Re: [Harp-L] Is the blues a microscopic part of global culture?

[HASHBB@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 7/22/06 11:35:11 AM, winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx writes:

<<  Jazz musicians can play blues but blues musicians are seldom able

to play jazz.  >>

This in itself is too sweeping of a statement. There is today a large number 
of Jazz
musicians who can 'play at' blues, but the notion that they have a clear 
understanding of playing blues is all together a different thing. The presumption 
that a jazz musician can play a pentatonic scale and the changes necessary to 
play blues does not mean that the blues will sound  proficient in their hands. 
I believe today that there is a growing number of Jazz musicians that can't 
play blues very well, not what it was like pre 1970's when just about any 
proficient jazz musician could cut it on either side. As for blues musicians seldom 
being able to play jazz, that may be a truer statement. It all depends on 
what your definitions of 'blues musician' and 'blues music' are. The lines we're 
more blurred in the past as far as jazz or blues musician. Case in point, F
enton Robinson and Roy Gaines. Do you classify them as Jazz or blues? probably 
both. Also modern blues guitarists Duke Robillard, and Charley Baty. On the 
harmonica side of things, both Jerry Portnoy and Gary Primich have delved into 
jazz, as has Magic Dave Therault. Add to this many prewar guitarists and piano 
players could play blues, jazz, pop music, whatever the occasion or gig called 
for. This is just naming a few, but  ithink you can get my point. I think they 
probably saw it all as music, not really categorizing like we tend to do 
today. Your post is definately food for thought.
HB