Hesitation Blues - Reverend Gary Davis

[york1317]

This is a superb piece of playing and includes some beautiful runs. Tunes are meant to evolve and be revised as time goes on and this is an excellent example of this. It is played with passion and a wonderful sense of rhythm and good timing. I have received such joy listening to it. I am awarding it top marks, well done!

[blisteredthumbsdeas]

orhhhh man, that was NICE !!!!!!!!

[duncanstewart01]

really cool version,now all I ha !!ve to do i sre-learn the words again,thanks for reminding me of this that i used to play when i was a lot younger ,slimmer and better looking...now i'm just younger and good looking, once again thanks .

[duncanstewart01]

really cool version,now all I ha !!ve to do i sre-learn the words again,thanks for reminding me of this that i used to play when i was a lot younger ,slimmer and better looking...now i'm just younger and good looking

[dowaliby1]

Bluesy and Beautiful. Shows what a musician who puts in the time and effort can do!

[algentry1]

Beautiful. Some of the commenters think you have to play exactly like an older version. I don't remember that growing up. It's a time art. The only constant is change. Beautiful.I mean it ,thank you.

Al

[phild1214]

@algentry1 Thank you - check out a Lonnie Johnson thing I just did - Untitled - it's a treat to try to figure out how they did what they did while accepting you can only do it how you can do it

[tsmonki]

Pretty much a note for note perfect rendition of the 57 recording. There are a few of these little runs that have been bugging me for ages. Looks like I've got them down now! Good stuff.

[R2Guitar]

Great version love it!

[tubegoolaz]

@phild I don't see your comment here. Can I continue with the rest of mine? Or am I past Youtube's limit still? Nice to meet you too. 4) During the time that I was living with the Davises, Bill Weir of the Grateful Dead came by to learn Hesitation Blues and Death Don't Have no Mercy" but I don't recall Jorma I won't even try to spell his last name ever coming by, but I find his version of Hesitation Blues particularly weak.

[tubegoolaz]

1) Hi I wrote what turned out to be a rather long reply to your post not realizing there's a word limit. I've divided it up into a a bunch of smaller posts. Re-reading my comment I can see that it was a bit harsh. Sorry about that. I knew Gary Davis very well if only for a short time during the last 2 years or so of his life. I was one of his lead boys & lived in the basement of his house. Besides leading him around on tour also of course drove him and his wife to many church services /wk

[tubegoolaz]

@tubegoolaz 2) I was with him in his car when while driving to his house in New Jersey he had his fatal heart attack. His last words were "Sweetheart I'm gonna leave you this morning" spoken to his wife. His body then convulsed intensively and repeatedly before he slumped over, his lifeless body now gone limp and held upright precariously by the seat belts. My last memory of him was him on the emergency room table being jolted by massive defibrillators to no avail.

[tubegoolaz]

3) I stopped playing guitar for 35(?) years when I got involved in theatre, and except for a few months getting my chops back to play "bob Dylan" for a movie in Japan, where I now live, I've been letting my guitars gather dust. I'm writing aplay that will include my time with RGD (sorry I'm not a touch typist so I abbreviate whenever possible). I found your video & those of many others. I'm afraid you took the brunt of my accumulated frustration from the other "renditions".

[tubegoolaz]

Not a bad try and your tone is excellent, considering it's not coming from a J200, but that alternating bass would make RGD puke. you'll never get his With 3 fingers syncopations or counterpoint. Go ahead grab the bull by the horns and play it with at least some of the guts he played it with

[phild1214]

@tubegoolaz Hey thanks for the feedback - I did this video three years ago and felt I was well aware of its strengths and weaknesses. I certainly did not hope to duplicate Rev. Gary's masterpiece with two fingers or three. Actually I would suggest you take the bull by the horns and post your own version - I assume anyone intimate enough with the good Reverend to refer to him by his initials, and to assert what would make him puke, should be able to do a Hesitation Blues that would outdo us all!

