Various Styles Of Blues

This DVD documents the 2003 Springing the Blues Festival in Jacksonville, FL. Interspersing performances with artist interviews, it conveys the flavor of what's happening down South on the blues festival scene in the 21st century. The interviewers also elicit from the artists verbal descriptions and private demos of what the blues means to them: how it got into them, and how they perceive their work within the long history of the music. Enthusiastic young Anthony Gomes sits with his guitar and explains to an interviewer the "tension and release" concept in the structure of a blues song.

With its enduring message of comfort and inspiration, gospel music’s origins are rooted in the tragedy of African-American slavery. From the earthy recordings of the evangelist street performers to the polished sound of the jubilee quartets, this Rough Guide features many of the trailblazing artists who paved the way for what has become a global phenomenon.

Cult figure, rock & roll legend and music writer, Cub Koda defined Jump Blues as "an up-tempo, jazz-tinged style of blues that first came to prominence in the mid- to late '40s. Usually featuring a vocalist in front of a large, horn-driven orchestra or medium sized combo with multiple horns, the style is earmarked by a driving rhythm, intensely shouted vocals, and honking tenor saxophone solos - all of those very elements a precursor to rock & roll. The lyrics are almost always celebratory in nature, full of braggadocio and swagger. Jump blues was the bridge between the older styles of blues - primarily those in a small band context - and the big band jazz sound of the 1940s."

Tommy Cougar hails from Stockholm, Sweden. He has fronted many bands over the years, and has played many different styles of blues. His various bands have focus on styles including Hendrix, Trower, SRV, Albert Collin's and SRV.
This album is entirely in a style very reminiscent of Hound Dog Taylor. To achive a truly authentic sound, the band recorded with old, lo-fi equipment. The desired result was achived with great success. Fans of Hound Dog Taylor's rough, distorted, slide guitar and harsh vocals will defintely be able to relate to this CD.
Many songs are based on the shuffle blues style, ranging from slow blues to up tempo "houserockin' music", and driven by the crunching pulse of Tommy's rhythm playing…

Blues guitarist/singer from Bath in the UK, played guitar in Robert Plant's band from 1993-1994. Recorded seven cd's on various blues label with his own band opening for Johnny Winter, Peter Green, The fabulous thunderbirds, Steve Cropper, Ronnie Earl, Taj Mahal etc. Innes Sibun plays high-energy Blues with intense passion, and he's done so from the tender age of 12 after hearing the B.B. King's Live At The Regal. Today Sibun's blistering, straightforward guitar artistry and raggedly sincere vocals at times recall the great Rory Gallagher. Mike Vernon (legendary producer of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton as well as all of the Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac albums) recorded Sibun's debut album.