Acoustic blues mandolin

[Hugh Jape]

Howdy everyone, I have a two questions for yall

A) i was curious if anyone knew of any great acoustic mandolin blues albums? I need something to listen to and have been really into the blues so any suggestions are appreciated. The only mandolin blues album that i do own is Mandolin Blues featuring Yank, Johnny Young, Carl Martin, and Willie Hatcher.

B) Also, while i am at it, I am currently learning to play the blues mandolin using Steve James "Learn to Play Blues Mandolin" so far it has been great!! anyone know of any other "how to play blues mandolin" resources?

Thanks in advance!

[LKN2MYIS]

I love blues mandolin.

Do a 'YouTube' search for Jim Richter and look at some of the incredible stuff he does. Mind boggling.

[Woody Turner]

Mandolin Blues, by Rich Del Grosso (Hal Leonard, publisher) - book with CD. Some folks consider Rich the greatest living blues player of mandolin.

[Hugh Jape]

Ive seen Jim Richter's stuff, does he have an album out?

[LKN2MYIS]

Go to his website.

http://jimrichter.com/

He has a link to buy stuff. He's incredible.

[Hugh Jape]

thats cool, would be nice if he had a blues mandolin dvd with tabs. the only ones i can find is the steve james series and the mandolin blues by delgrosso. this makes it tough for a beginner, like me, to get into it whenever you have 1,000 bluegrass instructions and only a handful for the blues. hopefully some day soon someone will capitalize on it for guys like me!

[LKN2MYIS]

I'd buy that stuff in a minute. Seems to be a market.

Jim Richter - are you listening?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Hugh Jape]

Hint! Hint!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Tom Gibson]

There are a lot of acoustic blues resources for guitar, which are helpful for their explanation of acoustic blues and the different chord progressions, etc. I'd recommend looking at those as well as the Del Grosso book.

[mandolirius]

If you can find anything by The Original Sloth Band, out of Toronto, there's some good blues mando on those albums. There were two of them. I think they're out of print now but I'm not sure about CD reissues.

[Hugh Jape]

Just got Carl Martin - Crow Jane Blues.. very cool!

[mrmando]

Rich Del Grosso: Get Your Nose Outa My Bizness. Great acoustic blues mando.

[Doug Hoople]

Look for anything by Howard "Louie Blooie" Armstrong. A great player and interesting character. The stories he told with that mandolin of his...

[JimRichter]

Still looking to have my solo CD out this year. Probably in the late fall. Half of it will be blues material--the other half will be helter skelter. Just too much stuff bottled up for a long time to do a straight blues album.

Gordon and I are still working out the specifics on a blues album. We hope to have it worked out in the next 6 months. Big issue has been finding time to get together outside of gigs due to family commitments.

As far as a blues DVD, I would love to do one. I think I have a good 60 to 90 minute instructional video in me. The problem is time and, primarily, cost.

In addition to self-producing/editing my performance DVD with Gordon, I was involved in the videotaping/editing/mastering for a VHS and DVD instructional video for Phil Beaver. Phil is a great quilter known for his fabric painting. Here he is profiled on HGTV:

http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/painting-fabric/index.html

To do 1/2 video took a lot of time. I was paid modestly for it. I think several thousand of the tapes have been sold at conventions, workshops, etc.

I'm not sure how many people are truly interested in an instructional video from me--a semi-pro musician with only a regional track record. A CD is one thing, but an instructional DVD is another. I'd also like to see the video and DVD mastering done right (something more than my iMac isight) and I'd be looking at probably a 100 hours of time.

If people would be interested in a bare bones DVD on the quick, I might consider that. Or, if Happy Traum or John Lawless are listening, they can give me a ring.

Also, Rich's album really isn't acoustic blues. Most of it is amplified (especially since he's playing with a band).

[mandocrucian]

YouTube: Niles Hokkanen circa 1991 "Honkytonk Blues/Summertime Blues" solo mandolin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlGi4mpswd0)

If you dig the video, the versions on the On Fire & Ready! (http://www.elderly.com/recordings/items/MANDOCRUCIAN03.htm) CD have a full band (including Phil Wiggins on harp).

http://www.elderly.com/images//recordings/80/MANDOCRUCIAN03.jpg

Some blues instructional articles in Mandocrucian's Digest isses. #9 has a Howard Armstrong interview. (see catalog link below)

Niles H

[Hugh Jape]

Awesome news Jim about the solo cd, i will definately get that! I understand about the funds. Time is money. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[lmartnla]

I am happy to read all the nice comments about Jim Richter whose interesting sites I have been visiting since I discovered him here on the cafe. He certainly deserves support and I would like to have any mandolin CD or DVD he would make. He has a really nice touch especially on the blues but also much more. I have been playing some of the things he has posted and shown us via his videos. I believe he is the real stuff and highly recommend a visit, a listen, and a holler. Go JIm!---Lou

[LKN2MYIS]

Jim -

I, for one, would be interested!