[theunwisemonkeys]

I like this version.

Here is another version;

youtube.com/watch?v=Ha_3iD1dur­g

[keo774]

Well done.

But I prefere Hot Tuna's version...

[keo774]

but this is not rev. gary davis.

this is JELLY ROLL MORTON.

every way, good job

[busessuck1]

@keo774 yess, but actually it goes even further back than that, the melody is actually a marching band piece (don't know the name)... Jim Jackson recorded the first version on the guitar, Gary Davis made the funny version

[keo774]

@busessuck1 ok

[imillimill]

that was great!! puts my version to shame....keep them comin !!

Matt

[superleague100]

excellent version..well done!!!

[gnutube]

Superb!

[gavocrazy]

I love the book shelf man!!!

[MaximumMartin]

Rather slendid, do you like frank stokes an the older claw hammer players? GREAT PLAYING!!

[iJailBait]

bello!

[MkUltra1980]

Great stuff !!

[robyhodges]

Hi Phil, Really liked your version. This was the first song I learnt from Ralph McTell 30 years ago from a record [8 frames a second, I think] Do you have a tab for your version by any chance?

[phild1214]

@robyhodges Thanks so much - I don't have a tab - learned it by ear

[sinkopayshun]

Very cool.

[rkcaughman]

outstanding my friend, just outstanding!!!

[StratocasterMaster12]

Phil,

Searched "hesitation blues gary davis" hoping to find a version from someone who could really play and was pleasantly surprised to see your video right at the top of the heap. Trust me when I say it's there for a reason. It's nice to know that thanks to youtube I can see a familiar face playing a great tune.

Your friend (and musical pupil),

Kyle Miller

[ferfried6]

Whow,that a good job man.

5 stars for you !!!!!

[DennisB643]

Nice!

[SantaCruzOM]

Wonderful!

[thumbpickr1812]

love it! cool picking

[sussexangel]

lovely piece of playing,,,,5* and I have faved it too. Just off to watch your other stuff. I just love listening to great guitar work.. I am happy lol Norlei x

[Gwyhir]

Very nicely played. Have you seen Ralph McTells version of about 25 or 30 years ago ?

[jameswp1946]

Thats a lovely version

Thanks for posting

[blindbonder]

Fantastic...very well done! Keep the Rev. Gary Davis tribute's a'comin!

Ami, Israel

[saucylad]

Well played.

[nosorog91]

good play...how much picks are you using (except that on thumb finger) ?

[jeep331]

love it...back to the woodshed i go LOL

[bluesguy1977]

sounds great! now try doing it with the thumb and one finger only!!

[phild1214]

I don't see it as necessary ... enough to try to capture the sound and the feel - Rev. Gary used two so wonderfully I'm not too proud to attempt what he did using three...

[tbcass]

While Rev Gary Davis did a version of this song it a traditional song that has been performed and recorded since at least the early 1900's by many artists, some put different words to it and took writing credit. Nice playing BTW.

[billfishoc]

Very Nice!

I like your version of this classic piece.

Thanks

[aeh0417]

Hey - this is really great - very musical - excellent technique - it flows beautifully - and a wonderful tribute to the Reverend -

Thanks so much - do you have any other stuff posted?

Best

-Ethan

[phild1214]

Ethan - Thanks for the comment - i have a bunch of other stuff if you are interested...

[tobywalker123]

Real fine stuff there Phil.

Toby Walker.

[phild1214]

Mr. Walker - Very honored by your comment and I hope to catch you at Caffe Lena some time - Hope you'll check out my other stuff as well -

[joebbbaaaw1]

Hey Phil....I plan on adding another thousand or so views to this clip and ripping you off big time when I start working on Hesitation Blues. Nice work.

[Papatalk]

I'm jealous! Love it! Reminds me of my childhood!

[Amac10ct]

killer tone

[Squarerig]

A wonderful rendition;thank you.

[ardentoctopus]

Lots of fun to listen to that, thoroughly enjoyed it.

