Studying the chicago blues with David Barrette's Master class I have studied Paul Butterfield this year; so photos of Paul's original Fender Amp as well as me holding his microphone.
Deep with in the Blues tradition Muddy Waters Little Walter Koko Taylor all set history in motion.
Studying under Dennis Gruenling a man that really takes every inch of history serious i have learned that the harmonica is a very dynamic instrument rick in notes structure and phatt tone, studying under the sweet hand of Joe Falisko i have learned the deep roots of blues men like Big Walter Horton and to try to surprise the audience with something different here and there. Studying under David Barrette I have learned to try to be smooth and articulate softly. Studying under Howard Levy I have learned to understand music theory the circle of 5ths. Studying days with the masters of todays chicago blues style has been very rewarding and fun so here are some of my photos from those days and a little history to boot. the song Sweet home chicago is done by myself and Ralph Cove in a different style one of our own.
Chicago is where most greats have gone to establish there fame leaving the cotton fields and a hard life to find there dreams and write there music.
"Sweet Home Chicago" is a popular blues standard in the twelve bar form. It was first recorded and is credited to have been written by Robert Johnson.[1] Over the years the song has become one of the most popular anthems for the city of Chicago despite ambiguity in Johnson's original lyrics.
In fact, the song is a variation of "Kokomo Blues", a song popularized by Scrapper Blackwell, Madlyn Davis and most notably by James Arnold. Arnold's version of the song, which he recorded in 1934 as "Old Original Kokomo Blues", was such a success that he changed his performing name to Kokomo Arnold.
The earliest recorded version of the song by Scrapper Blackwell in 1928 referred to Kokomo, Indiana, a city well known to the Indianapolis-based guitarist. Kokomo was famous for the number of traffic lights. It was known to truckers as "stop light city" and to blues singers after Arnold as "level light city".
The list of artists who have covered the song is immense, including Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, Earl Hooker, Honeyboy Edwards, Freddie King, Foghat, Status Quo, Johnny Otis, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Blues Band, and The Blues Brothers. LaVere once remarked "It's like 'When the Saints Go Marching In' to the blues crowd.
education is the key to the highway the long blues road.
I am playing this in 2nd position on a D Harp the key of the song is A we change it for the fun.
just a fun song to fool around with.
Johnson recorded this tune in the key of F#. His guitar is standard
tuning, and capoed at the second fret. The transcription is in E to
match his fingerings.
short note on Paul Butterfield
Butterfield played and endorsed (as noted in the liner notes for his first album) Hohner harmonicas, in particular the diatonic ten-hole 'Marine Band' model. He played using an unconventional technique, holding the harmonica upside-down (with the low notes to the righthand side). His primary playing style was in the second position, also known as cross-harp, but he also was adept in the third position, notably on the track East-West from the album of the same name, and the track 'Highway 28' from the "Better Days" album.
Seldom venturing higher than the sixth hole on the harmonica, Butterfield nevertheless managed to create a variety of original sounds and melodic runs. His live tonal stylings were accomplished using a Shure 545 Unidyne III hand-held microphone connected to one or more Fender amplifiers, often then additionally boosted through the venue's public address (PA) system. This allowed Butterfield to achieve the same extremes of volume as the various notable sidemen in his band.
Butterfield also at times played a mixture of acoustic and amplified style by playing into a microphone mounted on a stand, allowing him to perform on the harmonica using both hands to get a muted, Wah-wah effect, as well as various vibratos. This was usually done on a quieter, slower tune.
What a blessing to of been able to see touch and learn about Paul Butterfield or as we called him in class "butter!"
Nedra Russ
www.nedraruss.com
http://nedra-russ.artistwebsites.com/index.html
Loading...
3:30
SWEET HOME CHICAGOby toddallenhooper1,118 views
That is a fun song to play.
petro062 1 year ago
@petro062 I agree very fun
nedrathemountaingirl 1 year ago