Blues Characteristics • pronounced harmonic and textural repetition • repetition gives the blues its solid structure • the three chords (I-IV-V) creates three equal phrases • 1st phrase introduces a statement • 2nd phrase repeats • 3rd phrase answers the first two • three phrases combine to make one verse • feeling of simplicity and personal identity • vocal inflections (fills between phrases) • often called primitive or undeveloped • Technique still used by Ray Charles and B. B. King

  7. “Hellhound on my Trail”Intro to Jazz disc 1 track 2 • I got to keep movin’. Blues fallin’ down like hail. • I got to keep movin’. Blues fallin’ down like hail. • I can’t keep no money with a hellhound on my trail. • If today was Christmas eve, and tomorrow Christmas day, • If today was Christmas eve, and tomorrow Christmas day, • I would need my little sweet rider just to pass the time away. • You sprinkled hot-foot powder all around my door. • You sprinkled hot-foot powder all around my door. • It keeps me with a ramblin’ mind, rider, every old place I go. • I can tell the wind is risin’, the leaves tremblin’ on the tree. • I can tell the wind is risin’, the leaves tremblin’ on the tree. • All I need is my little sweet woman to keep me company.

  8. Robert Johnson1912 (?) - 1938

  9. Robert Johnson1912 (?) - 1938 • born in Copiah County, Mississippi • Mother: Julia Majors; Father: Noah Johnson • Mother already had 9 children by her husband, Charlie Dodds • known as Johnson, Dodds or Spencer • grew up near Robinsonville, Mississippi • attracted to blues musicians • played blues harp (harmonica)

  10. Robert Johnson1912 (?) - 1938 • learned guitar in six months (bargain with devil?) • played “slide” (broken bottle) • teamed up with Johnny Shines for two years • 1936; Earnie Oertle, American Record Company • five recording sessions - 29 blues masterpieces • received several hundred dollars • dies in 1938, poisoned, age 26

  11. City Blues • 12-bar format • beginnings in minstrel and vaudeville shows • sung from a stage • accompanied by other performers • sung mostly by women • refined and sophisticated

  12. Sparse, usually a single guitar Quite free Earthy, dwelling on hardships of the downtrodden Undeveloped, but highly expressive Several instruments and/or piano Rigidly controlled by 12-bar structure Sophisticated, mature observations on love, verses carefully constructed to fit rhythm and meter Refined and carefully considered material Country Blues City Blues

  13. “St. Louis Blues” • blues dialogue • a distant relative of call and response • Bessie Smith sings verse • Armstrong plays background and fills • vocal part is written out • fills are improvised • somewhat different than usual 12-bar blues • 12 - 12 - 16 - 12 (AABC) • no rhythm instruments - no drums or bass

  14. “St. Louis Blues” • .00 Introduction of one chord • .05 1st chorus, 1st phrase: vocal • .15 Cornet answers and continues as accompaniment, filling after each phrase • .20 2nd phrase: relaxed lay-back style • .35 3rd phrase: completes 12 measures; the fill is built on an expanding interval • .50 2nd chorus, 1st phrase: same melody, dialogue continues; the cornet helps define the harmony and supplies the rhythm between the vocal phrases • 1.32 3rd chorus, 1st phrase: new chord progression • 1.46 2nd phrase • 2.00 3rd phrase • 2.14 4th phrase: completes 16 measures • 2.36 4th chorus, 1st phrase: cornet harmonizes with the vocal part, voice becomes more aggressive, using a slight throat-growl effect • 3.05 end

  15. Bessie Smith (1894? - 1937)

  16. Bessie Smith(1894? - 1937) • born April 15, 1894 or 1898 • discovered by Lonnie and Cora Fisher or Ma Rainey • made 160 phonograph records between 1923 - 1933 • thought by John Hammond to have been the greatest American Jazz ArtistJohn Hammond

  17. Bessie Smith (1894? - 1937) • father died when she was very young, mother when she was 9 • sang on street corners to support the family • age 18 professional dancer • met Ma Rainey - the “Mother of the Blues” • moved from chorus to featured singer • vaudeville and minstrel for 11 years • booked by the Theater Owners’ Booking Association (TOBA)

  18. Bessie Smith (1894? - 1937) • first records produced by Frank Walker • Walker headed Columbia Records “race” department • recorded “Down-hearted Blues” and “Gulf Coast Blues” in 1923 - sold 780,000 copies in 6 months • contract with Columbia for $20,000 per year • made $2500 per week for personal appearances • 1923 married Jack Gee

  19. Bessie Smith (1894? - 1937) • 1928-1930 career on the downslide • economy • talking movies • blues not as popular • TOBA folded • voice deepened and roughened • 1930 contract with Columbia cut in half • 1931 dropped by Columbia • left Gee and moved in with Richard Morgan

  20. Bessie Smith (1894? - 1937) • easily converted to the new swing style • great back-up musicians • Jack Teagarden (trombone) • “Chu” Berry (saxophone) • Benny Goodman (clarinet) • died on Sept. 27, 1937 in Clarksdale, Miss. following a car accident • buried in an unmarked grave in Sharon Hill, Penn. • in 1970 a marker was placed (paid for by Janis Joplin, John Hammond and others)

  21. Ma Rainey 1886 - 1939

  22. Ma Rainey1886 - 1939 • born Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett in Columbus, GA • cabaret singer • husband, Pa Rainey, member of Rabbit Foot Minstrels • recorded for Paramount in 1923 • one of the most popular city blues vocal stylists • no recordings after 1930 • died in Rome, GA 1939

  23. Ma Rainey

  24. The Blues Continues • interest began to decline in 1935 • served as basis for • rhythm and blues (R & B) 1940’s • rock ‘n’ roll 1950’s • rock groups 1960’s and 1970’s • recent country western, fusion and contemporary gospel styles • Human misery continues to be the theme • boosted in the 1950’s and 1960’s by Chuck Berry and Fats Domino as well as The Drifters, Bill Haley, and Elvis

  25. Muddy Waters1915-1983

  26. Muddy Waters 1915-1983(McKinley Morganfield) • born in Rolling Fork, Miss. April 4, 1915 • played harmonica and sang • discovered by Alan Lomax • first recordings for the Library of Congress and later for the Aristocrat label • his recording “Rollin’ Stone” inspired Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” which led to the naming of the British rock group and the title of a periodical • not able to make the transition to pop

  27. B. B. King 1925 -

  28. B. B. King 1925 - • the musician who most influenced rock guitarists • Riley B. King (“Blues Boy”) • “Lucille” • cannot sing and play at the same time • call-response technique • most famous disciple is Eric Clapton • video

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