Author Topic: Rev. Davis' Birthday (Read 2680 times)

Johnm · « **on:** April 29, 2013, 03:46:48 PM »

Hi all,
It was suggested in the John Hurt Birthday tribute thread that it might be nice to do a similar thread honoring Rev. Davis on his birthday, April 30. I'm a little early, I guess, but thought I'd get the ball rolling. As far as I know, Rev. Davis never played or performed "Deep River", but it is a beautiful Spiritual that I've loved ever since I first heard it. So I'll dedicate this version to Rev. Davis.
All best,
Johnm

Pan · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2013, 04:58:28 PM »

A beautiful arrangement with lush harmonies! Thank you for sharing it with us, John!

Cheers

Pan

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2013, 08:46:19 PM »

Beautiful John! One of my favorite songs and the only one that would get my son to sleep when he was an infant on difficult nights. Can't resist posting the ne plus ultra of performances:

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2013, 08:48:34 PM »

And B. Davis hisself:

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2013, 12:04:30 AM »

Who knows by this time next year we may have two biographies to read, one from Ian Zack, the other from Bill Ellis. Rather like buses - wait ages for one and two come along.

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2013, 03:39:50 AM »

And then there's the film. Anybody see it yet? I haven't. In any case I'm hopeful that this may mark the beginning of the end of the general obscurity this major twentieth century artist has been consigned to. Other great artists who've famously fallen off the world's radar in the past, only to be resurrected and celebrated centuries later, include J.S. Bach, and Domenico Theotocopolus (ElGreco).

uncle bud · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2013, 09:19:06 PM »

It's still the Rev's birthday somewhere west of here, so here's my contribution. Definitely in the spirit of frankie's one-take-or-go-home recordings, as it is past my bedtime. I've still got a ways to go with this one but it's sure fun to play. Make Believe Stunt/Maple Leaf Rag.

Lyle Lofgren · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2013, 05:38:53 AM »

I'm a day late with this, and I may have posted the link before, but here are some excerpts from a tape I made of Rev. Davis with Elizabeth Cotten at a party at our house in 1965. He's as memorable as they come.

http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/BrnSnift/SonicAlbum.html

Lyle

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2013, 07:16:21 AM »

Terrific Andrew!

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2013, 07:33:47 AM »

These are great Lyle thanks.

Johnm · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2013, 09:27:02 AM »

Thanks for that rendition, Andrew, you sound great. Thanks for the good words, Pan and Phil.
All best,
Johnm

uncle bud · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2013, 06:25:27 PM »

Thanks guys. John, thanks for starting us off with a beautiful arrangement. Real pretty, like Pan said, lush. Have to admit I am only vaguely familiar with the song from long ago, probably Robeson.

Roi, nice version. Kind of a cross between McTell's and the Down Home Boys' Stack o' Lee. Your arrangement?

frankie · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2013, 03:03:48 AM »

John - that was beautiful and leaves me otherwise speechless. Nobody plays like you.

Uncle Bud - hands down the most fun revivalist rendering of that one I've ever heard, and I love the singing at the 2:29 mark. Perfectly in the spirit!

Roi - like uncle Bud, I hear something between McTell and the Downhome Boys. Nicely done!

CF · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2013, 07:11:50 AM »

Very nice gentlemen!
Andrew that was terrific!

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2013, 11:15:02 AM »

Great performances all! A fitting birthday present for the rev!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

Laura · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2014, 07:21:08 AM »

Hi all. Just a reminder that RGD's birthday tribute is one week from today!
Robert Tilling's book suggests he always tried to record in just one take:

"...once is as good as a hundred, twice is as good as a thousand..."

Let's make some music in his memory - he had so much to share

frankie · « **Reply #16 on:** April 30, 2014, 03:10:43 AM »

In anticipation of Rev. Davis' birthday, I actually prepared a bit of data analysis, based on the commercial recordings I have access to... which are fairly complete. I was curious about Rev. Davis' most recorded songs. Most of these are unsurprising with the exception of Sun Is Going Down... for some reason, I always assumed that this was a pretty rare song in his repertoire, but once you control for the 'title creep,' it turns out that he recorded it pretty often - 8 times:

Samson And Delilah 14
Twelve Gates to the City 12
Cocaine Blues 10
Twelve Sticks 10
You Got To Move 10
Buck Dance 9
Candyman 9
Cincinnati Flow Rag 9
Make Believe Stunt 8
Sun Is Going Down 8

I chose to do his second most recorded song for his birthday this year. It's one of my favorites.

