Although it seems as if there couldn't possibly be any more styles of blues,
we haven't yet discussed the various regional styles of blues. This is
typically the way blues is defined; the origin of an artist didn't necessarily
mean he/she was from that area. In some instances, two musicians could be from
the same area, but have vastly different sounds. However, there was a certain
distinction in overall performance styles and sounds that lead to the creation
of the many different regional styles.
Chicago style is the most
popular and widely heard. This area became the blues music center in the 1930's
and 1940's when Mississippians left fields and headed north for factory work.
Early electric Chicago blues
features highly amplified harmonica, slide guitar and the piano as its main
instruments. Use of this type of line up was originated by Muddy Water's first
band. Musicians who have become famous with this style of blues, other then
Muddy Waters, are Buddy Guy and Howlin' Wolf.
Delta (a.k.a. Mississippi Blues) came from the Delta region of Mississippi,
not to be confused with the Mississippi Delta. This form was mostly played
acoustically and developed sometime between 1920 and 1930. This was the first
guitar based blues to ever be recorded and incorporates elaborate finger
picking, lots of slide work and deep boogie rhythms delivered with great
emotional depth. Son House and Robert Johnson, the latter of which I will
discuss later, are both spawns on this genre.
Texas style has been around
most of the 20th century an first gained its popularity around 1920. It is
heavily influenced by jazz and is most noticeable by its relaxed playing style,
backed by a horn section of 4-5 pieces. T-Bone Walker influenced B.B. King and
others with his single string guitar soloing.
Memphis blues gets a little more
complicated since it includes two different strains; one from the 1920's and
the other from the 1950's. During the 1920's, this form developed due to
medicine and tent shows. The 1950's strain, also known as jug bands, was a
humorous type of blues usually played for tips or for the musicians own
amusement. It contained a basic string-band line up and makeshift instruments
that imitated brass and woodwind instruments. Someone was usually blowing into
an empty jug to imitate the sound of a tuba, hence the nickname. This genre of
blues was responsible for introducing the now standard practice of assigning
song parts for lead and rhythm guitars. Eventually, this form went electric as
well. Examples can be found in the recordings of Howlin' Wolf, Gus Cannon and
the early recordings of B.B. King.
It seems that the West Coast would have their own brand of the blues and
alas, they most certainly do! Basically, however, this form was created by
Texans who traveled west in the 1940's. Although there are many great guitar
players who use this style, most of the guitar solos are very "fluid"
and it's more likely that musicians performing this style are accompanied only
by a piano. Charles Brown, Floyd Dixon and Percy Mayfield are examples.
The Louisiana Blues owes its sound to Chicago
electric blues, only much looser and less emotionally charged. It really does
sound like it was recorded in the thick of the bayou due to its lazy beats.
Listen to the music of Lightin' Slim or Lazy Lester if you want to hear it for
yourself.
Last, but certainly not least, from New Orleans
we find our "celebration" music. Early recordings of Fats Domino will
reveal piano rhythms, energetic horn sections and a distinctive
"rumba" beat.