Jazz and Blues

In the span of Howlin’ Wolf’s life and career he saw virtually the entire progression of blues from a rural, acoustic music through the birth of modern rock music. As a young man, he learned guitar from Delta master Charley Patton, and as an elder statesman performed with Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones. In between he sang some of the most compelling and memorable songs in all of American music, including “Back Door Man”, “Killing Floor” and “Spoonful”.

A variety of Northwest jazz groups are featured on this edition of Jazz Northwest.   Trio to big band, Jelly Roll Morton to brand new compositions,  from musicians who live and work from Portland to Vancouver BC.  July 1 is Canada Day and the last day of the Vancouver and Victoria Jazz Festivals.  We'll hear a modern day interpretation of a Jelly Roll Morton tune recorded where he played in Vancouver BC.  Former resident Diane Schuur is back at Jazz Alley this week, and Pearl Django's eleventh CD features several new compositions.

Eric Clapton called Robert Johnson “the most important blues singer who ever lived”. Saying that Johnson was a superlative guitar player, impassioned singer and masterful lyricist seems barely adequate to convey the importance of the work he accomplished in his 27 years. Many of his songs became not only blues standards but would be a huge influence on rock music. Among his best-known songs are “Sweet Home Chicago”, “Walkin’ Blues” and “Crossroads Blues”.

The popular Seattle vocalist Reggie Goings sings bebop, blues, ballads and a bossa-nova in concert on Jazz Northwest Sunday, June 24 at 1 PM PDT on 88.5 KPLU.  The concert was presented by Earshot Jazz and recorded at the Seattle Art Museum earlier this month. The vocalist has roots in Texas and has become a fixture on the Seattle Jazz scene since he arrived in 1986.  He has been featured in The Jazz Offering at Tula's on the first Sunday afternoon of each month for 13 years.

It’s one of the most widely played songs in the blues, but not much is known about Robert Petway, the man who recorded the definitive early version of “Catfish Blues”. The scant information that exists tells a familiar story of a Delta musician who headed to Chicago to make records. But after recording a mere 16 songs in 1941 and 1942, Petway seems to have disappeared from view.

Human Spirit with guest Orrin Evans, piano, Thomas Marriott, trumpet, Mark Taylor, alto sax, Phil Sparks, bass, and Matt Jorgensen, drums played the annual Ballard Jazz Walk in April and the performance was recorded for Jazz Northwest.  On this program, the group is heard in a complete set from Conor Byrne in Ballard playing selections from their new CD "Dialogue" recently issued by Origin Records.  The program airs Sunday June 17 at 1 PM PDT on 88.5 KPLU and is streamed at kplu.org

Jimmy Reed is one of the most influential bluesmen in history and his songs will always be part of the blues repertoire. "Baby, What You Want Me to Do," "Bright Lights, Big City," “ You Don't Have to Go”, are just some of the songs Reed made popular.

His style was easy-going and non-threatening, which made it accessible to white audiences of the 50’s and 60’s. Perhaps because of that, Reed sold more records than other blues stars like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.