Laura · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2014, 03:35:06 AM »

A couple months ago I felt like I needed to learn this song - looking back I can't exactly remember why!

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2014, 06:07:27 AM »

Stellar performances as usual. Now, I can't play anything by the Rev. But I can copy and paste:

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2014, 09:15:19 AM »

Great work Frank & Laura. A pleasure to see & Hear.

A "What If?" Rev. Gary Davis Song.

http://sclk.co/s7lt33

jtbrown · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2014, 10:41:45 AM »

Wow! Amazing performances, Frankie, Laura, and O'Muck -- I really loved all three. (And some very fine copying and pasting from you, Prof. Scratchy.) Please lower your standards dramatically before watching the following.

Todd Brown

Johnm · « **Reply #21 on:** April 30, 2014, 03:59:59 PM »

I've so enjoyed all of the Rev. Davis birthday posts so far this year. Frank, that is such beautifully relaxed time and singing, except where you don't want it relaxed! Laura, it is so strong and true, playing and singing. Phil, that is wonderful, and so YOU--I don't reckon another person alive could have done what you did with "God Don't Never Change", even if they might have been able to play it, they couldn't have thought of it. Todd, you hit some lovely variations on "I Will Do My Last Singing", as well.

Here is a hymn I wrote called "Oh My Lord", waiting on some lyrics.

All best,
Johnm

Laura · « **Reply #22 on:** April 30, 2014, 04:20:20 PM »

Thanks to everyone who contributed/commented/listened! I'm sure there's some more posts to go up yet, everyone has a bit of RGD in them!
Phil, that was amazing! When i first saw the title of your song i was a little confused as was sure he hadn't done that one..but wow... listening to that it could have easily been him!
Todd, you don't give yourself enough credit - that was fantastic - was so happy to hear that song as it's one of my favourites and was actually going to give up on "destruction" and try to learn that one instead but Frankie was like "Sistuh - that's just as difficult" (he does actually speak like that). Was that your own arrangement? In any case, so nicely played - thank you!
John, as always your playing is so effortless "Oh My Lord" is beautiful - I hope you don't need to wait too long for the lyrics to find you....

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #23 on:** April 30, 2014, 04:58:21 PM »

A Beautiful 30's sounding lullaby-Hymn John. Where's Yip Harburg when ya need him?!

And thanks for the good words all.

jtbrown · « **Reply #24 on:** April 30, 2014, 06:32:20 PM »

That's beautiful, John. When I checked in just now, I was especially hoping there'd be something from you.

And thanks to Laura & John for the kind & encouraging words. Maybe by next year I'll be ready to try something a little more ambitious. Laura, when Frankie said "Last Singing" was as difficult as "There's a Destruction in This Land," I think he probably just wanted to trick you into persevering, and I'm so glad he did. (For one thing, "Last Singing" doesn't have that tricky D-major shaped chord up the neck that I'm pretty sure I see you playing.) My rendition is based on a version I learned from my brother, who learned it from Ernie Hawkins; I just simplified it a bit and added some minor variations using different chord voicings.

Todd

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #25 on:** April 30, 2014, 08:13:00 PM »

Hey Todd i see i inadvertently left you out sorry, very nice sensitive playing of such a beautiful tune.

uncle bud · « **Reply #26 on:** April 30, 2014, 08:24:54 PM »

Nice work everyone! Phil, that was a great surprise, very cool version. Laura, way to go, you're making it look easy, and we know damn well it isn't. Frankie, as always, your RGD playing is the tops, picking, singing, finger snaps (with picks!) and all. Todd, some fine pickin' there as well. Johnm, I am having trouble with your file and will need to retry later!