[DHEMPHILL4610]

Thanks for the inspiration. I listen with my eyes closed sometimes. Have you heard "Daddy Stovepipe"?

[Davesax1965]

Great playing. Thanks, Phil !

[firbough]

This one's in my favorites. Great playing...thanks Phil!

[quasispace]

Brilliant Phil, I'm sure I commented on this before but it deserves a second round of praise!

Dave in Germany

[808hawk]

inspirational stuff. really like rev. gary davis. i really must expand my playing. how did you get into fingerpicking. i just got to learn some travis patterns stick with them and gradually expand i guess.

[antdes60]

i rappresentanti del clero italiano dovrebbero imparare a suonare così, grande gary.

[BUNGLEJYME]

Excellent playing!!!!!!!

[jostrindberg]

Nice man! You had some runs that i`m really gonna try. Best whishes!

[Sarasottah]

WOW!!!! excellent...

[2xVitamR]

first class

[noazarkle]

Talk to me,Miss Martin.

[barleyguitar]

wow, very nice. somehow my version just doesn't cut it, have to practice and do a remake down the road.

[FrankieFurillo]

I could listen to this for hours.

[Singalongsam]

Excellent fucking work Sir.

[drybonesband]

Beautiful Phil! Great playing.

[9dinjees]

Outstanding...the Reverend would be proud.

[pinknblues1]

Love all the stuff you do Phil its right up my street, and you have a wonderful touch with the instrument, pity you cant play the Dixies for us!Take good care of that lovely Martin - and yourself!

[NossedEvo]

Exceptional picking and sweet Martin.

Thanks for the tune!

[sejsey]

well played...great

[Heeey333]

Very nice, love the reverend.

[Q2SEEDSMAN]

very nice -do you give lessons LOL!

[WillSagdiyev]

Well played.

[banjochris]

Very nice version.

[willriding]

Nice one! some lovely fills & runs -That's what my playing lacks.

keep it up

[jeeperforlife]

Great job keep up the pickin.

[haus05]

Good show man! Id love to learn to play this song.. just started playing acoustic guitar transitioning from bass wanted to change it up a bit

[fridrikur]

Very well played

[hawkgyre]

Damn fine playin'

[fejnt]

well done there and good sounding guitar! Is it an oldie? (the guitar).

[sguitar]

Very good. nice work :-)

[Wishuey]

Beautifully done!

[kenhughesblues]

This is very good. I have listened to it several times and I will come back again many times! Thanks.

[thumbpicker1812]

Fine playing indeed! Thanks!!

[bluenote335]

Fantastic!

[quasispace]

Hi Phil, it's me again. Perfect performance. I should find a home for this on our website somewhere, you're playing is that good and enjoyable!

I have today off, so emails are going out to Joan Crane and Chris Shaw this morning. I'll be sure to inform them of our new friendship and what an excellent musician you are. You just gained some more new friends.

[phild1214]

Thanks so much Dave...

[walrus108]

Joan Crane! She was one of my guitar teachers way back at Elderly Instruments. She's great! I hope she's doing well. Would love to get a hold of her just to say "hey". I keep hoping to see some vids of hers on here but haven't found one yet.

[ddking66]

very nice !!

[phild1214]

Thanks so much !

[acousticbill]

You really make that thing sing, weep and moan! A much more impressive arrangement than mine ... Hey, will you post a video of "When I Grow Too Old to Dream?" (That way I can steal the arrangement from you!)

[phild1214]

Thanks Bill - that means a lot coming from a fine player such as yourself...

[robindavies24]

Nice job, more intricate than my version so I'll try and pick up a few licks.

[ElvenDane]

Great job ;-)

I must practice harder *SIGH*

[stealurface1976]

man ur awesome...i hope that one day i could say i play half as good as this..

[gutplucker]

fabulous! I like the complexities you put into this rendition

[klasek]

Rev. Davis would give his blessings!