WeenieCampbell.com
Country Blues => Weenie Campbell Main Forum => Topic started by: Prof Scratchy on February 16, 2007, 08:43:51 AM
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A digression - but who can add to the list: Leadbelly; Henry Townsend; Skip James; Blind Blake; Peetie Wheatstraw....i.e. guitarists who played piano / pianists who played guitar??? I recently saw Ernie Hawkins in Glasgow and he was doing a guitar version of Skip James' piano piece "If you haven't any hay". Good version - though the piano version (in fact anything Skip did on piano) is just a knockout. There seems to be so much to say about blues piano...not many folk musics where the piano is such a feature from day one of the tradition? And the variety of regional styles is just about as rich as the guitar repertoire. Maybe needs its own area?? Or forum?
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Lightnin' Hopkins - piano and pipe organ!
Otis Spann played a little guitar.
Tampa Red
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Here's a video of Roosevelt Sykes playing the guitar:
https://youtu.be/nyw1WsNLxog
I didn't know he did until I saw it!
:)
Pan
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Well, this discussion is doing fine in the Fora we have.-G-
Hey Scratch, I don't see how any discussion of Country Blues Piano wouldn't fall into either "Weenie Campbell Main Forum - Anything and Everything Country Blues" or "Country Blues Licks and Lessons - Discuss Country Blues Licks & Playing Tips, Plus Instruction in Audio, Video, Tab and More" or possibly "Gitfiddles, Harps, Washboards & Kazoos - Discuss the Instruments Used in Playing Country Blues" (altho' I don't think a discussion on the piano tonewoods that get that "authentic" sound is gonna draw much disciussion -G-).
None of these fora are guitar specific and guitar doesn't appear in their titles, except the last, which is obviously our all inclusive "gear" board. I have long been encouraging blues discussion for other instruments and I welcome this recent show of interest in piano discussion. So have at it! Why not start a thread in Licks and Lessons on that Walter Davis arrangement you are trying to work out, discussing why he sounds so distinctive? Or how 'bout a discussion in the Main Forum on whether piano players prefer to learn note for note arrangements or just get the chords and improvise? It's time for all the lurking piano blues players to come together on this and the fora already exist to contain these discussions. And don't forget to add a "piano" tag to the threads you start. I'm not a piano player and it would be hypocritical for me to start these discussions.
I've split this thread off and we'll see how it flies.
All for now.
John C.
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Otis Spann played a little guitar.
Yeah, I have a couple of mid-60s tracks somewhere on which he accompanies himself quite acceptably on acoustic.
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Bukka White's amazing keyboard pounding on Drunken Man (Takoma) or Sugar Hill and Single Man Blues (Arhoolie) were once the most listened to tracks. Must revisit them and see whether it was youthful exhuberance of the shock of the new clouding my judgement. ;D
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Prof, I think your recent foray, on piano has reminded us of the fact that piano players made huge contributions to country blues. I also want to quickly mention Calvin who joined recently and is a very promising young pianist, I think it's really great that somebody his age likes the music so much.
I'm digressing :o so since the piano subject is now being aired, this is maybe a good time (as Waxy suggests) to garner some opinion on the idea of a dedicated piano corner somewhere on the forum where pianists can make the odd post without being, shall I say, overshadowed by the guitar element.
It strikes me that if the likes of "Gitfiddles, Harps, Washboards & Kazoos" can warrant a board then surely the piano must deserve a mention, possibly a simple solution would be to rename that to "Piano, Gitfiddles, Harps, Washboards & Kazoos" which would do the trick - at least we would then be acknowledging the instrument.
So to reiterate Waxy's call, any pianists out there who are lurking quietly now is the time to voice your opinion.
By the way, are there any other sites which cater for piano in the idiom of country blues as we like it?
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I'll add Lonnie Johnson to the list -- I love Lonnie's piano playing, even though he pretty much sticks with the one arrangement. Also, I believe Scrapper Blackwell played piano. Oh, and Rev. Gary Davis.
