"Make Believe Stunt" played by Rev. Gary Davis

[travhank1]

Once when asked how he could play, smoke a cigar and sing at the same time he was said to have replied: "Smoke don't bother my eyes, can't see, if my singin' bother you don't listen" . A story from an old friend that used to listen to him in NYC.

[horlacsd]

This a section that he took from 'Maple Leaf Rag' .... kinda neat learning about where the REV got his chops from...

[jacksondemarre]

He looks like Blind Lemon Jefferson

[jovesheerwater]

Merci mille fois pour cette treasure. Il y a quelques autres?? Salut.

[fretlessfrailer]

Seems like he is just a little off key in tuning. the high strings are a little sharp. But very difficult for me as I can't tell precisely what chord forms he's using. As long as I use my ears, I'll have it soon.

[Fruscianteistheman]

is the low d off pitch?

[matt301273]

Dude, get a guitar tuner!

[OrganGrindersSwing]

@matt301273 The Reverends guitar could have no strings at all and still sound glorious! Dude......

[THEBIGKOSTRINSKY]

to me personally Gary Davis and Skip James are the masters of the acoustic guitar. both styles are so oringinal haunting n clean yet dirty not to mension they both sound COMPLETLY diffrent than most other acoustic guitarist of their time n place

[4goat6]

Beautiful. Thank you

[4goat6]

Beautiful.

[bertbrains]

You're probably hip to Jorma Kaukonen who studied at the feet of Rev. Davis. If not check out the 1970 version of Hot Tuna's "Hesitation Blues" or "Mann's Fate"

[gfirefrosting]

I don't see the Monk in this at all. Davis is very methodical and precise. If you want to hear a guitarist that sounds more like Thelonius Monk check out some Skip James.

[bluesguy1977]

I've heard many adjectives to describe gary davis, but this is the first time I've heard "precise"!

[arp1978]

@gfirefrosting

I think he means Monk had a unique sound and so does this guy.

They don't sound too similar but you could argue that Monk was influenced by Joplin (indirectly?). This guitarist obviously has a Joplin influence.

I listen to Monk sometimes and hear a different sense of timing to straight ahead jazz. Almost a ragtime feel.

Also, Monk used dissonance a lot. This guy sounds slightly dissonant too but maybe thats a tuning issue.

[melrhyne]

@arp1978

Monk came out of the Harlem Stride school!!!

[fat12stringer]

thank god and you for sharing this, an absolute treasure. thanks again

[fat12stringer]

thank god for who ever you are for sharing this, absolute treasure

[saullouis]

Something about his rythm that has always driven me wild. Unbelievable man.

[ddanze]

jkclevelanddotcom - good comments. gary's his own self - in a space partly tangent to

monk and joplin and art tatum, and some banjo

pickers, ... you can listen to classic ragtime

and get your brain jumbled: then come back to

gary davis a great genius (thru no fault of his own, or any of us)

[speechrighter]

I agree with you and with jkclevelanddotcom. Gary Davis, no doubt,produced a unique musical interpretation here . . . but going back to the earlier contention, I can clearly hear Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag! Jkclevelanddotcom's Thelonius Monk reference is right on point.

[IXLennonRIPXI]

look how he makes 2 fingers do all the work amazing

[Oldskoolmusiclvr62]

The Rev Gary Davis makes a Gibson J200 sound so good!

[jkclevelanddotcom]

Hi, I thought I'd weigh in on the maple leaf/make believe thing. Obviously Gary was influenced by joplin's classic and was doing his personal impersonation of it. That being said, what we end up is with a tune that sounds quite different (in Gary's own peculiar, yet brilliant, sound); kinda like a thelonius monk interpretation.

Check out my version above if you like.

Cheers!

[etancixelsyd]

This is not maple leaf rag. Similar in the first riff, but definitely different. Rev. Gary plays slightly differently each time, but if you compare it to both "Maple Leaf Rag" and "Make Believe Stunt", you'll notice the differences.

[mojokex]

If you say "maple leaf" and "make believe" very fast, don't they start to sound similar? I Love the wit and word play these pros used when naming their own versions,.

[2dust2]

alcohol+music= naah..!

[ADNEELY2007]

You have called this one "Make Believe Stunt," but it is none other than Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag!" Listen closely. I've heard Rev. Davis' version before on blues and ragtime albums. It's classic.

[takeitfromyavideo]

Rev Davis, that's a bad man right there. my granddaddy use to play his music.

[RaggedTime]

what does he have in his mouth?

[ORBOD]

A cigar

[jessupar]

very interesting footage indeed. this is the only time i've actually seen what he really looks like (without the hat and sunglasses)

[southernstar9]

Wonderful video... I appreciate you sharing. The Rev was "the man".

[gordobassman]

Nice to see some home video of the Rev.

[evehardie]

He looks like he is giving a lesson to someone. Very laid back, without a doubt one of the greatest.

[doghousedave]

Great bit of ragtime

[jimblues21]

Nice video of a blues great thanks for sharing

[maurieer]

Love the Rev`s style.

[motorpsych0]

So cool.

Peace.

(BTW, bluespower sent me)

[bluespower]

thanx

[JVCOSIN]

The start of the song remenber me the Cuban sound of and "Habanera", but slowly the song is coming up to the spirit of the ancient soul of blues. Interesting.