Tristan Arts Education Software for Music & the Arts

09/30/2024

In honor of the passing of Kris Kristofferson, I'd like to give my two cents concerning "Me and Bobby McGee", one of Kristofferson's best-known songs. Several famous artists recorded "Bobby McGee" such as Kenny Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot. But the version which will always be associated with an era and a generation until the end of time will be the one by Janis Joplin, recorded shortly before her death. (For years I thought Joplin wrote it.)

If there was ever a song which was a near-perfect fusion of Country/Western, the Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll, it might be "Me and Bobby McGee". Kristofferson was a country/western songwriter and Joplin a Rhythm 'n' Blues and Rock singer. Kristofferson came out of the Johnny Cash/Merle Haggard style of raw country music while Joplin out of Blues-Rock. Interestingly the subject-matter of the Blues and some Country Music does have overlap, often speaking of characters living less conventional lives. "Ozzy and Harriet" and "Leave it to Beaver" were long gone.

So when the ingredients were put through the meat-grinder:
The raw country and honky-tonk of Cash
1960's Blues-Inspired Rock Music
The down and dirty Blues of Joplin
(with maybe a bit of Kerouac thrown in for good measure)
the resulting version of "Me and Bobby McGee" became a nearly perfect fusion of all three styles. Fusions of three or more music styles don't always work. (Two is often the max). But "Bobby McGee" does succeed at all levels maybe because it's an honest story about two drifters going across America. We could almost imagine these characters showing up in "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac.

"Bobby McGee" spoke to a generation who put on their bandanas, got into their pick-up trucks and set off on adventures singing just about every Blues and Country song they knew. "Ozzy and Harriet" was left in the dust.
KK has set off into that sunset now where one hopes he's met up with JJ, and they've set off on the road in the ethereal plane.

05/02/2024

I was watching a two-part documentary about the Titanic on a new CNN doc series called "How it Really Happened with Jesse L. Martin". I would like to honor seven gentlemen in the true sense of the word: the musicians who played on the upper deck of the Titanic almost until the very end. All seven musicians lost their lives.

They played to calm the frightened passengers as they got into life boats. It was mayhem to some extent but might have been far worse if it wasn't for these musicians playing calming music to help ease the distress. The music tamed the crowd.

Legend has it that the last number played by the ensemble was "Nearer My God to Thee", a popular hymn of the time written in the 19th century. There is some dispute among historians regarding what their final number was, but "Nearer My God to Thee" was probably among their last pieces as attested by surviving eyewitnesses.

None of the musicians survived, enable to get into any lifeboats. Some of them may have declined as women and children first was the predominant sensibility of the time. They played right up until the Titanic lost its electrical power and the deck became essentially black.

So here's to these musicians who are heroes in their own right. Hazzah!

Below: the seven musicians who lost their lives as a result of the sinking of the Titanic.

03/30/2024

Music I was never exposed to at UC Davis!

I heard an interview recently on NPR with an Old-Time Music band called Carolina Chocolate Drops. Terry Gross was the interviewer. They are a relatively recent band formed circa 2005, although they may not be performing together now. One of the founding musicians, Rhiannon Giddens, is on Beyonce's new album. They play folk music often associated with Appalachia prior to circa 1910.

Carolina Chocolate Drops performed what is often called "Old-Time Music" or "Jug Music", American Folk Music which predates what becomes Country Music, and often associated with White Appalachia, although the Drops have emphasized that African-Americans had about equal contribution prior to the emergence of what becomes Modern Country Music.

This music style was not really talked about in any of my music history classes, save maybe just a little bit in UC Davis' first-ever class on Jazz, which I was lucky enough to attend.

While most of this music isn't quite my cup-o-tea, this one song did more or less leave an positive impression, Cornbread and Butterbeans", the name says it all. Whether this music speaks to you or not, dear reader, it harkens back to 19th century small town American when music and dancing were invariably intertwined. I found a video of the Drops playing this song:

Carolina Chocolate Drops performing "Cornbread and Butterbeans" at WDVX's Blue Plate Special. For more information on Carolina Chocolate Drops please visit w...