Chris
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I was just listening to Scrapper playing piano today behind Brooks Berry on the Juke. He does several himself as well. I really like his simple style of playing.
Blind Blake actually played piano (rather unconvincingly as I recall, certainly compared to his guitar-playing) on a track or two, didn't he? Can't remember which right now.
Just to clarify a point here, the different forums on Weenie are not instrument specific. Personally, I'd love to hear more piano-playing weenies follow Calvin's lead and post on the Back Porch. Discussions of specific pianists etc. are always welcome -- and strongly encouraged! -- in the main forum and have occurred there, like this one about guitarists playing piano. I've personally learned a lot about blues pianists through the many CDs of piano players that have been added to the Juke the past couple years.
There are quite a few members here who are not players as well. Weenie is a country blues forum, welcoming all comers whether they play guitar, piano, phono-fiddle, or hambone, or whether they play 78s, LPs and CDs.
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As Bunker Hill allready mentioned, Bukka White could play the piano too:
https://youtu.be/TCA2p99PTTs
Cheers
Pan
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Although not heard on record (well it takes him about 30 years to get around to recording a follow-up), Roger Hubbard is no slouch on the old joanna. He's recently written a couple of new blues on piano, entitled "I'm Stuck" and "Too Little, Too Late". Great pounding, mean, barrelhouse piano - well it sounded like that at his house in a little Sussex village... Hope he gets them recorded before too long - I'm already on the case nagging him. ;)
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I just thought of another one from the 78 era... Walter Roland.
Chris
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Hi all,
Pete Franklin, like Scrapper, was an Indianapolis guitarist who also played piano. I believe that Curtis Jones started out as a guitarist in Texas and only ever actually recorded guitar on his Prestige Bluesville release from the '60s. Catch me if I'm wrong on this, please, Bunker Hill, because I'm not at all sure.
all best,
Johnm
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I believe that Curtis Jones started out as a guitarist in Texas and only ever actually recorded guitar on his Prestige Bluesville release from the '60s. Catch me if I'm wrong on this, please, Bunker Hill, because I'm not at all sure.
Yep, that's what he said in interview. He was in Britain in 1963 and recorded an album here for Decca on which he accompanies himself with guitar on a couple of songs. There's a Val Wilmer photo of him playing the instrument at one of the gigs at the time.
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Hi all,
Clifford Gibson accompanied Ed Bell on piano on the song "Tooten Out", and showed a very clean technique and beautiful tone, showing many of the same qualities he had on guitar.
https://youtu.be/FHgGr8D7kaY
All best,
Johnm
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Although not heard on record (well it takes him about 30 years to get around to recording a follow-up), Roger Hubbard is no slouch on the old joanna. He's recently written a couple of new blues on piano, entitled "I'm Stuck" and "Too Little, Too Late". Great pounding, mean, barrelhouse piano - well it sounded like that at his house in a little Sussex village... Hope he gets them recorded before too long - I'm already on the case nagging him. ;)
The album is out (called "Out of my Hands"), but almost as expected, Hubbard wigged out and recorded them on guitar. "I'm Stuck" features some funky electric slide.
Roger's website is currently in a state of transition, so you can't order the album there. Anyone desperate for a copy (it's far from a pure blues album, featuring mostly "singer/songwriter" type stuff, but has plenty slide guitar and mandolin. One track "Tin Star" is a 12-string slide instrumental) can send me a personal message and I'll put you in touch with Roger (his abode is also in a state of transition at the moment).
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Hi all,
I believe Paul Geremia falls into this category, though I don't know how much piano he has played in recent years. Ann Rabson also plays both instruments well.
