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What I've been teaching lately....

11/10/2016

4 Comments

 
Now that I’ve retired from my “real” job, i.e., working for someone else and getting a regular pay check (!) I’ve had lots more time to search out new music for myself and my students. This has been tons of fun and I’ve found some great stuff, both new artists and songs and older material that I didn’t know existed. My main source of musical information is radio station WUMB out of the University of Massachusetts in Boston. If you are not within their broadcast range they also do live streaming and I highly recommend them, their play lists are varied and always interesting. So here are a few of the songs and artists I’ve been playing and teaching over the last few months. Do an internet search for their material on You Tube if you’d like to know more about them.

Chris Smither. I’ve been aware of him for decades, ever since Bonnie Raitt covered his great blues tune “Love Me Like A Man”, which I’ve used with students for years. He is an icon of acoustic blues-based music and is highly respected throughout the acoustic music world. Lately I’ve been teaching “Leave the Light On” and “Train Home.” Both are classic Smither originals that feature his solid bluesy finger style playing and witty lyrics. His deep baritone voice, which has mellowed like a fine Kentucky bourbon over the years suits me fine too, although I don’t claim to have the depth of worldly experience you hear in everything he sings. I also use the arrangement of  his “Song for Susan”  found of the great tribute album Link in Chain by various artists all doing songs written by Chris. This arrangement by Mark Ereli and Jeffrey Foucault is fantastic. You will find some great artists doing interpretations of Chris Smither’s songs on this album and I highly recommend it.

Norah Jones. I know, I know…. “Snorah Jones”….. Yes, she is mellow to the point of boredom according to some but I love her arrangement of the jazz standard “The Nearness of You” and the recent song “Carry On”, which is closer to country than jazz. Both of those I have arranged for acoustic guitar, as I have with her best known tune, “Don’t Know Why” - that one works great for demonstrating bossa nova style.

Aoife O’Donovan. A while back I began teaching her “Oh, Mama” from the PBS Transatlantic Sessions Best of Folk recording. Recently I began teaching her recent “Red & White & Blue & Gold” and although a bit challenging to sing - the phrasing is kind of push/pull with the chord changes - it is a gorgeous song. And oh, that voice! I am certain she has a long and bright future in acoustic music.

Eva Cassidy. I continue to be amazed that Eva’s music is not more well known. Perhaps this is because she tragically died from melanoma at a very young age some years ago, before the current folk/acoustic music boom. She could to it all: folk, country, blues, soul, and jazz. I firmly believe that if she had lived longer she would be considered one of the absolute greats in acoustic music. Recently I worked out some very accurate and not too challenging arrangements of her covers of “Fields of Gold” and the Gordon Lightfoot classic “Early Morning Rain” and my students seem to love them. Part of the reason I use these arrangements is to show my students that absolute replication of original recordings is not necessary or even desirable, sometimes. Eva put her own stamp on those songs (and many others) and in my opinion, the result surpasses the originals.

Steve Earle. After watching him play “Love’s Gonna Blow My Way” on You Tube (an episode of the Public Radio’s Tiny Desk Concerts - GREAT stuff there!!) I knew I had to learn and teach that one. Just a fun, old-timey bluesy song with great lyrics and cool finger picked guitar. I don’t give this one to all my students, just those who like blues and are up to the challenge of some very fast finger picking and fast chord changes. It’s worth knowing though if you’re into that style. I know I am!

Wood Brothers. The song “Luckiest Man” has become a standard with many guitarist/singers in the modern acoustic guitar world. The combination of a fairly basic guitar part and wry lyrics make this one almost a must-play in acoustic jam sessions. Although I don’t use these others with students - “Honey Jar” and “When I Was Young” - I love listening to them and always turn up the volume probably higher than I should when I do. Always gets me jumping and keeps a grin on my face. I LOVE those guys!!!

Joan Shelley. Another great singer/songwriter I discovered via the Little Desk Concerts. I use her tune “Not Over By Half” with many of my students, a lilting, bittersweet song in 3/4 that is just beautiful. Joan’s voice is gorgeous in its simplicity and honesty. Check her out.

So you see, I’ve been doing my homework! One of my greatest joys in teaching and playing guitar is turning students on to music they may not have heard. This is fairly labor-intensive at times; I spend many hours each week searching out new stuff and then learning and arranging it in such a way that it will both rewarding and at least a bit challenging for my students. The bonus for me personally is my repertoire has expanded a lot in the last couple of years. Now if I could just find a bass player around here with the same interests….or a good female singer….

Are you out there?

Peace & good music,
Gene


4 Comments
Bob Reeve
11/18/2016 06:24:44 am

Hi Gene,

Great post. Some old friends and new discoveries for me. I would also suggest Jason Isbell as an "under 40" songwriter who is getting covered by a lot of people. The bluegrass band Shotgun Holler does a great version of "Relatively Easy" which is probably one of his more obscure tunes. Even though he gets a lot of Americana recognition his songwriting ability deserves a wider audience.

Keep up the good work on the blog!

Regards,

Bob

Reply
Gene
11/18/2016 08:24:59 am

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the kind words. I have heard Jason on WUMB and also did some research on his tunes via YouTube and ITunes. I do like him a lot. Sooner or later I will find a tune or two that would work for my students and will learn some of his songs. Will also check out the bluegrass band you mentioned. Another guy I should have mentioned is Eric Bibb. He is a young blues player somewhat like Keb Mo' and Taj Mahal. I've been teaching a couple of his songs lately including his great cover of Guy Clark's "The Cape." Check him out if you haven't already.

Gene

Reply
Bob Reeve
11/18/2016 08:35:29 am

Gene,

Something More Than Free and Traveling Alone are a couple of Isbell's less complicated tunes, and the vocal range isn't as great as something like Cover Me Up. Might work well with beginner/intermediate students.

I don't know Eric Bibb but the comparisons are high praise, will check him out.

Bob

Reply
Gene
11/18/2016 08:39:31 am

Thanks Bob, I will check out those tunes!
Gene




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