Who knew weenies knew so many freakin' chords.

frankie · « **Reply #27 on:** May 01, 2014, 01:18:02 AM »

so much good stuff going on in this thread... thanks, John - the hymn is beautiful and your playing is as brilliant as ever. Laura - thanks for posting There's Destruction In This Land - such great singing and smooth, relaxed playing! Todd - thanks for I'll Do My Last Singing - one of my favorites! Phil - your take on God Don't Never Change is truly breathtaking - a deeply original and creative interpretation... fantastic!

jtbrown · « **Reply #28 on:** May 01, 2014, 10:37:18 AM »

Roi, that's excellent! It has such a great bounce to it, and I love those single-note runs and all the percussive effects. It kind of sounds like a Rev. Gary Davis tune that he never quite got around to composing. Thanks for posting it.

Todd

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #29 on:** May 01, 2014, 02:26:59 PM »

Nice Roi

Pan · « **Reply #30 on:** May 01, 2014, 05:57:58 PM »

Thanks for all the great performances in this thread! They would make up a great tribute album, I think!

Frankie, I don't think that anyone has owned the 12 gates to the city, so much, since the rev., except you! Wonderful!

Laura, that is just an amazing performation, no wonder it was shared on the social media asap. What a great performer you are turning to be, in front of our eyes!

Mr. O'Muck, what a tour de force! You're powerful delivery and touch certainly is keeping up the torch of the Reverend, and only a few can improvise so fluently in this tradition.

I'm not familiar with the original, but Todd's instrumental tune was very enjoyable, with precise and clear melody and rhythms. Well done!

John, what a beauty again, with those lush harmonies of yours! You should consider recording a gospel album, with some original tunes as well!

Roi's energetic Buck Dancing, with some virtuoso licks certainly bring the Reverend in mind! Well done!

Thanks again for everyone who participated, it certainly made a nice evening of listening (and a great remedy for post weenie juke symptoms).

Now I need to really learn some RGD tunes myself!

Cheers

Pan

ArthurBlake · « **Reply #31 on:** May 02, 2014, 04:07:31 AM »

Quote from: jtbrown on April 30, 2014, 10:41:45 AM

Wow! Amazing performances, Frankie, Laura, and O'Muck -- I really loved all three. (And some very fine copying and pasting from you, Prof. Scratchy.) Please lower your standards dramatically before watching the following.

Todd Brown

I don't think anyone has to lower any standards to have enjoyed that tune and your playing on it JT. I know I did, it was very nice indeed I got a lot of pleasure from it.

ArthurBlake · « **Reply #32 on:** May 02, 2014, 04:11:37 AM »

Quote from: Johnm on April 30, 2014, 03:59:59 PM

I've so enjoyed all of the Rev. Davis birthday posts so far this year. Frank, that is such beautifully relaxed time and singing, except where you don't want it relaxed! Laura, it is so strong and true, playing and singing. Phil, that is wonderful, and so YOU--I don't reckon another person alive could have done what you did with "God Don't Never Change", even if they might have been able to play it, they couldn't have thought of it. Todd, you hit some lovely variations on "I Will Do My Last Singing", as well.

Here is a hymn I wrote called "Oh My Lord", waiting on some lyrics.

All best,
Johnm

That was also very nice John and it is good to jam to, plenty of good melodies for vocals or lead instrument to add in there, I played along with it and had a good time doing so.

Johnm · « **Reply #33 on:** May 02, 2014, 10:22:03 AM »

Thanks, folks, for good words on the hymn.
All best,
Johnm

uncle bud · « **Reply #34 on:** May 03, 2014, 08:45:52 AM »

Hi John - got your file to play (not sure what the issue was, on my end I presume, must've corrupted the file the first time or something). Lovely piece, and as always, your chord voicings always catch my ear. And trick my ear. Sometimes when I listen I hear a voicing that says standard, then I hear another that says oh, those open strings, could this be something else? Part of it is unfamiliarity, but part of it is those open strings that ring so nicely.

Frankie, when did a Gibson creep back into your hands? Or maybe I just didn't notice. Also, that verse at the end ("When I get in heaven") is one I don't recall him singing from the 8 versions or so I have. Where's it from? This one just gets better and better with repeated listening, so much in there.