All best,
Johnm
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lonnie johnson, isaac youngblood,tampa red,t-bone walker,forest city joe( harmonica),
just to name some other guitarists
regards
mike
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Tarheel Slim, Henry Johnson were a couple I recorded on piano.
pbl
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i'd be willing to bet that in a way similar to how we only got a sliver of 'blues' from performers who surely had much wider-ranging repertoires, we also only got a slice of their instrumental talents .. i'd bet many if not most of the highly skilled blues guitarists played more than one instrument. too bad we cant know for sure.
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Yank Rachell could play piano,you can find an example on the Sleepy John Estes "Newport Blues"cd on Delmark.
Lyndvs.
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hakshaw harney, but poorly recorded and willie guy rainey from georgia
regards
mike
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according to this article Robert Johnson played piano and pump organ.
http://www.msbluestrail.org/_webapp_1389781/Robert_Johnson_Birthplace (http://www.msbluestrail.org/_webapp_1389781/Robert_Johnson_Birthplace)
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Blind Blake actually played piano (rather unconvincingly as I recall, certainly compared to his guitar-playing) on a track or two, didn't he? Can't remember which right now.
Blake played piano on Let Your Love Come Down with Bertha Henderson singing. It actually sounds pretty good to me!
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Don't think anyone has mentioned the person who started this thread - the great Prof. Scratchy.
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To say I could play the piano (or the guitar for that matter) would be stretching the truth to make a point!
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To say I could play the piano (or the guitar for that matter) would be stretching the truth to make a point!
Wrong!
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How could i forget Charley Jordan?.
whoops,sorry wrong thread ^-^.Maybe Charley could play piano though?.Who knows!?.
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Just to endorse Chris's mention of Walter Roland. He was not just one of the greatest piano players and singers to make records, but he also played and recorded beautifully sensitive guitar. One of my all time all around musical idols. I'm pretty sure some or all the guitar recordings are out on Document.
Gerry
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Just to endorse Chris's mention of Walter Roland. He was not just one of the greatest piano players and singers to make records, but he also played and recorded beautifully sensitive guitar. One of my all time all around musical idols. I'm pretty sure some or all the guitar recordings are out on Document.
Gerry
His daughter was still alive five or six years ago see Walter Roland tag entitled "Gutbucket Piano".
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Just to endorse Chris's mention of Walter Roland. He was not just one of the greatest piano players and singers to make records, but he also played and recorded beautifully sensitive guitar. One of my all time all around musical idols. I'm pretty sure some or all the guitar recordings are out on Document.
Gerry
His daughter was still alive five or six years ago see Walter Roland tag entitled "Gutbucket Piano".
I wish you could show that article to Allmusic guide biographer Jason Ankeny who wrote "After 1935, however, Roland seems to have dropped off the face of the earth -- his subsequent activities and ultimate fate remain unknown".
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hello
have a look : www.deltahaze.com and you`ll find a bio of roland. he died in 1972
regards
mike
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hello
have a look : www.deltahaze.com and you`ll find a bio of roland. he died in 1972
regards
mike
Thanks for that, Mike. I had not been aware Walter Roland was around so long. And ready to play too. That's more than a damned shame.
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That is a shame. He died the day I was born.
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Yeah, back in the 60's and 70s so many researchers were falling all over themselves trying to stake out every little detail of Robert Johnson's life that piano players and musicians who weren't from Mississippi were often terribly neglected.
But it's good to see from reading that article that they finally interviewed Roland's surviving children, at least.
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so if you`re interested, here is a small list of great pianoplayers, who lived
in the 6o`s and 7o`s without getting noticed by notorious guitar-buffs:
charley segar: lived in 1972 in chicago
will ezell: died in chicago around 1963, just a few block away from the delmark record-office
monkey joe coleman : recorded in 1968, lived up till the nid 7o`s
blind clyde church: died around 1975 in memphis.
bernice edwards: died in houston 1968
wilson thunder smith: murdered in 1963
ernest "44" johnson: died in the mid 6o`s in mississippi
regards
mike
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Have we done this yet?
