Any fans? I know in the States that refers almost exclusively to Otis Taylor, but I am looking for some more listening options (Otis plays harp on his albums, so this counts as on topic, lol). Trance blues doesn't have a hard definition, but it is essentially blues-based music usually revolving around a minimal amount of chords repeating themes throughout. I think a lot of what Howlin Wolf did would fit the description.
I think of trance blues as a more coherent form of jam band music - but with way less extended soloing. In otherwords, there is a lot of improv and a lot going on with the band, but everyone is locked into each other while the lyrics drive the music more than the instrumentation.
I see he has a Trance workshop this fall in CO. Mato from Indigenous is one of the resident artists (guitar player). Seeing them live in college is what made me first join a band. Like I literally started a band with my friend the next day.
4 years later and I got to open for them at a festival. I totally sucked, but it was fun. About two years ago, I opened for him again - we killed it. I got to chat with him for a bit and tell him about how he inspired me to gig, etc. It was an awesome experience to say the least! By then, though, he wasn't playing with family anymore. It was the Kris Lager Band backing him up. They were an awesome modern blues band. Really thick slide guitar tones. Awesome stuff.
***Performing this music has always been a dream of mine. It is pretty much all I jam with at home nowadays. I've been writing stuff in this vein and apologize for not sharing any out yet. I will soon. It has been fun writing my own music again...lots of almost paranormal themes...I blame Darkness Radio and Otis for that.
My musical obsessions for years have been Otis and Derek Trucks, lol. Even more so than other harp players.
I am working on it. Here is my issue with sharing, which I've shared before:
1.) I have to record as silently as possible, which I didn't know how to do until recently. 2.) Fidelity of the recording. While I don't need CD quality, I had to learn how to take direct recordings and mix them. The easy way out is doing everything into the same mic, but that isn't good enough for me.
I think I've struck a balance, but I was delayed by needing to get a different interface and waiting for it to ship. Honestly, if people hate the recordings, that's fine, but I want to be able to get them recorded while making music rather than worrying about procedure. So far, in my limited time for this, I had so many technical issues making music was like the third thing going in my mind, lol.
In theory, I should have no excuses after this weekend - assuming the ordered gear arrives. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Definition of a Circle is a very solid album all around...probably a good one to start with. Clovis People Volume 3 is FANTASTIC, and probably my favorite full album.
Below the Fold is really good too - maybe mellower in tone. I've been obsessing over Petnatonic Wars and Love songs as of late. There are 4-5 songs on there that are just amazing. Like every nuance is perfect.
His earlier stuff - and banjo based stuff - is great too, but, IMO, not as dynamic as the last few albums. I don't know if that is just a matter of production or what. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Never heard the term "trance blues" but the vid says that this is it. Yes I like it, but I don't think I would enjoy an entire show with nothing but trance blues.
EDIT: listened to 10 million slaves below and I REALLY DIG IT. and this is my introduction to Otis Taylor as well. so thanks Ninja, love finding new artists to listen to.
Last Edited by on Sep 09, 2011 9:01 AM
I haven't seen Otis live, but the songs on the albums aren't really long and jammy like this. He does a good job of going from 2min to 5min tunes. I am looking at two albums I have on iTunes on this computer and there are two 7min and the rest are pretty much 3-5min.
They are very lyrically driven songs, IMO. I'd say about 25% of the songs are essentially vamps on one or two chords. The rest have more complicated chord progressions. In general, themes are built on and layers added continually through each tune. There are a couple really chaotic songs on each album with a lot of dissonance and such.
Ten Million Slaves is a good summary of what Otis Taylor sounds like - dark, groove oriented, lots of instrumentation, very deep lyrics...
In interviews, I've seen him comment frequently that his live shows are meant to be fun and upbeat - he plays harmonica wirelessly in the crowd, etc. He readily admits that his albums, though, tend to be dark even when he means for a song to be happy.
Unfortunately, I've had a hard time finding a lot of good live footage with a full band where the audio doesn't suck. The NPR vid is way cool, but not indicative to a live festival performance, etc.
I view it as jam band music for people who like to listen to vocals. I also will admit that every album ends up sounding the same...he rewrites and rerecords a lot of the same grooves/songs. I like it, but in like 10 albums, he has changed the format too much. Many artists tend to jump form genre to genre or band to band...you always know what you're getting on an Otis Taylor CD. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Last Edited by on Sep 09, 2011 8:40 AM
Heard Otis Taylor for the first time on the Sirius Satellite Radio blues channel a few weeks ago. Knocked me out. Really like his stuff. It's all about the groove. Very cool.
Very cool music--the heavier the groove gets, the better I like it. The slide guitar and harp can fit beautifully with this kind of music.
I think of John Lee Hooker as being a kind of trance music a lot of the time--also Son House. Hooker with the Canned Heat doing "Boogie Chillun" seems like trance blues to me. Maybe I just don't really understand the definition though--whatever--this has been a favorite form for me for many years. The music of Terry Harmonica Bean is very much into this heavy groove mode.
Otis was at Centrum Blues Week workshops this year in Washington State. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it this year--I hope he comes back again when I can make it--it would be great to do a workshop with him. . . ----------
My hope is to be able to do some gigs as a solo/duo. Meaning most the night would be solo with a guitar player added here and there. I've mentioned doing two shows like this this summer. The looper rig crossover into playing with the guitar player too.
I've been able to start putting down a plan on paper, but it all makes sense in my head now, lol. I can think of a number of ways to get the crowd involved. I was going to sit-in with a band and do some of this between sets, but I am getting pressure to stay home - from the wife and a slew of customs to work on.
This week I came up with the idea of recording a song with an extended intro. The intro is very haunting and I think I came up with a soundscape that captures the sound of being haunted by a ghost...the song part has a drum and bass groove already, but I am not done with the words nor am I sure how much harp to include. Anyways, the theme of that song is based on "black eyed kids" which is an allegedly paranormal happening that a local paranormal radio host is into.
Do I think they're real? No. But he told the story of a listener that inspires a very dark and intense song! Lol. Very cool story for the fall season!
Very atmospheric and cool music. I especially like the one Honkin on Bobo posted, they're really clicking in that one. Glad you posted this HarpNinja, I plan to check out more.
This isn't trance music or a subsection of it though. It's more like ambient atmospheric jam band blues.
Closest & best example I can think of imitating something like trance + harmonica is this awesome piece of action:
----------
~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Steven Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
@ryan--"ambient atmospheric jam band blues" LOL! That genre won't catch on until the general public's IQ goes up a point or two! '-)
The Techno Music post is very nice.
@HarpNinja--very cool thread--great music. Something I'd really like to hear is a more acoustic approach--maybe a slide guitar and a heavy rhythm guitar with a really dynamic harp guy who sings loud around the baritone range--and this dream band would have a couple of really good conga players and a world class bassist. I guess I'd just like to hear the Telluride post above done with less electricity and Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes on acoustic slide. Having Terry Bean around to lay down the groove would be good too.
And, I don't care what kind of music it is--I want Otis' fiddle player in my band! ----------
I love "10 Million Slaves". A band I used to play in did this, and I discovered Otis through that. I plan on introducing it to my new band, as well. Great song.
Otis Taylor played a set at the Harvest blues festival here is Ireland just a couple of weeks ago. I had seen his name on the listing and remembered seeing an article about him somewhere but to be honest the only reason I caught his set was because Watermelon Slim played before him and it was then announced that Gary Moores son Jack would be accompanying Otis so I hung around. some great music, definetly will be adding some of his CDs to the collection ---------- My granddad gave me some sound advice on his deathbed. "It's worth spending money on good speakers," he told me.
Interesting, Coleman. I was thinking it doesn't sound like blues to me, but I certainly hear the "trance."
I like the hypnotic effect, but as someone above mentioned, too much is too much. If an artist does the same thing with every song they do, it gets boring. Take AC/DC, for example. I like them in small doses, but once you've heard 2 or 3 songs, you've heard them all.
If y'all like that hypnotic trance effect, check out some celtic-like "trance" music from Loreena McKennitt.
Start with the Clovis People Volume 3. Defnition of a Circle is great too. Can't find the name now, but the album with Love and Hesitation on it is killer. Musselwhite guests on that albm too. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
I didn't know there was really such a genre of music as trance blues. When I first heard this song live I told Andrew that they were playing "trance blues".
The first time I'd herd of Otis Taylor is when he showed up at one of the jam nights here in London, UK. I thought he was great. Someone posted a video. It's not me playing with him though.
Also, I just saw this guy, he was playing at he London Thames Festival this weekend just gone. I'd not heard of him either but thought we was pretty cool. I think he fits into this area of music as well.
Last Edited by on Sep 12, 2011 5:27 AM
I think of this cut by R L Burnside from his "Come on In" album as fitting my definition of "trance blues", whatever that is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzC_rGX-XyM
