David was a Bluesman

Glenn on Musicianship

Perhaps the most basic theological truths ever preached in African-American society came straight out of the biblical accounts of Moses setting Israel free from the bondage of pharoah. The obvious connection between his/her daily lot and that of the children of Israel was immediate and absolute. God offered the only possible hope of freedom, whether in the next life, this or both, here was THEIR story in the most respected Book of all time! Hope. A Saviour. Deliverance from excruciatingly painful bondage. Dignity restored to a people who had for generations, none.

Other stories (Joseph- sold into slavery for no fault of his own, Daniel in the lion's den, even Samson and all of their ultimate victory) offered some of the only hope availble to this once proud, strong people.

As people sang in groups, a sense of community was shared. Everyone knows that sharing a load together lightens it. Through song, reminders of community, of grace and hope from those Bible stories, etc., helped give this people a sense of meaning, purpose and value in a world where in every case, they were at rock bottom.

Interestingly enough, if one were to place the songs of the Book of Psalms in catagories, "laments" would be the largest of them. A full 57 of the 150 lyrics in this biblical book speak about struggle, problems, negative situations. They cry, shout and beg for deliverance. David and the other writers of these lyrics had much in common with a slave culture many years and miles removed from them.

Of course, not every slave followed Christ. And even those who did continued to feel the weight of their daily circumstances. From all of this came a truly unique musical form known as "the blues".

I have researched this topic for many years, and can say with certainty there isn't an author (book, magazine, etc.) who doesn't come to the subject without some measure of bias. I am no different, and as I said in the beginning, I love blues.

As a Christian I am often asked about the "apparent" oxymoron in the phrase "Christian Blues". Do people of faith sometimes doubt? Do those whose lives are based on hope experience despair? Does the believer who follows this God Who refers to Himself as Love Incarnate feel pain? Do bad things happen to them? Are they immune to trial, sorrow and struggle?

If one thinks and relates to honest life experiences, no matter how much faith, hope and love God has given us, the answer to the above questions are "Yes, yes and yes." The world as we have it, is fallen. Sin is present. The possibility for both sin and righteous living under Jesus are always available to us all. Beyond sin, people also make mistakes. Added to the struggles and hassles of human relationship are such things as disease, natural disasters, etc.. I think there is no escape from the fact that Christian or not, certainly the blues experience- whether musical or social- can be and is shared by all.

As a musical form, blues is basic. Twelve-bar tunes (an entire verse or chorus typically contains 12 measures, three chords) are basic, simple and direct. Regardless of tempo and production, it's immediate and most of the time, pretty earthy stuff. Which is to say "unpretentious", real. As was stated in the opening paragraph, blues is based on the human voice. If one examines standard blues music, one readily hears a guitar, harmonica, keyboards and sax- when soloing (playing melodies)- playing and sometimes echoing a succession of notes that could have just as easily been sung. Even the foundational instruments- drums and bass- many times mimic phrasing right out of the average blues singer's repertoire.

As a music minister, all of the above is not only touching for me, it also offers a wonderful vehicle through which to communicate the messages I am convinced God wants my audience to hear.

1. Like Jesus, it is an excellent vehicle for story-telling
2. It can lyrically shrug, laugh, point out foolishness, despair and throw down on the spot in such a way as to either state the obvious or totally surprise the listener
3. It is largely improvisational- that is, most blues musicians play the basic form of a given song, then in a live concert, change everything around on the basis of how they and the crowd are feeling, etc., making things fresh and interesting, a bit risky, challenging and fun for both artist and audience
4. Of the 150 songs in the Book of Psalms, 57 (the largest catagory if one were to catagorize lyric-types in Psalms) are psalms of "lament". Struggle, need, crying out
5. People who rarely listen to blues and never buy recordings of it much less attend strictly blues concerts yet tend to LOVE the stuff when they hear real blues done well, and I am convinced that many of the reasons why are found in the above article
6. Finally, I think it is an instinctive, intuitive thing that I am able to write, sing and play blues as you shall now see

I grew up on welfare in central Wisconsin. My family shopped at thrift stores when it was most uncool to do so. We were dirt poor due to my father getting ripped off by a business partner as well as his own illness and several operations. Cold farmhouses, little food and no money to spare was the rule for many years. My parents divorced when I was 9 years old. My family disintegrated over a five-year span, and after I overdosed three times, attempted suicide, and finally called out to God for His help and mercy... I think I had a good understanding of rejection, pain, self-hatred and poverty.

Playing in bands, there was a 3 year period in which I listened to nothing except for music done by African-American people. I simply thought that what I heard in that genre (blues, soul, rhythm and blues) contained more emotional and genuine substance than all the "white" stuff I had ever heard or performed. A radio interviewer asked me years later how I ever got back into white rock. My reply? "Jimi Hendrix"! At which point, we both laughed. I had never considered before that moment that it had taken a black musician to move me back to my own white roots. But by that time, I had played so many gigs and listened to so many hours of radio and recordings, etc., that the music, it's nuances and cadences had become a part of me.

I have lived in a fairly tough area of Chicago for the past 23 years. "Part of me". The blues still is.

And Jesus was "a man of sorrows, well-aquainted with grief".

Disarming, isn't it?

Of the old-time fathers of blues Blind Willie Johnson , Rev. Gary Davis, Rev. Dan Smith, and Joseph Spence influenced me most in the acoustic blues department. Why? Love the lyrics, honesty, musicianship and general sound . I very much relate to these.

In modern-day blues, I love Michael Hakanson-Stacy, Darrell Mansfield, and Larry Howard. Solid Christians, great players, and dear friends worthy of respect. They FEEL what they sing and play. Everyone on this list did/does most of the time. That's the simple answer.

I can't begin to tell you what Psalms I love. Too many to even begin. I mean really, just TOO many. 119, 1, 3, 8, 112, just tons. I probably read Psalms more than anything else, especially the past six or seven years. Normally the first book I turn to when I open the Word each day, evening, etc..

David, writer of most of the psalms remains my fave muso. True, a sinner, courageous, stupid, a leader, bowman, dear friend, loving in-law, lustful goof, man after God's heart, shepard, biblical bluesman, worshipper, seriously fierce on God being honored first. What a guy!

Bluesharp - Darrel Mansfield really knows how to make it sing, every bluesman knows it's worth. Here is a page where you can learn how to play the bluesharp, read about it's early roots, and order your own instrument. Jack's Gospel Harmonica page.

Posted 04/12/01