Improvised acoustic blues guitar?

There was a texas based guitarist, called Rainer, or Rayner, or some german spelling of same. He died a few years back, but I think his catalogue may be the sort of thing you are looking for. Does anyone have any idea of his proper name, I've been trying to find it for ages, he used to be a Mojo favourite.

Nime

Try Davy Graham - he recorded an album with Shirley Collins called Folk Roots, New Roots



I think it is one of the best records ever made.

IMHO Davy Graham is the best guitarist I've ever heard.

Excellent! Thanks ROTF. Just ordered it online.

Any more suggestions please?

Nime, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, It is one of my most frequently played records. Let me know what you think.

I will certainly let you know what I think of it.
Thanks again for the recommendation.

Martin Simpson will probably hit the spot. Not sure what's currently available, I have all my stuff on vinyl - Green Linnet iirc

PS Doug MacLeod is worth checking out, but he does sing

Nime

Get Martins 4, with Martin Simpson, Martin Carthy, Martin Taylor and Juan Martin. Only a little tuneful wailing, and totally brilliant.

Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by Diode100:
There was a texas based guitarist, called Rainer, or Rayner, or some german spelling of same.

I think you mean
Rainer (hope this link works). He was great.

Check out the other Glitterhouse stuff and don't forget to try John Fahey, who is -great pity- also no longer among us.

Willem

Thankyou very much for all the suggestions. I really hadn't a clue where to start looking for this sort of material.

Regards
Nime

Kelly Joe Phelps-also includes vocals

I think you mean
Rainer (hope this link works). He was great.
Willem[/QUOTE]

Thanks very much for the link, I've been trying to find his recordings for ages. And John Fahey of course.

It's also worth trying Bert Jansch, John Renbourne, and perhaps Leo Kotke.

In his later years the great Mike Bloomfield made a lot of accoustic recordings.

Michael Hedges. Not blues, but important in the solo acoustic guitar repertoire. Aerial Boundaries was his best album ("was" because he's dead too).

Peter Lang. A contemporary of Leo Kottke. I have a great-sounding LP of one of his albums called American Stock.

Steve

There is also "Strings of Steel" by Michael Hedges listed on CD.

I now have 15 CDs on order from the national Danish Library online service. I can get a free taste of all these artists and albums then hopefully find the CDs I like in the shops or online.

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Good job I checked out this thread.

Rainer's OK and Michael Hedges is superb but he's not a blues player nor is Martin Taylor, Martin Carthy or Juan Martin. Martin Simpson is also very good, particularly his work with David Lyndley, but he's more "virtuoso folk" rather than bluesman as is Davy Graham.

If you want acoustic blues you really must check out bottleneck blues where you should listen to samples of Ben Andrews. Any or all of the first four albums should do it.

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Dave

I think I have already ordered a CD called "Bottleneck Blues" (or story of). I love folk music too.

You should check out a guy called Sam Mitchell,he recorded some stuff in the seventies with Stefan Grossmans label Kicking Mule,played slide on Rod Stewarts "Every Picture Tells a Story" LP,if still available i suggest "The Art of Bottleneck/Slide Guitar" 2 albums on one CD and cheap.
Couple of electric tracks which are not so hot but his acoustic work is superb.

Thanks for the suggestions KRO.

quote:

Thanks Dave

I think I have already ordered a CD called "Bottleneck Blues" (or story of). I love folk music too.

Hi Nime,

The link is to a website, rather than an album, where you can hear and buy CD's by Ben Andrews amongst others. Do check it out, I'm sure you'll like what you hear.

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Dave. I started working my way through the album samples but the first few were just a bit too C&W for my tastes. One of the very few genre I don't much enjoy. I will persevere though in case I find something more to my taste.

I have received a copy of "The Rough Guide to Bottleneck Blues". ("Bottleneck Blues") The first CD to arrive. No chance to listen to it yet.

Listened to so far:

Martin Simpson "The Bramble Briar". Awesome folk. Superb guitar instrumentals and folk songs. Dynamic and superbly recorded. Buy it.

"The New Electric Muse" (The story of folk into rock) 3CDs. Stupendous variety of artists and material. Incredible mix of folk instrumentals and folk songs. Excellent. The only folk CDs you'll ever really need.

Kelly Joe Phelps: "Sky like a Broken Clock"
Bluesy with superb quality guitar playing and odd lyrics, sung well. Not as immediately accessible as others mentioned here but worth the effort.

John Fahey. Best of John Fahey 1959-77. (Instrumental blues guitar)
Blues guitar genious. No two tracks alike. I kept turning up the volume to fill the room and take myself back to my youth in the 60s. To wallow in the wealth of improvising blues guitarists who simply appeared out of the woodwork and never needed to buy a drink.

I have three more CDs by John Fahey (amongst others) to listen to and will update when time allows.

The Rough Guide to Bottleneck Guitar. Authentic rough-hewn and unpolished dark blues. Gravelly or wailing to taste. Back in the 60's I bought Jessie Fuller on vinyl. But it's just not to my taste any more, I'm afraid. I prefer greater virtuosity and more musical voices these days. Feel free to disagree.

Have you tracked down Martins 4 yet?

Nigel

Unfortunately not. It was the only CD the library couldn't supply of those I ordered. On order for replacement. Expected in about a month. I'm looking forwards to hearing it. I might be able to find it in the shops first.

Some great music has beeen recommended in this thread. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Nime

If you like Kelly Joe Phelps, try Shine Eyed Mister Zen and the recent live set, Tap The Red Cane Whirlwind, both excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
Have you tracked down Martins 4 yet?

Nigel

Jazz,flamenco and two folkies not really blues is it.

quote:

Jazz,flamenco and two folkies not really blues is it

Maybe not, but if you look at Nime's post above, you'll see that he really rates a Martin Simpson album. It's a fine line between folk, jazz and blues at times, and if it's good, who cares what it's classified as.

Nigel