For this New Sounds, hear contemporary takes on classic blues sounds, from Kentucky-based Nat Myers, Welsh fingerstyle guitarist Gwenifer Raymond, and the Afrofuturist-informed work of Jake Blount and Moor Mother.
Howlin’ and playing ’til fingers bleed is the way of Kansas-born, Kentucky-based blues poet Nat Meyers whose music caught the ear of Dan Auerbach, the Black Keys frontman and founder of Easy Eye Sound Records. They met up in Nashville to make Myers’ record, Yellow Peril, which addresses injustices and suspicions aimed at Asian Americans; specifically, Myers is perceived as a Korean-American, as someone who represents a threat to America. Making the record was a way for him to stay lifted and for him to “raise [his] folks up” during the pandemic and onward, (Bandcamp.) Hear the track “75-71” from his record.
Also, listen to the spoken-word blues of the Afrofuturist-leaning artist known as Moor Mother, and Afrofuturist-informed and well-researched blues from the banjo player, fiddler, and scholar Jake Blount. Then, there’s a cover of Taj Mahal by England-based folk singer Sam Amidon, and a blues tune that incorporates Indian classical instruments from composer Joel Harrison and sarodist Anupam Shobhakar and musicians. Then, there’s the sound of the blues refracted through the Welsh fingerstyle guitarist and video game programmer Gwenifer Raymond, the Tuvan throat-singing blues from Paul Pena, and much more. – Caryn Havlik
Program #4732, Contemporary Blues (First aired 3/27/23)
ARTIST: Charley Patton
WORK: High Water Everywhere [1:20]
RECORDING: Best of Charley Patton
SOURCE: Shanachie /Yazoo YAZ-2069
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: Nat Myers
WORK: 75-71 [3:44]
RECORDING: Yellow Peril
SOURCE: Easy Eye Sound
INFO: natmyers.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Yufeng Chung and David Chen
WORK: Sojourner's Blues [3:39]
RECORDING: Fade to Blue
SOURCE: Trees Music
INFO: treesmusic.co/fade-to-blue.html
ARTIST: Paul Pena
WORK: Kargyraa Moan [4:19]
RECORDING: Genghis Blues (soundtrack)
SOURCE: Six Degrees #657036 1038
INFO: genghisblues.bandcamp.com or available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: Chris Thomas King
WORK: Revelations [5:12]
RECORDING: Dirty Southern Hip Hop Blues
SOURCE: 21st Century Blues #2106
INFO: christhomasking.com
ARTIST: Moor Mother (feat Fatboi Sharif)
WORK: Blues Away [2:49]
RECORDING: Jazz Codes
SOURCE: Anti Records
INFO: https://moormother.ffm.to/jazzcodes
ARTIST: Jake Blount
WORK: Tangle Eye Blues [3:51]
RECORDING: The New Faith
SOURCE: Smithsonian Folkways
INFO: https://jakeblount.com/the-new-faith
ARTIST: Gwenifer Raymond
WORK: Worn Out Blues [4:38]
RECORDING: Strange Lights over Garth Mountain
SOURCE: Tompkins Square Records
INFO: gweniferraymond.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Sam Amidon
WORK: Light Rain Blues [4:54]
RECORDING: Sam Amidon
SOURCE: Nonesuch Records
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Marc Ribot
WORK: Blues for Natalia [4:48]
RECORDING: Live from the Greene Space, NYGF 2017
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXR6TNSzUM0
INFO: marcribot.com
ARTIST: Joachim Cooder
WORK: Backwater Blues [3:42]
RECORDING: Over That Road I'm Bound
SOURCE: Nonesuch Records
INFO: joachimcooder.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Multiplicity:Anupam Shobhakar And Joel Harrison
WORK: Devil Mountain Blues [3:47]
RECORDING: Leave the Door Open
SOURCE: Whirlwind Recordings WR 4646
INFO: whirlwindrecordings.com
Joachim Cooder's remote session from 2020: