Blues Players

[jambo]

I want to play the Blues.

Anyone got any ideas on and Blues Players I should listen to?

 

[Bobby G]

Blimey, Jambo, the blues is as huge as jazz, it all depends on what style you're after, and a lot of blues overlaps with jazz, r'n'b, rock etc. What sort of style or sound do you like?

 

[spike]

Haven't we had this before -

An album I got recently was Midnight Special - from the incredible Jimmy Smith - the title track has stanley turrentine on sax and as the title may suggest to some, is very bluesy.

but as Bob implies Jambers - there's blues and there's blues and there's loads of it.

5 mins later EDIT: That book "Blues Saxophone" from Dennis taylor might be good for you Jambers, I whistle through it every now and then looking for new ideas and inspiration, might explain why an american guy at a years new years gig told me - " - . . . like the way you play man . . . really bluesy . . . "

gruss - spike

 

[Jules]

You beat me to it- Dennis Taylor's book is a great resource & serves as a good list of blues players (Turrentine, Gene Ammons, Lester Young, Maxwell Davis, Big Jay McNeely etc etc) ... highly recommend it.

 

[phil_edwards]

Yep, got the Dennis Taylor book over here too. (From Nacho's emporium, no less). 'tis a good'un.

regards, Phil

 

[jambo]

The thing is I havent really heard any Blues Sax (apart form Bleeding Gums Murphy) so I cant answere your questions. All I know is I love blues guitar (BB King).

I have just put in an order for 'Blues Sax' by Dennis Taylor, along with 'Amazibng Phrasing' (also Dennis Tylor) and a book called 'Practice like the pros'

 

[visionari1]

Gidday Jambo, re Blues saxplayers, try Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, he also sings the blues check out Cherry Red, Jumpin the Blues, Mr Cleanhead Blues & Red Top.

I have Sue Terry's Book Practise like the Pro's, its very good, and will take a long time to work through all the exercises. I wouldn't say it had anything partcularly bluesy, except the Tom Murray track.

cheers
Visionari1 🙂

 

[suethesax]

I really like Frank Mead. He is currently with Bill Wyman's Rythmn Kings, and has played with loads of British blues bands over the years. I think he was one of the original Big Town Playboys. He has played on a few Gary Moore albums too.

 

[jambo]

This Blues Sax book by Dennis Taylor is doing my head in

I cant work out whether the Cd for Tenor or Alto sax! And there is nothing in the book at all that answeres this question.

Some of the stuff seems on the Cd to be in the same key as my Alto, but some definatly is not.

Can anyone help? I know some of you have this book

 

[Jules]

I've not got it in front of me but I'm 95% sure it's all tenor

 

[thomsax]

Taylor is playing tenor (Bb) on the CD-samples. If you are going to play A-long with an alto (Eb) you must transpose to another key. The book is just covering tenorists. Hope I'm right????

Thomas

 

[jambo]

DAM!!!

That means I have to transpose.... I really cant be botherd with that. I'll probly just listen to it

 

[Bobby G]

I suppose that makes sense, the tenor is probably more ideally suited to blues than alto (tell that to Johnny Hodges), but transposing from tenor to alto shouldn't be too much trouble really. You could develop your ear somewhat by playing along while you're listening to the CD Jambo. Get to it! 😉

 

[jersey_mike]

The following from SheetMusicPlus site:

This book/CD pack is solely devoted to providing you with a complete overview of the techniques and styles popularized by the greatest blues saxophonists of all time. All the best are here: from the rough-hewn Chicago Blues of Eddie Shaw and A.C. Reed, to the organ combo soul/jazz of Stanley Turrentine and Willis Gator Jackson. Includes lessons, music, historical analysis, rare photos and more - everything you need to master the blues saxophone! The accompanying CD - in Bb (tenor) pitch - includes 18 full-band tracks.


Yep--it's on tenor.

 

[Jules]

Jambo wrote:
DAM!!!

That means I have to transpose.... I really cant be botherd with that. I'll probly just listen to it

an idea for you, if oyu're really not gonig to pursue transposing- how about trying to learn them by ear & use the book if you need it. It would still be worth trying, there are a great collection of riffs to nick for your own playing...

 

[thomsax]

nachoman wrote:

Jambo wrote:
DAM!!!

That means I have to transpose.... I really cant be botherd with that. I'll probly just listen to it

an idea for you, if oyu're really not gonig to pursue transposing- how about trying to learn them by ear & use the book if you need it. It would still be worth trying, there are a great collection of riffs to nick for your own playing...

I agree. Try also to get the recordings/CDs of the tunes. Track 6 Noble "Thin Man" Watts for example is a version of the tune "Nobilty" from the CD "Return Of The Thin Man". Taylor is playing his version, which is a good one, from Watts original. Nobles saxtone was very "filthy" and greasy and it's important when it's comes to a song like this.
A good way to learn a tune/solo is to get an old recorder and take down the speed to half of the original and you also take it down one octave. Listen and try to recall the tones. Take 4 bars at the time, and do it over again. When you are ready take the next 4 bars. Soon you can play your version of the tune! I learned a lot of King Curtis and Jr Walker tunes this way and I still use my old recorder.

 

[jambo]

Good Idea Thanks I might try that

 

[blues_growler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozE0gHFKWg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN0Xu7PUCHg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFDcUY6HiAo

v=eFDcUY6HiAohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gliuFUS-cas

As Spike has already said, lots of styles, lots of blues out there. Though, I can't help thinking that when some bluesmen get in a studio they tend to go a bit too mainstream in the perfectly understandable hope of increasing sales but end up pleasing no one. A.C.Reed is a good example of this.

 

[blues_growler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBGbAaygrU&feature=related

Sorry, meant to put this one on the previous post.

 

[jambo]

Thanks Simon thats great.

I noticed another book on the website which looks quite good. Its called '100 Ultimate Blues Riffs for Alto sax'. Do you know anything about this book?