Black Bull Blues

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The New Orleans Swing of Maison du Malheur

Maison Du Malheur

It's the Dust  Bowl Depression Era Jump Jive Blues- it's the sounds of a jump jive jalopy, broken down banjos and rumble seat sinners fueled up on jungle juice and the churn of the crank shaft as the Model-T lurks into motion  along the dusty  hobo  highway.  Pre-War  Blues and rockin'  rhythm  & blues  rages of  the stage and rumbles through the festival grounds. Maison du Malheur has arrived.

The music of Maison Du Malheur can best be described as old Jazz in combination with Rockin’ Rhythm & Blues and a little bit of Gypsy. No one will sit at a concert of these kids, a swinging band with great feeling for the Blues, Jazz an Gypsy rhythm. Lika a New Orleans Mardi Grass parade party Maison du Malheur walks through time, and five or maybe eight beers later they are done. 

The first time I saw this band was in Delft at the de Koninck Bluesfestival. In front of the stage a group of dancers triggered my attention. They didn´t quit during the entire concert. And justly, it was one of the most swinging concerts I have seen in a long time.

Maison du Malheur is the swinging troupe around songwriter JP Mesker. In 2011 the rocksolid seven-­piece band played their first show and immediately got the attention from clubs and festivals all over Europe. Within a year they played over a hundred shows, opened for blues icon C.W. Stoneking and while touring the band wrote a new album. Stomping Pre-­‐War drums, honky-­‐tonk piano and cracking copper horns call the shots on their new album Wicked Transmission. 

Maison du Malheur is an out of control house party by Fats Waller, where Professor Longhair takes a seat behind the piano and Howlin' Wolf sings out his misery. The universal dance music, traditional roots and storytelling character of the ten songs are packed with musical saw, manic theremin and mariachi trumpet.

Live at Record Store Day in Rotterdam

The Best of Little Walter

Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs (May 1, 1930 – February 15, 1968)


The first  I heared about Little Walter was in the movie Cadillac Recods. I was a seventeen year old boy who just invented some blues greats like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker. The first song that got my attention, and I’m sure many more Little Walter enthusiasts, was ‘My Babe’. The swinging harp and Guitar gives  me every time a relaxing groove. Walters voice is one of a kind, that makes his music for me great to listen. 

When Little Walter arrived in Chicago he started playing music on Maxwell Street. A famous place for Chicago blues musicians, back in the day. Not only Walter but also many more Chicago legends made fame on Maxwell Street.  Among Little Walter artist like Floyd Jones, Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Boy Williamson played there tunes on Maxwell Street.

From now on it is possible to listen to some Blues records on the Black Bull Blues Blog. With Amazon musicplayer I can give an impression of the music I'm talking 'bout. Enjoy the famous Little Walter Tracks.

                                              

Death

A few months after returning from his second European tour, he was involved in a fight while taking a break from a performance at a nightclub on the South Side of Chicago. The relatively minor injuries sustained in this altercation aggravated and compounded damage he had suffered in previous violent encounters, and he died in his sleep at the apartment of a girlfriend at 209 E. 54th St. in Chicago early the following morning

His body was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery inEvergreen Park, IL on February 22, 1968. His grave remained unmarked until 1991, when fans Scott Dirks and Eomot Rasun had a marker designed and installed

Clifton Chenier "The King of Zydeco"

King of Zydeco

Clifton Chenier is known as ‘The King Of Zydeco’ and ‘King Of  The South’, famous for his influential Accordion sound and creator of a mix between Cajun, Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Rock ‘n Roll into a Zydeco sandwich.

Blues Grammy

In 1983 Chenier won as first French speaking American a Grammy award.  He featured in the 1973 documentary film Hot Pepper bij director Les Blank about  Zydeco, New Orleans and Clifton Chenier himself.   

Start in the Fifties

The career of Clifton started in 1954 when he released  his first album  Clifton’s Blues. His cousin, Lightning Hopkins wife introduced Chris Strachwitz, owner of the roots label Arhoolie, to Cheniers early Recordings. Strachwitz quickly Signed Chenier to his label. It was an important moment for the career of the future King of the South.

