Hi Folks,

This we are starting a new tune. And a great one it is! We are crossing over into that great period when swing era jazz met and fell in love with the blues and spawned a new music called Rhythm and Blues. This blues, "Blue Harlem" by Tiny Grimes and souful tenor saxophoist Ike Quebec came as a precursor to the R&B crazy that started with the advent of Louis Jordan's popularity just a year or two after this recording. A slow soulful and melodic blues, Blue Harlem stands out as a masterpiece of jazz-blues artistry unlike anything before it (or after). Tiny's use of an electric tenor 4 string guitar is responsible for part of it. He was also a stylist that shaped his own style and sound out of the inspiration that Charlie Christian had initally given the world. Tiny's use of sustain was the first sign of what could be done with the newly developed electric guitar. We will learn this classic note for note as it a perfect example of blues guitar a la 1944.

Duke

 

 

 

Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
texas blues
Duke Robillard
tiny grimes
blue harlem