I'm on the correct side of the grass, so I'm feeling alright.
One of those little post that goes around every once in a while is How to sing the blues - a primer.
I am disqualified.
12. Do you have the right to sing the Blues?
No, if:
b. you once were blind but now can see
In 1984 I lost my right eye and was legally blind in my left eye for 8 years until 2 brilliant surgeons gave me my sight back. Every morning when I put my contact lens in and the world pops in the focus, I still marvel at my good fortune.
And I don't give a damn about a greenback dollar
Spend it fast as a can
But a wailing song a good guitar
The only thing that I understand, poor boy
The only thing that I understand
just got home from the VA hospital
got my balls here in this jar
i looked into the basket
she took the keys to my new car
oh now i ask you
just how lonesome can one man be?
(opening stanza of "the ultimate blues song")
my love of the blues is well documented. they are the bulk of the show i'm currently doing.
old stuff though, like son house, blind willie, lightnin' hopkins, john hurt, robert johnson (who, a lot of people don't recognise unless you do the eric clapton versions) and the rev. gary davis.
still, that whole "authentic" or "by rights" crowd, and the folks who run the festival circuit give me the blues. they always seem to know so much more than the artists.
one of the best blues players i know is a middle class jew from tarrytown. bromberg is a god.
his "someone else's blues" is incredible.
You own horses? Really?
Poor Bush. He can't even fill out a census form correctly.
Here in PDX we have the Cascade Blues Association. Nicest bunch of people you'd ever want to meet. They help put on the Waterfront Blues Festival every year to benefit the Oregon Food Bank.
We have quote a few Katrina musician refugees who have decided to make Portland their home because of the CBA and the music scene here.
MB- thank you for sharing your wealth. I feel a bit richer now. 
MB - you're rich if you can give to others,so it sounds like you're doing fine. Now let's see some serious money making later this month w/ Alex
I loves me sum blues. My favorite blues band is made up of a bunch of white guys from Houston.
http://moehansum.com/
BTW, Dani is gonna hate pics of her like this one someday so make lots of them while she lets you.
It is always amazing what can be seen, however we look. In other news: I just dribbled blueberry yogurt down the front of my black sweater, which you should overlook.
Here's my Short Blues:
::sings:: "I woke up / This morning ..."
Thank you*
*Actually, I got this off a Monty Python Album ....
I love the blues, as a musical medium though I really am too well off (most people's reckoning) to relate to them on a most elemental level.
Though I will argue until deemed correct that ANYONE can identify with the blues - you can relate to the soul-center (sorry about the dumb word-could not think of anything else) or not.
Minstrel Boy and BOHICA - you both occupy a special place in my heart (and MB - it's you and Dani!!)
Hah - I just got back from three days with my father and his three horses. My son just turned two last July and those horses are his favorite creatures in the world - me probably not excepted.
He loves seeing the horses, but he gets a little nervous when they get too close. Since I insist on carrying him on my shoulders when we go into the paddock (since he only comes up to a little over knee high on them) his feet are the perfect height for a little friendly lipping. I heard a constant chorus of "No, Buck. My shoes!". I think he's afraid that the horses are going to eat his shoes
I'm gracious that I've got a bit of extra money this year, and work is aligned so I don't have to work over Christmas & Boxing Day (26th December). It's the first time in 3 years that I can be home for the holidays.
I enjoy playing the blues as well - but on the piano. I had a interest in boogie woogie as a kid which evolved into barrelhouse and other blues forms as well after listening to many recordings - from Jellyroll Morton through players like Pinetop Perkins, and Roosevelt Sykes, further to Memphis Slim, Oscar Peterson, and Dr. John and now onto players like Michael Kaeshammer and Jools Holland.
thor, don't forget the god of them all, harry "the hipster" gibson. without him, no professor longhair, without professor longhair, no dr. john...
dig on some pinetop smith "pinetop's boogie" is rumoured to be the first recording where "boogie woogie" was used to describe the music.
i have loved the blues for years now. pittsburgh is a pretty good place for them now, but years ago i had trouble finding any.
you are a lucky man mb, you are here and happy and blessed and you have helped so many others on your journey. those kids will always remember you.
i'm hoping that i'm giving good memories to my little mai.
MB - thanks for the info on Harry Gibson...he was someone who I had never been aware of.
Without Mr. Gibson, would we have seen this virtuosity by Oscar Peterson (with fingers moving on the keyboard like Buddy Rich's drumsticks hitting the skins)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X...h?
v=XhQjwPI6H0k
most folks thought harry was a novelty act. he's only talked about much anymore because dr. demento resurrected some of his goofy songs like who put the benzedrine in mrs. murphey's ovaltine or flat foot freddie the 4f freak or stop that dancin' up there but harry was a virtuoso pianist. once we were in the studio playing maple leaf rag, at the end of the songs we started swapping two's. harry's turn came and he started at the bottom of the piano, and in 8 beats ran a perfect chromatic scale. 8 beats, 88 keys. we were paralyzed. harry just started laughing, and gave us a "1, 2, scooby doo" and off we went again.
he was also billie holiday's favorite piano player, and durante's, and fred astaire's.
MHB - wow!
The mind boggles to think what that would have been to see live.
I was at my x's yesterday for church and dinner, she had a little girl with her who she is teaching to ride. She has become an excellent teacher and has some real skill when it comes to horses. I had a great time just watching them interact, I can appreciate your feelings. She has more on the ball than I ever dreamed of.
Horses, dogs, cats, guineas and chickens, plus a drive for living that is not to be denied.
I've made many mistakes in my life, but that one was most likely the largest.
She sent me home with a care package of Thanksgiving leftovers, most based on recipes from my Aunt Ailene. She died a few years ago, but while me and the rabbit were together she gave her a wooden index card box with all kinds of recipes.
After all these years she still uses it.
I am humbled.
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