gilesrobson
64 posts
Jul 09, 2019
7:40 AM
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Major New Blues Documentary To Appear On The BBC: Journey To the Heart Of The Blues.
Listen to the trailer featuring blues artists Linsey Alexander, Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Billy Branch and Giles Robson here:
Release Date: TBA
Giles Robson is considered by blues fans and the blues industry as one of the world's most exciting blues harmonica players. In 2019 he was nominated for Blues Music Award In Memphis, the highest honour in the blues world, for his album Journeys To The Heart Of The Blues on Alligator/Munich Records. It features Giles, guitarist and singer Joe Louis Walker and pianist Bruce Katz.
However Giles is not from the USA, but rather from right here in the UK. The BBC's Carrie Cooper follows him across the Atlantic Ocean to the awards in Memphis and beyond to renowned blues centres Chicago and Clarksdale Mississippi so they, themselves, can take an actual Journey To The Heart Of The Blues.
They visit Alligator Records in Chicago the world's largest operating blues label, Historic blues sites like Sun Records, Beale Street and Stax Records in Memphis. In Clarksdale Mississippi they ponder the possible site of the mythical crossroads, where Robert Johnson allegedly sold his soul to the devil and in the deep Mississippi Delta countryside they visit the grave of the legendary harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson.
Along the way the way they meet some of the music's most legendary figures such as Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush and Billy Branch plus some of Blues' younger up and coming legends such as guitarist Kick Fletcher and figureheads of the industry such as the head of the Blues Foundation Barbara Newman and Alligator Records boss Bruce Iglauer.
Giles is a great example of how the blues has become a worldwide phenomenon and during their Journey they meet musicians from as far afield as Australia, France and even Russia who have decided to dedicate their lives to the music.
With an incredible soundtrack of classic blues tracks and some of the best contemporary tunes from the artists they meet, Journey To The Heart Of the Blues is fascinating and exciting listen for music fans. It's also proof that this dynamic and emotionally rich music is still alive and kicking in the 21st Century.... and not only in America, but across the world.
The documentary ends with Giles heading to New York to record his new album Don't Give Up On The Blues, and he talks about the tracks and how what he has experienced has found its may into his approach to his new material.
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