I was lucky enough to see Sam Myers and Anson Funderburgh live a handful of times before Sam died. This clip brought back my first experience of their magic. Sam was a good harp player--a very good one in his youth, not quite as good when older, but still very good--but he was a stop-the-show level blues belter. He was a big man with an explosive tenor voice that could really just stop you dead in your tracks if you hadn't ever heard him before. A good model for blues singing. You'd expect him to growl like Howlin Wolf, but that wasn't really his thing--although he could roughen his voice when he needed to. He hammered the high hard one. But he could also drop his voice all the way down, and it was smooth, smooth, smooth all the way. He knows where all the juicy microtones are hidden. He really makes you feel his blues:
The other remarkable thing about this particular clip is the way that Myers messes with the bar lines. It's not obvious if you're not listening for it, but he is seriously messing with where, in the 12-bar structure, he actually lays down his vocal lines. And Anson is there with him every step of the way. And the band keeps chugging along. Try counting the changes. Once he gets deep into it, he's not placing his line in the normal 1-2 bar, 5-6 bar, and 9-10 bar pattern. He's just going with what his judgment and feeling tells him is the right place, and letting the changes roll out behind him. This is a real challenge to Anson; he's got to figure out not just where the break is coming, but how long to play IN the break. So this clip shows some staggeringly good sideman work.
An aficionado's clip, truly.
Last Edited by on Mar 21, 2012 11:33 PM
There is a parallel with Willie Nelson who often phrases late, early or wherever he damn well pleases. Willie attributes much to the influence of Frank Sinatra.
The complimentary playing by Anson is indeed a lesson in itself. Sometimes you just need to abandon the rules and go with the feel. Do that and it becomes obvious. Al Wilson backing John Lee Hooker on "Hooker 'N Heat" also comes to mind. ---------- LSC
One of my all time favorite blues acts. I too was lucky enough to see them a handfull of times back in the day. Too hear Anson and Sam and the Rockets live was to be in blues heaven indeed! ---------- myspace
I read somewhere that Sam Myers thought of himself as a singer first foremost and then drummer and harp player. Played drums with Elmore James. At least he did on one of James albums.
I brought my brother who is a music lover but not a blues maniac to see Anson and Sam, He loved the show as did I...After seeing that show I vowed to myself I was going to learn how to play the harmonica. So I can credit Sam for really sticking the amber's up under my ass and motivating me to go on that search for TONE. I remember his harp playing being some of the coolest, fattest Chicago type harmonica playing I'd ever heard and his singing live was stunning, love him!!! On breaks he'd just go and sit by himself in the corner of the bar and smoke. I BS with him a little and also had the privilege to help him get up and off the stage, good memories...
I used to just love the way hit those low notes with his voice!!! ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
