Every Day I have The Blues
John Mayall is an English bluesman, if you don't already know, one of many Brits credited with introducing black American music to white America. Back in the 50's and 60's white radio did not play the blues. The music in our backyard had to cross an ocean before we heard it, another subtle reminder of the systemic racism of that era.
As a young man in the London blues scene Mayall played with some of the great American blues artists of the 20th century. He's also credited with giving Mick Fleetwood, Eric Clapton, and Mick Taylor their big breaks accompanying him in his band of the 60's, The Bluesbreakers. John Mayall is now 76. Friday night we heard him live at the Talking Stick casino. It was a very good show at a nice venue.
The blues have been my favorite genre for decades. Mayall reminded me one reason why. Contemporary blues artists pay tribute to the pioneers before them. Music is passed from generation to another. The great artists of last century are kept alive through the hand-me-down songs covered by their blues children. More than any genres, blues and jazz have a true genealogy as long time musicians, some legends, pass their experience and music to the next blues greats. Mayall is especially fond of his friend and forbearer Sonny Boy Williamson, along with John Lee Hooker and Louis Jordan ...... all favorites of mine.
Rock and roll is different. Old songs are covered, and remastered, but the rock star is always looking for his own big hit. The goal is to produce an original song. Many bands never play another artist's music. There's more rivalry than camaraderie. Every blues and jazz musician plays classics, continuously drawing on decades of great music while simultaneously writing their own brand of blues.
Mayall is a self taught guitarist, pianist and harmonica player. Like most old bluesman he has no formal training. Of course he sings. He displays more energy on stage than men half his age. I enjoyed his cover of the Mose Allison song Parchman Farm. It may seem strange hearing a white Englishman singing about picking cotton but the passion in his vocals might fool you.
"I'm putting that cotton in an eleven foot sack sack with a twelve gauge shotgun at my back." Mayall never labored in the fields, but the men who taught him the blues did. Their story lives.
As the show ended many less-than-blues-fans began filing out of the showroom (a common theme at casino shows) but Mayall brought the band out for one more number. Afterwards he and the band lingered front stage, signing autographs and chatting with fans. His appreciation of fans was obvious, another trait I see in bluesmen not common in big rock stars.
I'm very happy to have seen John Mayall live.