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Did you miss it?
The
Kankakee County Museum hosted the 2nd edition
of its 2005 Lecture Series - "Black
and the Blues"
at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, 2005 at the
museum - 801 S. 8th Ave., Kankakee, IL
Daily Journal
columnist Ron Jackson explored
the
roots of blues music & discussed long-held myths. "It
has a universal appreciation," says Jackson, executive
director for the Kankakee Community
Resource Center.
His wife, Lisa Jackson, joined him to perform several songs.
Review written by James Walker
appears below. |
Photo by Tom Schlesinger
Select image to enlarge |
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Everybody gets
the Blues
The Sunday Journal
February 27, 2005 |
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James Walker
freelance music writer |
Who would have thought that Blues would be such a popular lecture
topic? So many people attended the Kankakee County Museum's
second edition of their 2005 lecture series that more chairs had to
be brought into the Centennial Room. Perhaps the promise of a
vocal performance by Kankakee's sultry Lisa Jackson added to the
appeal of the announced topic, "Black and
the Blues."
The overflow audience of history and music aficionados
was treated to both subjects by husband and wife team Ron and Lisa
Jackson. By day, Ron is the executive director of the Kankakee
Community Resource Center and a weekly columnist in The Sunday
Journal. Lisa is the business development specialist for
Ware-Pak, Inc.
Mary Jo Johnston, secretary of the museum's board of
directors, aware that February was Black History Month, wanted |
to do something special this year. She
definitely succeeded by engaging the Jacksons.
In under 45 minutes, Ron and Lisa did a superior job of
presenting a topic that has filled volumes. In his own words
Ron said, "I will attempt to do the impossible: Define the
Blues."
First giving information and examples, Ron would then
play a pre-recorded song to demonstrate the point.
Most enjoyable in this mix were the tunes sung by Lisa.
Performing "Never Loved a Man" in the style of Aretha Franklin, Lisa
provided an example of Blues moving further north and east from
Chicago to Detroit.
I tried to imagine myself giving such a presentation.
I realized that it would have been too academic, esoteric, long and,
ultimately, dull. Conversely, Ron was truly entertaining with
lively patter, spontaneous wit and humor, and a gregarious
presentation that was anything but boring.
In attempting to define the Blues and help the audience
fully relate, Ron Jackson wrote some scenarios in verse form: |
"Ever been in love with someone who was in love with
someone else?
Then, you know the Blues.
Ever been unemployed,
Ever been in debt,
No money in the bank,
But still had lots of checks?
Then you know the Blues.
Ever had a best friend that
died,
A bike you couldn't ride,
A terrible secret you had to hide?
Then you know the Blues.
Ever had a beautiful house that wasn't a home,
Been in a crowd but felt alone?
Then you know the Blues. |
Lisa Jackson
Photo by Tom Schlesinger
Select image to enlarge |
After citing some long-winded definitions from
musicologists and "blues-ologists," Jackson succinctly summarized,
"My definition: Blues is depression put to music!"
Delving into history, Jackson said that Blues began
with slave field hollers and cadence callers and evolved into an
oral interpretation of the struggle to make it through the day.
By blending the African-American experience and
emotions with the musical instruments of the Scots-Irish, an
American art form evolved that is the ancestor of rock, R&B,
country, rap, jazz and all modern American music.
There is a uniqueness to Blues lyrics. Typically
lyrics are personal and deal with victimization: lost love,
joblessness, poverty, "or something-just-ain't-right themes."
Usually, the verses are three lines with an AAB rhyme scheme.
Jackson humorously injected, "It has been said that by
repeating the first line over in the second line, it gives the
musician time to think of a third line." He then played an
example by Chicago harmonica standout, Billy Branch: |
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Photo by Tom Schlesinger
Select image to enlarge |
"I was born in the North, but my heart was in the South,
I was born in the North, y'all, but my heart was in the
South,
You know that Doctor when he spanked me,
I spit that heart right out my mouth."
At this point, to give the
audience another example of the importance of harmonica in the
Blues, Ron invited Tom "Energizer" Schlesinger to come up and play
his harmonica along with a pre-recorded song. Completely
unrehearsed, Schlesinger did an admirable job accompanying guitarist
Keb Mo' on a song Tom had never heard!
Moving the topic to contemporary Blues gave the
audience the opportunity to hear Lisa again, this time doing a song
by Grammy Award winner Norah Jones. |
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Before he
was done, Ron exploded a couple of myths associated with Blues.
First, it's not just black music anymore - witness Eric Clapton,
Jonny Lang, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Secondly, it is not strictly a masculine discipline.
Starting with the earliest female artists, Ron mentioned Mamie
Smith, moved on to 2005 Grammy winner Etta James and ended with Lisa
being her dynamic self singing "Stormy Weather."
In conclusion, Ron said, "I have probably failed at
defining the Blues, because in the end, Blues can't be defined.
But, you know it when you hear it, 'cuz when you hear it, you can
feel it!"
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Thanks for your support! |
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