Paul is in my opinion one of the most important players of all time. He did sort of what Jason Ricci did at that time. He was doing speed work, hard driving music; he was not just doing the Little Walter stuff. What do all of you guys (and girls) think of him?
I like his stuff. As a person somewhat new to Blues, I find his stuff has blues roots but could be listened to by folks who like rock. good voice, good harp player.
he's a guy i wish i'd heard more of. i've had east/west and better days albums but not much else. in the 70's he did inspire my playing. there was something so clean and clear and beautiful about his style. i do remember his appearance in the movie "the last waltz" where he missed the boat imho. happens to everyone.
Agree with you jbone about the last waltz, saw him live just a couple of years before that in Montreal where he was in fine form. Check out Muddy Waters Woodstock album which all ties in with the last waltz thing, recorded the same year or the year before that. Good stuff.
Agree with ya again Zack. One of the few players (to include Jason Ricci) that my 16 yr old daughter likes.
I highly recommend Adams lesson on "Born In Chicago" (see The Store.) Lots of fun to play.
I recently bought the Golden Butter album Adam references in a couple of his youtube lessons. In the middle of converting it to mp3's. It along with the Muddy Waters Woodstock album are a couple of my favorites.
I think Adams series of youtube lessons on PB starts around #98 through 101 covering Driftin and Driftin among others.
I also have PB's instructional CD he did with Happy Traum on guitar. Not all that great from a teaching perspective(IMO) but I found it interesting & entertaining to listen to him talk/play.
DUDE, I have sat down and figured out those solos...Took me hours :-D Does your daughter play? Get her to play! I will check out those videos, I watched them once...
Paul Butterfields music was the inspiration for many modern blues players, not just harmonica players.
Paul always walked his own path in the music and had great tone, inventive ideas, a high octane style, and his music was always filled with emotional content.
My band open up with 'Screamin' and we also include 'work song' - two instrumentals in F which I play in Bb The Ford brothers band did a great cd in tribute to Paul, and I for one, found Paul, way back, as my first love and influence on the harmonica. Kingley is spot on!!
I agree with Zack,he does the same thing in the sixties e seventies taht Jason does.Both play with speed, emotion,tecnhical mastery and both don't just play blues.One example of this is Paul Butterfield album "East-West" listen to it and see how great Paul Buttefield was.And also listen to Jason Ricci.
I think Butterfield deserves recognition not only as a musician, but as a pioneer (intentional or otherwise) of the civil rights movement. The BBB was one of the first racially integrated bands and that really should be enough to put Paul in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The fact that they made great music is a bonus.
"I think Butterfield deserves recognition not only as a musician, but as a pioneer (intentional or otherwise) of the civil rights movement. The BBB was one of the first racially integrated bands and that really should be enough to put Paul in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The fact that they made great music is a bonus."
Black and white musicians have already been playing together for 30 years prior to Paul Butterfield and his band. Unless your speaking of rock or blues bands, either way playing with black musicians wasn't as a big a thing as you might think. Great musician, just leave it at that.
Borrah Minnevitch's band was integrated back in the 30s and he was in movies.
One more that comes to mind from the late 20s, early 30s was it was a pick up session band, sure, but Jimmie Rodgers Blue Yodel No. 9 with Louis Armstrong on trumpet and the then Mrs. Armstrong on piano.
That takes nothing away from Paul Butterfield, who is the man.
Last Edited by on Jul 03, 2009 8:48 AM
I didn't say THE first, and I should indeed have clarified it as rock/blues band.
What did make it 'a big thing' was that his band were performing at a time of real change, when the the civil Rights Movement was embedded in everyone's awareness. To see black and white musicians performing together as equals, to a non segregated audience must have been an inspiration to many.
Last Edited by on Jul 03, 2009 11:14 AM
how you all doing am i right that paul butterfield played a lot of his stuff on a Bb flat harp , and drifting was played on a Eb , butterfield was without doubt a genius on the harp . just whish to christ he was alive now im sure he would a blown our minds with the modern day equipment on offer these days, any way while im on here i was thinking about a harp and mic for the 1st time , im in the uk anyone got a valid opinion on a green bullet and a gretch amp as my first mic and amp , any advice and reccomendations would be helpfull , to this inspired beginner thanks, by the the way of to watch one of the greatest blues harp players the uk or indeed europe has to offer and thats non orther than the legend that is west weston at the aint nothing but club in soho london playing with joe louis and his blueskings , dam im looking foward to that gig, goodnight and cheers for any advice
The green bullet is a classic mic and you can't go far wrong with one. The 520DX is the current incarnation and has a different element than the older 520D, But it's still an ok mic.
The Gretsch amp is not too bad either.
Other similar choices around the same price are an Epiphone Valve Jr, Harley Benton GA5. Of course if you can afford one a HarpGear HG2 is even better.
love Butterield , his first album was in my opinion better than east west, he had the edge with sam lay on drums , and bloomfiled who sounded more convincing than Eric clapton. on the bluesbreakers album in the same year, john mayall was good , but Paul Buttefield , just swings , on every song , and his harp playing is one of the reasons i got into it , so mucho respecto!
His first album was one of the first blues albums I ever purchased. He's another example of a great harmonica player who was also a great singer. That video of "Driftin' and Driftin'" was mesmerizing. Thanks Patrick.
Paul Butterfield's got a few 1 disc & 2 disc sets out there.
I seen an import that included the first two albums in one package & there's also the Elektra Anthology plus many others.
So my question is if you were going to recommend a single disc or two disc of PBBB to own which would it be & why? (I own the Muddy Waters Fathers and Sons CD that's why I specify PBBB).
---------- ~Ryan Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
The first album (The Lost Elektra Sessions) for sheer balls to the wall blues playing and East-West if just for Work Song and nothing else.
Last Edited by on Jul 08, 2009 11:22 AM
