One thing i do know about blues banjo is that I like Otis Taylor's brand of 'Trance Blues'. In particular his album 'Recapturing the Banjo'. To my knowledge there are very few black musicians playing the banjo. Just wondered if anyone else was aware of this album?!
12 Comments |
 | Marc Nerenberg says:
1/30/2011 1:17:06 PM
I have it...I must say I found it rather disappointing. Your description of it as "Trance Blues" is right on, and frankly I find trance music really not to my taste. When it comes to Black banjo players, I love Taj Mahal. His playing has had a large influence on mine.
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NickC says:
1/30/2011 1:19:15 PM
I know the name Mark. But not the music. I'll check him out.
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 | Paula_DHJ says:
1/30/2011 1:27:11 PM
Yeah, I have to agree Marc. I didn't enjoy that album as much as I had anticipated I would. Although, it has grown on me a little bit over time. I just didn't feel that it showcased the banjo as much as I was expecting... especially with the title of the album being what it was.
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| Marc Nerenberg says:
1/30/2011 1:32:15 PM
The album to check out is the one called 'The Old Folks at Home', which is half of a double album called "Giant Step/The Old Folks at Home". The Giant Step album is all electric, the second album is all acoustic. A terrific contrast, and all well played. Taj only plays banjo on the second album...about 4 songs there. I first encountered Taj when he was a young man...now he's a venerable old bluesman. I saw him perform last summer. He's still great! Other Black banjo players are the Carolina Chocolate Drops, reviving the old black string band sound...check them out too...and they're young people!
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NickC says:
1/30/2011 1:36:14 PM
What i like about Otis Taylor is that his brand of blues is progressive an dare i say it accessible. And for me the banjo doesn't necessarily have to sit centre stage. I'm not always looking for a virtuoso performance. Sometimes I like how well it can sit in the overall mix of a song. Not a purist view I know!
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NickC says:
1/30/2011 1:39:12 PM
Our posts crossed Mark! I'll check out the Taj Mahal albums you mention. Thanks. I am a Carolina Chocolate Drops fan too. They are a breath of fresh air. I hope they play the UK this year!
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 | rudy says:
1/30/2011 7:45:33 PM
Taj does a great banjo playing part in one of the southern culture movies a few years back, maybe "Songcatcher"?
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| Marc Nerenberg says:
1/30/2011 8:13:38 PM
He was in "Sounder" about 30 years ago, and did the soundtrack for it...great banjo playing in that one too.
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 | raharris says:
1/31/2011 6:29:32 AM
'Taint blues, but I'll be seeing the Carolina Chocolate Drops @ Lincoln Center this Wednesday. Last time they were in the region they played a community college -- it's a big step from BCC to Lincoln Center! Says something about the band, I'd think.
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| raharris says:
1/31/2011 6:34:23 AM
Never seen Sounder, but Songcatcher is a good movie. That Emmy Rossum can sing, but it's the appearance of established players like TM, Iris DeMent, and Hazel Dickens that caught my ear.
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 | Jim Yates says:
1/31/2011 10:04:09 AM
I saw Guy Davis in Toronto last year. He credited Pete Seeger's book as being his guide to playing the banjo. Not all blues nor all banjo, but some of each in his show.
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| Jim Yates says:
1/31/2011 10:05:20 AM
Sorry, that wasn't about Otis Taylor. I just looked up at the title of this thread.
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