Johnm · « **Reply #35 on:** May 03, 2014, 10:06:23 PM »

Thanks for the comments, Andrew. I think one reason the sonorities on the hymn may be difficult to suss out is because it is played in open Bb, the Peg Leg Howell "Low-Down Rounder Blues/Fairy Blues" tuning. I've been playing in that tuning a good bit the past couple of years and particularly like it because it makes a lot of really close, pianistic sorts of voicings possible that can not be played in standard tuning or any other commonly utilized tuning that I know of. The version of "Deep River" I posted in the Rev. Davis birthday thread last year was also played in that tuning.
The tuning also works exceptionally well for thumb lead, and I've used it quite a lot for that style, too.
All best,
Johnm

frankie · « **Reply #36 on:** May 04, 2014, 05:33:20 AM »

John - that definitely sheds light on both of those songs... that tuning ALWAYS sounds like standard on first listen to me, and your use of this and other tunings is a lot more sophisticated than I'm used to... amazing that you can hear that way inside an open tuning... the more I hear you play in open tunings, the more I want to compare you to Blind Connie Williams, who also has (to my ear) a very nuanced sense of harmony and never seems 'limited' by the key-bound nature of the open tuning he chooses to work in. That's just incredible to me.

Andrew - the Gibson is an old friend come to visit. It was sold a while back to finance another purchase, but it's certainly a welcome house guest! It's a pretty good guitar... yup.

frankie · « **Reply #37 on:** May 04, 2014, 09:07:11 AM »

Quote from: uncle bud on May 03, 2014, 08:45:52 AM

Also, that verse at the end ("When I get in heaven") is one I don't recall him singing from the 8 versions or so I have. Where's it from?

It's from this site:

http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/oh_what_a_beautiful_city.htm

I think this came up on weenie not too long ago. I guess it should have been obvious that this had a source other than Rev. Davis, but I've never heard a sung version of this other than his... turns out I just never looked! Duh. Anyway, the last verse just kind of spoke to me, so I added it. All the verses are probably 'floaters,' and could be included into just about any spiritual song...

Laura · « **Reply #38 on:** May 04, 2014, 11:33:25 AM »

Quote from: roig on May 01, 2014, 02:25:52 AM

This is a variation of Buck Dance, of course ---

CAn't believe I missed this one...that's excellent, Roi - thanks for posting!

ArthurBlake · « **Reply #39 on:** May 05, 2014, 11:50:09 PM »

Quote from: Johnm on May 03, 2014, 10:06:23 PM

Thanks for the comments, Andrew. I think one reason the sonorities on the hymn may be difficult to suss out is because it is played in open Bb, the Peg Leg Howell "Low-Down Rounder Blues/Fairy Blues" tuning. I've been playing in that tuning a good bit the past couple of years and particularly like it because it makes a lot of really close, pianistic sorts of voicings possible that can not be played in standard tuning or any other commonly utilized tuning that I know of. The version of "Deep River" I posted in the Rev. Davis birthday thread last year was also played in that tuning.
The tuning also works exceptionally well for thumb lead, and I've used it quite a lot for that style, too.
All best,
Johnm

Well I was almost certain it was in standard form first two hearings of it, usually a tune in open tunings screams out OPEN tuning but that seemed in standard so I guess that is an art you have there John.

joe paul · « **Reply #40 on:** May 06, 2014, 01:52:46 AM »

Just catching up with all these posts, I've been away travelling, and I know I'll be listening to these over and over.
This could be my favourite thread since they invented thread. Thanks and congratulations everyone, Roi and Laura, Frankie and John!

Laura · « **Reply #41 on:** May 06, 2014, 06:19:55 AM »

Quote from: joe paul on May 06, 2014, 01:52:46 AM

Just catching up with all these posts, I've been away travelling, and I know I'll be listening to these over and over.
This could be my favourite thread since they invented thread. Thanks and congratulations everyone, Roi and Laura, Frankie and John!

Hey Gordon, Did you listen to O'Mucks "God Don't Never Change"? Can't get over how good that is !!!
I hope you'll post up a full version of " I Cannot Bear My Burden" I love that one, you got a real good thing going on it!

Zoharbareket · « **Reply #42 on:** May 11, 2014, 06:12:50 AM »

What a great thread this one is!!!

Thank you all for playing and sharing - such wonderful and inspiring performances, each and every one!

((The way I figure it, I've got roughly 350 days to work on a RGD tune so that I can post something here next year!))

Be well!

Z

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Author Topic: Rev. Davis' Birthday (Read 2680 times)