Well there's Guitar Pete Franklin, superb on both
Rev. Davis occasionally tickled the ivories
Rossevelt Sykes was recorded on guitar at least once that I know about
Peetie Wheatstraw of course
Skip James, natch
Who else?
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Bukka White
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Jelly Roll Morton
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Has anyone mentioned Brownie McGhee yet? Not too shabby!
pbl
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Has anyone mentioned Brownie McGhee yet? Not too shabby!
pbl
Which album/recordings?
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Leadbelly (Eagle Rock Rag)
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Walter Roland has some great songs on both guitar and piano.
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Harry -
Singles from Oct 1941 backing Buddy Moss: "Joy Rag", "Little Angel Blues", "Poor Child Blues"(u), "Gamblin' Woman Blues"(u) - OKeh (Columbia). I'm too damn lazy to dig through the post-war discography, but I'm sure there are a few sides "non-folk" with his piano.
pbl
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What are some tunes that Walter Roland plays guitar on?
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Roland plays a couple of instrumental duets with Sonny Scott (hope I'm remembering that right) -- one's called Guitar Stomp and is on a Yazoo release (one of the Before the Blues I think). One of his versions of Red Cross Store is on guitar, and he backs up Lucille Bogan on guitar (along with Bob Campbell) on Tired as I Can Be and I Hate the Train They Call the M&O.
I think there are a few others but those are the ones off the top of my head. Those Bogan tracks in particular are excellent, I wish she had made more with guitar backup. (I wish she had made more records, period!)
Chris
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In addition to the ones Chris mentioned, he did "Railroad Stomp" and "Come On In" with Sonny Scott (with the latter song recorded as by the Jolly Two), as well as "Frisco Blues".
All best,
Johnm
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Thanks Banjochris and John. Turns out I actually had a couple recordings by Walter Roland and Sonny Scott in my collection under the name "The Jolly Two." Those Lucille Bogan sides are great. Is he playing with the same Bob Campbell that did Shotgun Blues?
Pete
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Is he playing with the same Bob Campbell that did Shotgun Blues?
I do believe so.
Chris
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Hi all,
Lesley Riddle played some piano on his album that came out on Rounder in the late '70s or '80s.
All best,
Johnm
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Hi all,
It took me a while to track down this thread, but I knew Prof Scratchy had started one on this topic. Anyway, here is a tune for it, via Pete Franklin, known more for his guitar playing.
https://youtu.be/DSXnjRl51HU
All best,
Johnm
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Great find! And good to see this thread revived!
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Hi all,
I went back in the thread and re-did some links that had become inactive and added a couple, too. Here is Scrapper Blackwell playing piano and accompanying Brooks Berry on "Blues Is A Feeling":
https://youtu.be/wxlOC5fYCQw
All best,
Johnm
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Does T- bone Walker count ? It may be stretching the definition off country blues, but that may also be said of other city based blues musicians. He played piano behind among others John Lee Hooker on one of the american folk blues festivals in the 1960 s and he recorded acoustic blues in 1929.
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When I saw T-Bone Walker at AFBF in Frankfurt in 1972 he played piano exclusively- didn’t have a guitar on stage.
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Hi all,
I've never heard any of the tracks, but I was surprised to note in DG&R that Tampa Red played piano on a number of tracks in the late'30s or early '40s.
All best,
Johnm
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i remember reading an interview with Robert Lockwood where he mentions that he played piano at the time he first became acquainted with Robert Johnson, but I dont know whether he played piano on records.
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Hi all,
I've never heard any of the tracks, but I was surprised to note in DG&R that Tampa Red played piano on a number of tracks in the late'30s or early '40s.
All best,
Johnm
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You did hear them as I posted some lyric transcriptions with Tampa on piano about three years ago.
I read somewhere Tampa was unsure of his piano abilities and said something like that the piano should be reserved only to the specialists (Altheimer, Black Bob, Davis, Maceo).
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He plays the piano on all the Pete Franklin tracks from that era as well.