7.2 The Blues

The blues, a cornerstone of American music, emerged from African American experiences in the late 19th century. It's characterized by specific structures, blue notes, and emotional expression, laying the foundation for jazz and other genres.

Blues musicians pioneered techniques like call-and-response and improvisation, which became crucial in jazz. The 12-bar blues form and blues scale provided a framework for jazz musicians to build upon, influencing the development of various jazz styles.

Defining the Blues

Musical Structure and Elements

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• Blues genre emerged in late 19th century as African American folk music characterized by specific musical structures, harmonies, and emotional expression
• 12-bar blues form consists of three four-bar phrases following harmonic progression I-I-I-I, IV-IV-I-I, V-IV-I-I
• Blue notes create distinctive sound by flattening or bending pitches in relation to major scale (particularly third, fifth, and seventh scale degrees)
• Blues scale incorporates six notes including root, flatted third, fourth, flatted fifth, fifth, and flatted seventh
• Call-and-response patterns feature alternating phrases between vocals and instruments or between different instruments
• Lyrics often follow AAB pattern with first line repeated and contrasting third line reflecting emotional and narrative content

Vocal and Instrumental Techniques

• Vocal techniques emphasize emotional delivery and personal expression (growling, shouting, melismas)
• Guitar techniques include slide guitar, fingerpicking, and use of bottleneck for pitch bending
• Harmonica often used for melodic lines and solos, employing techniques like cross harp and overblowing
• Piano styles range from boogie-woogie to more introspective approaches (stride piano, barrel house)
• Rhythm section typically includes drums and bass, providing steady groove and rhythmic foundation
• Improvisation central to blues performance, allowing musicians to express individual style and emotion

The Blues: A Musical Foundation

Historical Origins and Cultural Context

• Blues emerged from African American work songs, field hollers, and spirituals in post-Civil War era
• Reflected experiences and struggles of African Americans in Southern United States
• Served as means of cultural expression and preservation, addressing themes of hardship, love, and social injustice
• Migration of African Americans from rural South to urban areas in early 20th century facilitated spread and evolution of blues music
• Regional styles developed including Delta blues (Mississippi Delta) and Chicago blues (urban electrified sound)

Influence on American Music

• Blues significantly influenced development of jazz, providing harmonic and structural foundation for early styles (New Orleans jazz, swing)
• Elements incorporated into various genres including rock and roll (Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones), R&B (Ray Charles, Etta James), and country music (Hank Williams, Johnny Cash)
• Emphasis on individual expression and emotional authenticity impacted popular music performance styles and songwriting techniques
• 12-bar blues progression became standard in rock and pop music (Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog", The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love")
• Blue notes and pentatonic scales widely adopted in guitar-based rock music (Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton)
• Call-and-response patterns influenced development of verse-chorus song structures in popular music

Influential Blues Musicians

Early Pioneers and Classic Blues Era

• W.C. Handy popularized blues through compositions and publications ("St. Louis Blues", "Memphis Blues")
• Ma Rainey, "Mother of the Blues", established blues as commercial genre and influenced later vocalists
• Bessie Smith, "Empress of the Blues", set standards for vocal performance and helped popularize classic female blues
• Blind Lemon Jefferson pioneered Texas blues style and influenced later country blues performers
• Charley Patton, considered "Father of the Delta Blues", influenced development of Mississippi Delta blues style

Delta and Chicago Blues Innovators

• Robert Johnson influenced later generations with innovative guitar techniques and haunting vocal style ("Cross Road Blues", "Sweet Home Chicago")
• Muddy Waters played crucial role in electrifying blues and developing Chicago blues style ("Hoochie Coochie Man", "Mannish Boy")
• Howlin' Wolf brought intense, gritty vocal style to Chicago blues and influenced rock musicians ("Smokestack Lightnin'", "Spoonful")
• B.B. King's distinctive guitar style and emotive singing brought blues to mainstream audiences ("The Thrill Is Gone", "Every Day I Have the Blues")
• Willie Dixon wrote numerous blues standards and shaped sound of Chicago blues as bassist, songwriter, and producer ("Hoochie Coochie Man", "Little Red Rooster")

Blues vs Jazz: Improvisation

Foundational Elements

• Blues emphasis on individual expression and emotional delivery laid groundwork for jazz improvisation
• 12-bar blues form provides consistent harmonic structure serving as foundation for jazz improvisation
• Blue notes and blues scale fundamental elements in jazz improvisation, creating tension and resolution in solos
• Call-and-response patterns influenced development of trading solos and collective improvisation in jazz ensembles

Jazz Adaptations and Extensions

• Jazz musicians use blues-based harmonic progressions as basis for more complex chord substitutions and extensions ("Blues for Alice" by Charlie Parker)
• Concept of "playing the changes" in jazz improvisation evolved from practice of embellishing and varying blues melodies over standard chord progression
• Modal jazz incorporated elements of blues scales and harmonies into new improvisational frameworks (Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue")
• Bebop musicians expanded blues vocabulary with complex harmonic substitutions and rhythmic innovations (Charlie Parker's "Blues for Alice")
• Free jazz retained blues influence while abandoning traditional harmonic structures (Ornette Coleman's "Free Jazz")
• Contemporary jazz continues to incorporate blues elements in diverse ways (Robert Glasper's blend of jazz, R&B, and hip-hop)