[phoenix]

My favorite blues mando cuts are The Celebrated Walkin' Blues on the Taj Mahal cd with Ry Cooder on mando and Give It To Me on the Walk In The Sun cd by Sue Foley.

[a12]

go to:
http://www.answers.com/topic/yank-rachel

You'll find the real deal.

[LKN2MYIS]

Still looking to have my solo CD out this year. Probably in the late fall. Half of it will be blues material--the other half will be helter skelter. Just too much stuff bottled up for a long time to do a straight blues album.

Gordon and I are still working out the specifics on a blues album. We hope to have it worked out in the next 6 months. Big issue has been finding time to get together outside of gigs due to family commitments.

As far as a blues DVD, I would love to do one. I think I have a good 60 to 90 minute instructional video in me. The problem is time and, primarily, cost.

In addition to self-producing/editing my performance DVD with Gordon, I was involved in the videotaping/editing/mastering for a VHS and DVD instructional video for Phil Beaver. Phil is a great quilter known for his fabric painting. Here he is profiled on HGTV:

http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/painting-fabric/index.html

To do 1/2 video took a lot of time. I was paid modestly for it. I think several thousand of the tapes have been sold at conventions, workshops, etc.

I'm not sure how many people are truly interested in an instructional video from me--a semi-pro musician with only a regional track record. A CD is one thing, but an instructional DVD is another. I'd also like to see the video and DVD mastering done right (something more than my iMac isight) and I'd be looking at probably a 100 hours of time.

If people would be interested in a bare bones DVD on the quick, I might consider that. Or, if Happy Traum or John Lawless are listening, they can give me a ring.

Also, Rich's album really isn't acoustic blues. Most of it is amplified (especially since he's playing with a band).
Jim -

I understand how timely and costly a DVD would be. But how about a tab book and instructional CD set?

Might be more managable, and I think you'd find an audience here for it.

Just an idea, but I'd jump at it. And I'm sure others would as well.

AND - "semi-pro" doesn't mean you're not talented enought to do it.

John

[ald]

Jim, we are all waiting with baited breath

[mando.player]

I just found out that "Live from Bluesville" (Rich DelGrosso teams with Australian guitarist Fiona Boyes and bassist Mookie Brill) is available on iTunes. It appears to be an unplugged set. I'll be getting this one, the clips sound great.

In the past I've shunned away from getting music through iTunes. I love getting CDs, reading the liner notes, ripping them at a high bit rate into iTunes and putting them on the shelf. Lately though, the convenience factor has really hit me. The music I want isn't at Borders or any other local outlet. This leaves me the option of or ordering something and waiting OR getting it right away. Suffice it to say, I'm not a patient man...LOL

[Hugh Jape]

mp3s at Amazon.com are usually cheaper and you can play them anywhere unlike iTunes where you can only play it on a certian computer and ipod.

[ald]

"mp3s at Amazon.com are usually cheaper and you can play them anywhere unlike iTunes where you can only play it on a certian computer and ipod".

That's not true, is it? I downloaded the tunes and transferred them to CD to play on any player in the house. Works fine. Best of all I can buy credits from the local supermarket via a code system rather than having to use a credit card.

[Bill Foss]

I think my favorite player of Chicago blues style mandolin these days has to be Gerry Hundt. Check him out on youtube and look him up on MySpace. He's got a great feeling for the music and is a really good singer too! He has a mini Johnny Young lesson on the youtube:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHNM7nen8gA&feature=related
http://www.myspace.com/gerryhundt


http://www.myspace.com/billfossmusic

[Hugh Jape]

thats true, as long as you burn them onto a CD then you can play them anywhere but as far as listening to them digitally it can only be on one computer. #also amazon mp3 has some good deal.. for today Hank Williams - 20 Greatest Hits is only $1.99 -- No i dont work for amazon! #

Anyway back to the blues. Was just checkin out that youtube from Gerry Hundt. #good stuff!

[Perry]

Ry Cooder is a must hear....you can see him play Brownsville Girl on YouTube.

