Just as "jazz" became a word familiar to the American public at large by 1920 because of the recordings of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, so did the "blues" make inroads in the early 20s through the popularity of songs by W. C. Handy and blues singers such as the Smith "Sisters" -- Bessie, Clara and Mamie -- particularly Mamie's recording of "Crazy Blues" in 1920. Quickly the word "blues" began appearing in the titles of American popular songs, but many of the writers had little understanding of the music and often made no attempt to use blues chord progressions, and the songs were often far removed in feeling from the blues. Similarly, the blues chord structure became the basis for many jazz and swing numbers with little resemblance to the early blues in feeling. (E.g., "Limehouse Blues" is not a blues , "String of Pearls" it based on a blues chord progression.) We will examine some of these numbers to see just how broadly this word was used during the jazz and swing eras!
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Event Personnel |
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Vocalists |
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Musicians |
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Frank Kenney, reedsSteve Owen, reedsTodd DelGiudice, reedsKevin Hoferer, reedsDave Bender, trumpetTim Clarke, trumpetErnie Carbajal, trumpetGlenn Griffith, tromboneGlenn Bonney, tromboneVicki Brabham, pianoMark Forrest, guitar, banjoNathan Waddell, bassAlan Tarpinian, drums |
SET II. SWINGIN' THE BLUES |
| Tin Roof Blues (1923) Paul Mares (m) |