July 2010

Bonjour mes amis,

We are well into the concert and gig season now and there is loads going on in France. See the details below for concerts at Avoine, Cahors, Althen des Paluds, Cognac, and in October the Avignon Blues Festival.

I’m still waiting for news on when and where Shri Blues will play. They were at Gruissan (11) last year and put on a superb performance. I’ll let you know details as soon as I hear anything.

Sadly, in June, 15 years ago Rory Gallagher joined the great bluesmen of the after world. In June we also lost Pete Quaife (aged just 66) who was, for some time, bassist in the Kinks. On a lighter note, on 10 June we celebrated 100 years since the birth of Chester Arthur Burnett a.k.a Mr Howlin’ Wolf.

Occasionally I’m asked where we can buy good blues music. Of course the usual supplier sites like Amazon and iTunes will stock the better-known material – and many of the links in my blogs will take you to the relevant counter within Amazon. But there are one or two specialised sites as follows:

Dixie Frog Records

Red Lick

Music Stack

All are good and well worth just a trawl around to see what you can find. Let me know if you have a favourite music store.

WHAT’s ON IN FRANCE?

July

01  Joe Louis Walker will be playing at Avoine Zone Blues, Avoine

      (Chinon) (37)

01-04   Avoine Zone Blues, Avoine (Chinon) (37)

02&03  Eric Bibb, Nina Attal, & Amar Sundy play at Nuit du

                  Blues,  Cabannes (13)

03  Dr Feelgood is playing at the Guitar Festival, Lavelanet (09)

04  Stevie Wonder is at Arena de Nimes, Nimes, Gard (30)

05  Joe Bonamassa is at the Zenith, Toulouse (31)

09  Joe Bonamassa is at Nimes, Gard (30)

09  Uncl’ STF is playing at Jarden du Cure, Renne le Chateau, Aude (11)

09  Al Green is at L Olympia, Paris

10  BB Brunes is at Argelès-sur-Mer (66)

10-17 Cahors Blues Festival, Cahors, Lot (46)

12-17 Jazz à Sete (34)

16     Uncl’ STF is playing at La Guinguette, Lac de Montbel, Léran , 

        Ariege (09)

22     Mark Knopfler is at Nimes, Gard (30)

24     See Dr. Feelgood, JJ Milteau, Mannish Boys, & Alex Henly 

         Band at the Festival de Blues at Althen des Paluds (84)

27 (to 1 August) Cognac Blues Passions, Cognac, Charente (16)

August

08     Nico Wayne Toussaint is in Quillan (11)

21     Uncl’STF is at L’Ecume des Jours, Montbel (11)

October

16     Joe Cocker performs at the Zenith, Toulouse (31)

18     Katie Melua is at Le Dome, Marseille (13)

18     John Mayall is at the Bikini, Toulouse (31)

20     Supertramp play at the Zenith, Toulouse (31)

Plus ………… Every Saturday evening during the summer months there is an Open Mic – Jam Session at Le Rendez-vous, Lèran (09). Starts at 19:30. Menu 10 euros.

CONCERT & FESTIVAL REMINDER

Avoine Zone Blues, Avoine (Chinon) (37) - - 1 to 4 July

Guitar Festival, Lavelanet (09) - - 2 & 3 July

Nuit du Blues, Cabannes (13) - - 2 & 3 July

Cahors Blues Festival, Cahors, Lot (46) - - 10 to 17 July

Jazz à Sete, Sete (34) - - 12 to 17 July

Festival de Blues à Althen des Paluds (84) - - 24 July

Cognac Blues Passions, Cognac, Charente (16) - - 27 July to 01 August

HOW DEEP CAN THE ROOTS GO?

During my working days I was very fortunate to have travelled to most parts of the globe and this included much of West Africa from Morocco down to Angola. And on some occasions I made my way to small shack bars in the suburbs of Abidjan (Ivory Coast) or Lagos (Nigeria), or Douala (Cameroon) where I could hear excellent local artists playing the Blues and R & B. In particular I remember one hot sticky night making my way to Vridi, on the coast near Abidjan, and finding a small bar with just a rush roof on rough poles and open to the unmade roadside. The only seating was heavy, clumsy looking wooden benches and the beers were served from a large plastic cool box. I got there literally as the 4-piece band struck up and they opened with a 20-minute lead-in to Hendrix’s ‘Hey Joe’ – followed by an extended version of the song with various solos. I don’t know if you can imagine that atmosphere but I will never forget being the only white man in town and no one cared because we all enjoyed the music.

So, I was very intrigued when someone recently gave to me the CD album “West African Music” (The Rough Guide). It open with a light calypso like track called ‘Foliba’ by the Super Rail Band from Mali.

Track 3 ‘Roucky’ by Ali Farka Toure (again from Mali) could easily sit comfortably on a Chris Rea album. Over 8 minutes long though!

Another 8 minutes fills track 9; ‘Utru Horas’ by Orchestra Baobab (Senegal). Now, in which direction across the Atlantic has this music travelled? And did it call by Mexico on the way?

The final track (12) is ‘Agne Anko’ by Kante Manfila (Guinea). A simple but pleasing acoustic guitar accompanies this ballad – perhaps praising the land he loves, his village, his people, his family?

This album presents a medley of fine tunes and rich musical textures. Influences from the musical storytellers that travelled the trade routes from darkest West Africa to the Sahara in the north – and beyond.

Undoubtedly Blues as we know it was born out of the harsh conditions of life as a black African in the Mississippi Delta but they brought their knowledge of music and an African beat with them on the slave ships. I wonder if, in those very early first years in foreign lands, did those impoverished slaves play their African music to their friends – maybe to remind them of home and those left behind. Did those more upbeat tunes gradually become the Blues of our Delta legends?

Listening to “West African Music” it is very clear that music influences have done a full circle. Modern African music is clearly styled, in part and in particular, on Blues-Rock but it is still the very deepest root of the Blues we are so fortunate to have inherited.

There are dozens of similar albums with West African music and I’m sure most will offer good listening.

I’m not sure if “West African Music” (The Rough Guide) will replace John Lee Hooker on my listening list but I did enjoy it and I would recommend it.

Please don’t forget to let me know of any concerts, gigs (however small), open mics, etc that may be happening in your town or region. Feel free to share with us any bluesmen, blueswomen, or bands that you like or tell us about your favourite CD.

Most of all, enjoy the music, enjoy the summer, and stay safe.

A bientôt.