Frenchin'the Boogie

My most favourite album of Clifton Chenier is ‘Frenchin’ the Boogie’ released in 1976 on Bluestar records. It contains covers of Ray Charles ( I Got A Woman), Muddy Waters ( I Just Want To Make Love To You). It is a swinging album with a perfect mix of Zydeco, Rock n Roll and Blues. A typical New Orleans album.

Lyrics I'm A Hog For You

I'm a hog for you, baby
And I'm rootin' all around your door
I'm a hog for you woman
And I'm rootin' all around your door
I'mma keep on rootin' on
Until you wanna love me some more


I'm a hog for you, babe
And I'm rootin' all around your door
I'm a hog for you
I'mma root all around your door
I'mma keep on rootin' on
Until you wanna love me some more
You can put a yoke, around my neck

Believe me baby, 
I'mma do just like a snake'
Cause I'm a hog for you
I say I'm a hog for you, baby
I'mma keep on rootin' on
Until you wanna love me some more


Moi cochon pour toi, laisse-moi te dire
Moi j'vas faire, babe, j'vas faire comme un serpent
Moi cochon pour toi
Moi fouiller tout partout autour de l'escalier
Moi fouiller, fouiller, fouillerEt faire dit, tu veux d'autre

Moi cochon pour toi
Hey, moi cochon pour toi
Et j'va fouiller, fouiller, fouillerTout partout autour de l'escalier
Crois-moi, j'vas faire comme un serpent
J'sus un cochon pour toi

Tu vas mettre un carcan, dans mon cou

Some interesting facts about Clifton Chenier:

- Rory Gallagher wrote the song ‘King of Zydeco’ to tribute Clifton Chenier

- Paul Simon Mentioned Clifton in his song “That was Your Mother” on the famous album Graceland (1986)

- In the song La Fayette John Mellencamp refers to Cheniers city in Louisiana.

Keith Dunn at Delft Bluesfestival

Last week Keith Dunn performed at the Delft Bluesfestival. It is organised two times a year. Every bar and pub has live bluesmusic. It's a great event.

My personal highlight was the Keith Dunn band. Great harmonica's and a great voice. It's modern blues with a little bit of soul.

For more information:
http://www.keithdunnband.com/

Buddy Guy: Blues Lives Forever

Watch Buddy Guy: 'Blues Musicians Don't Retire, They Drop' on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour. 

 A legend speaks his mind

 

Black Bull Blues Bio: Lightnin' Hopkins

Lightnin’Hopkins is one of the best guitar bluesman of all time. Because of that this first Black Bull Blues Bio is all about the texas bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins. Sam Hopkins born in March 15, 1912 Centerville, Texas  started his carreer in the 1920s when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson. 

Early Lignthnin' Hopkins

His career stretched from the 1920s till his death in 1982. Some cool old recording of Lightnin´ Hopkins are collected on the album Early Recordings, released in 1975. Songs like ´Blue Bird Blues´,  ´Mad With You´, ´Automobile blues´ and ´Seems Funny Baby´, give you a good impression of his style.

The thing about Texas blues, for what I´ve read is that is lyrically more direct, harder than other more commercially bluessongs, subscribing the hard life better than other blues musicians. 

Death Bells 

Sound like I'm hearing moaning, death bell ringing all in my head Sound like I can hear moaning, death bell ringing all in my head Yeah I know that I was gonna leave on a chariot but I didn't know, what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here

I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die Yeah you know when that chariot come at you, they'll break running, try to hide

You all know my mama told me, you know my papa told me too You know my mama told me, oh papa told me too He said you know one day son, that chariot, oh Lord, coming after you

Yeah you know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year You know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year I know the chariot was coming for me but I didn't know, what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here

.......  More information to be come ........

New posts coming: Black Bull Blues Bio's

I'm writing some interesting blues bio's of the greats and all the other black Bulls I like. I started with Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lightning Hopkins and Sonny Terry. When they are ready you will be able to read, watch and listen interesting stuff about these guys life and music.

Keep watching the Black Bull Blues Blog because in a week or two it's going to happen. For now please watch a great song from Sonny and Lightnin' - Last Night Blues - Take A Trip With Me

Great blues songs - Luther ''Guitar Junior'' Johnson - Walkin' with you baby

Black Bull Blues series (1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5IOou6qN1o&feature=youtube_gdata_player