Message Board Archive: Thread Number 94

I'm new to this board. I love acoustic and traditional blues of all
sorts but have to confess greater interest in the contemporary
performers for any number of reasons. Some of my favorites: Rory Block;
Sheila Wilcoxsin; Doug MacLeod; Hans Theessink; John Hammond; Corey
Harris; Guy Davis; Paul Geremia; and Roy Book Binder. Any thoughts?

Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 22:59:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: ari@secondmind.com (Ari Eisinger)
Subject: Re: Favorite current performers
Message Number: 94.1

As one of the contemporary performers I am in a unique position to say
without being accused of self-serving bias that while some of us are
really great, as a group we can't hold a candle to the original
performers. People often do seem to pay more attention to us than to the
masters, but to me that's a shame. One of the things I try to do by
playing and teaching is turn people on to the original artists and get
them to listen to them, too rather than just me.

Many people seem to have a preconceived notion of what the original
recordings are like: primitive and full of feeling, but lacking in
technique and virtuosity. However, this is a misconception--nobody
surpasses Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, Willie Walker or Lonnie Johnson
for jaw-dropping guitar virtuosity.

Don't get me wrong--there are plenty of great players today. It's just
that on the whole, the music on the contemporary recordings is easier to
hear but less worth hearing.