Yeah , it's been a long time . I hope to talk a little about the music , refecting on what has been ,
what is and what will ever be . Whatever it is , will it be based in soulfulness ?
When Jorma Kaukonen recorded 'Hesitation Blues' with Hot Tuna it seemed to be just another
great tune to me . Since then I've heard this soulful song done in a variety of ways but none more
moving than that by the Reverend Gary Davis . Who was one of the earliest to carry the song to us.
Now , the world doesn't need me to point this out ; there's plenty of people who'll tell you the same
thing but I use the example to show that somtimes it doesn't get any better but thankfully folks try . It's how we learn and grow . And how many careers in music has this and
other ancient blues launched ? They say ,"How Long , how long blues ", by Leroy Carr changed
the music by offering a cool , urban treatment to the blues that led to such successful artists as ;
Charles Brown , Nat King Cole and by extention Ray Charles and Sam Cooke . Also , you can
read into it that the whole "American Songbook" has been influenced by not just the phrasing but
the pace . There's pauses there that allow for an inviting listen . The soft word is spoken slowly ,
as if everything depends on the singer finising the sentence . This grace comes , it seems to me ,
from the interaction deep within the African-American community and the need to communicate
clearly but in a language that would only let you hear if you dropped your guard and wished to
understand . At once personal but also demanding a kind of participation ; a call and response
with those cool enough to drop their puritan precoceptions and jump along for a ride . Of course ,
it had always been that way . The ' crossing over ' of black folks musical sounds had always
required a baptism of sorts because there has always been such a taboo for white folks to join in
with the heathen mix . Strange how the word 'taboo' was appropriated directly from the 'Black-
speak' by the very people who were bent on destroying the power this strange , inticing music had to
offer , and by their action only increased the attraction it held .
Well , now we're way past that stage , right ? Especially since nearly everyone ( Country Music
fans take note ) agrees to tap the foot if not to get out on the floor and shake what the good Lord
gave ya . This is confirmed by a new generation which seems intent to drop the charade completely
and have traveled through their Led Zepplin phase to find the likes of Van Morrison , which only
pushed them to pursue the soul stylings of Aretha . Anyway , through the retro-schtick of performers
like Amy Winehouse (RIP), Joss Stone 's ultra 'hip / slick R&B productions and Adele's over the rain-
bow soulful strivings which belie somone who's only 21 , I'd guess that white folk (British at least) ,
were truly interested in not just joining in but becoming . Hopfully we keep this inspiring "Soul-
Music" alive and stay inspired by it enough not to forget from whence it comes and to quote
David Bromberg , "to listen for the breaks , the silences that drive what a good artist says home .