Look for the following cuts on his albums. He really nails the old time sound:

Hey Porter
Brownsville Girl
Axe Sweet Mama
Crow Black Chicken
Billy the Kid

Also here's an album that has some very tasty "modern" blues mando playing:

Deceiving Blues (http://cdbaby.com/cd/johnmiller5)


The only mandolin blues album that i do own is Mandolin Blues featuring Yank, Johnny Young, Carl Martin, and Willie Hatcher.


That is a FANTASTIC album and in some ways has everything you need to know about blues mando on there.

Steve James DVD is helpful but I think he best way to learn blues mando is to try and mimic the tone and the phrasing. The licks are not all that difficult compared to other generes but getting it to sound like those old guys is where it's at IMHO.

Steve James has a great blues tremolo BTW.

Oh yeah that guy Bill Monroe plays some good blues too http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mando.player]

mp3s at Amazon.com are usually cheaper and you can play them anywhere unlike iTunes where you can only play it on a certian computer and ipod.
For the most part this is a myth.

Most of the music on iTunes is now "iTunes Plus". Which means it's ripped at a higher bit rate (256kbps) and it's DRM-free. You can play these files on whatever you want, burn a CD of them, move them to other computers, whatever.

[Hugh Jape]

cool, i did not know that. i havent messed with itunes in a few months. good to hear they are doing that!

Perry - Thanks for the resources!! I will checkin em out!

[mando.player]

Amazon does have some more obscure music though. I picked up a couple of CDs with Yank, Young and Armstrong on them. Great old recordings.

I think Amazon does offer a nice alternative to iTunes. Although iTunes makes it pretty easy to buy stuff. Another great resource is Acoustic Disc's download service. They offer darn near their entire catalog for download.

[Evan Mahoney]

Thank You.

[Charles E.]

Back in the 80's I took a week long workshop with Howard Armstrong and Rich Delgrosso at the Agusta Heritage workshops in WV. It was a blast. One thing I remember Howard telling me about the sound of the mando's on old recordings is that sometimes the G and D strings were set up as octaves, like a twelve string guitar. I just listened to some recordings by Charlie McCoy ( brother of Joe McCoy ) and it sounds like he used it on some of his tunes.

Charley

[hoffmannia2k7]

This octave set up makes SUCH a huge difference, especially when trying to figure out songs from recordings. I personally LOVE the sound of octave strings and just became fortunate enoguh to play a resonator mandolin strung up like so, it is THE SOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been working out easy winner in C, man, that tune is straightforward, but tough. Could take a lifetime, or two months, to master.

[mando.player]

I found a neat little Monroe tune while I was digging through my father-in-law's music. It's called Santa Claus and sounds nothing like Christmas....LOL. If you play it with a little shuffle or swing it's got a real bluesy sound to it. It not too hard either.

[a12]

Santa Claus is a variant of I don't love nobody.
Brad Keith played a nice melodic lead.
Monroe's break is neat too.

[mando.player]

Ok this is weird. I did a search "I don't love nobody" and the first YouTube Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsHXQdOwjJw&feature=related) that shows up is a clip of two guys playing the tune in front of a Christmas tree.

Anyhow, it's some nice fiddle playing.

[hoffmannia2k7]

Chicken oh Chicken also sounds like a sister-in-law of the same melody.

I did it, I traded in a junk Martin guitar yesterday for this mandolin and a new A and E string.

Octave Strings in Action

Jackson Stomp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i41whrw8zl8)

Vicksburg Stomp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t3ToxItrto)

[bluesmandolinman]

hey Mike , sounds good to me.

and you even have a lightshow in the background WOW !

[Jim Yates]

mandolirius suggested the Original Sloth Band. If you can't find any of their records, Ken Whitely, the mandolin player, is still around and playing great blues mandolin. I went to Toronto to see Pete Seeger, Tao and Guy Davis last month. Guy asked Ken out of the audience to play a few tunes and he was great. Pete also asked Sylvia Tyson to come up and sing a song with him. Gord Lightfoot was also in attendance.
Ken is a multi-instrumentalist, so I'm not sure which record to recommend.

[jajo]

Did anyone mention Billy Flynn, Chicago Blues Mandolin? It's on iTunes.

[mrmando]

Good stuff but not acoustic.

[Gene Justin]

Jim

Thank you so very much for your blues mando contributions on YouTube

I think maybe you gave too much free info already >>> but am grateful for it:)