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West Coast Blues
West Coast
blues doesn't conjure up the same familiarity as say
Delta or Chicago blues but it does have a distinctive
style all it's own. During the classic period of West
Coast in the 40's and 50's blues giants like T-Bone
Walker, Charles Brown and Amos Milburn all made their
home on the left coast.
When we talk of West Coast blues we're
mainly talking about California with most of the action
centering around Los Angeles and the San Francisco
Bay areas. Unlike the Southern states there wasn't
much of a pre-war blues scene in California. It wasn't
until the 40's that there was a sizable black population
and the blues wasn't far behind. Many of the early
California bluesman like T-Bone Walker and Pee Wee
Crayton were actually natives of Texas.
One
obvious reason why so much talent headed to California
was the numerous small independent labels that popped
up in the 40's. Labels like Aladdin, Swingtime, Modern,
Speciality and Imperial specialized in R&B and blues
and would take more chances than the more established
labels. An important early figure was producer Bob
Geddins who recorded hundred of sides. He owned many
labels including Down Town, Cavatone, Big Town and
Irma to name a few. He also leased his recordings
to some of the bigger labels listed above. So what embodies the West Coast blues
sound? In general West Coast blues has a more sophisticated,
urban sound with strong jazz leanings and smooth after
hours vocals. The style also has many elements of
jump blues. The mix of jazz, blues and jump blues
can be heard in the sax driven bands of Joe Houston
and Big Jay McNeely and in the jumping combos of Roy
Milton and Amos Milburn. .
Of the West Coast guitar
players none was more influential than T-Bone Walker
who's brilliant jazzy guitar playing set the tone
for a whole generation of musicians. Besides Walker
there was the grittier playing of Pee Wee Crayton,
the flamboyant Johnny "Guitar" Watson and the polished
blues of Lowell Fulson.
The West
Coast blues scene was dominated by numerous talented
piano players most who were influenced by the smokey
after hours ballad style of the ever classy Charles
Brown. Some of the premier piano blues pianists included
luminaries like Floyd Dixon, Roy Hawkins and Little
Willie Littlefield. Amos Milburn and Jimmy McCracklin
were two other fine pianists who played in a more
jumping style.
It's impossible
to touch upon all the great West Coast bluesman but
a mention should also go to musicians like the wonderful
singer/songwriter Percy Mayfield (the originator of
the immortal "Please Send Me Someone To Love"), shouter
Roy Brown, bandleader Johnny Otis and rawer sounding
artists such as Johnny Fuller, K.C. Douglas and Jimmy
Wilson.
As mentioned earlier
the classic West Coast sound dates from the 40's and
50's but there' still a few practitioners of that
classic style. Modern bluesman like James Harmon,
Kid Ramos and Rick L.A. Holmstrom are still carrying
on the tradition in fine fashion.
Essential
Listening
T-Bone Walker:
Musselwhite's classic first album
recorded when he was only 22 Includes "Christo
Redemptor" and "Strange Land."
Pee Wee Crayton: Often
labeled a T-Bone imitator Crayton was certainly an
innovator in his own right. For his best work check
out The Modern Legacy Vol. 1 & 2 on the Ace label.
Lowell Fulson:
Fulson recorded all types of blues in his lengthy
career including some stellar West Coast blues for
Chess. The Complete Chess Masters is a wonderful 45
track compilation featuring marvelous jazzy West Coast
R&B and blues considerably more polished than the
rest of the Chess roster.
Charles Brown:
One of the cornerstones of the West Coast blues scene
influencing a whole generation of musicians. Driftin'
Blues is a solid one disc collection of his Aladdin
sides from 1948 to 1956.
Amos Milburn:
Pianist Amos Milburn could pound the boogie-woogie
an alternately play in the smoother style of Charles
Brown. Down The Road A Piece is an excellent 26 cut
compilation of his classic Aladdin material.
Floyd Dixon:
Dixon was an admirer of Charles Brown but added a
more jump blues approach that made him a genuine R&B
star in the 40's and early 50's. Check out the Complete
Aladdin Recordings a two disc set catching Dixon at
his peak.
Roy Milton: In
the 40's and 50 drummer Roy Milton led the Solid Senders
one of the hottest jump blues combos on the West Coast
racking up 19 R&B hits. Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
on the Speciality label collects 25 cuts.
Roy Hawkins:
Fine but neglected West Coast pianist who wrote the
original version of 'The Thrill Is Gone." The Thrill
Is Gone on Ace collects 24 classic sides Hawkins cut
for the Modern label.
Jimmy McCracklin:
McCracklin is still active in a career that's stretched
more than half a century. In the 40's and 50's he
led the Blues Blaster laying down some rocking jump
blues. The Walk: Jimmy McCracklin at His Best is a
solid 20 track compilation.
Little Willie Littlefield:
Wonderful pianist and singer who was influenced by
Charles Brown and Amos Milburn. Cut some of his best
sides on the Modern label which can be found on Kat
On The Keys on Ace records.
Johnny Otis:
Influential L.A. bandleader who recorded numerous
R&B hits in the 40's and 50's. The Complete Savoy
Recordings is an excellent three disc set on Savoy
featuring band members like Esther Phillips, The Robins,
Pete Lewis and Linda Hopkins.
Roy Brown: Influential
blues shouter who's songs like "Good Rockin' Tonight"
and "Boogie at Midnight" were a prime influence on
rock and roll. Good Rocking Tonight: The Best of Roy
Brown on Rhino collects 18 stellar sides.
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