Blues from jazz...?

[Kevin Winn <kwinn@steptech.com>]

Mark Leaman writes:
>>>
Rooted in Jazz, you mean. Blues grew out of Jazz, you know...from Gospel   
and
C&W as I mentioned earlier. All popular music came from this source, and   
if
you want to trace it back far enough it all comes from Folk or Minstrel.
<<<

Mark, I'm stunned.

Blues from Jazz?  And C&W?!  This is pure madness!

It's very simple:

Lets start with the Negro Spiritual - the field songs of the slaves.   
 From this form sprouted

1) Gospel: a refined form of the field songs, seeking salvation from   
spiritual slavery
2) Blues: raw and corporeal side of the field songs - lamentation and   
expression of the pains of life and love.

Now let's follow the Blues fork:

2.1) Country Blues (aka Delta Blues): pure form, usually acoustic, odd or   
irregular meters.  Son House's "Death Letter" is a good example, so is   
Robert Johnson's "Crossroads."  Note: RJ didn't start this form.
2.2) "Big City" Blues.  Includes Chicago Blues. St Louis Blues, etc.   
 Blues makes it's way to the big city, finds a consistent rhythm and   
maybe some horns, and gets a recording contract.  Elmore James, BB King,   
Howlin' Wolf...

Following the Big City Blues fork:

2.2.1) Big City Blues meets a guy named Satchmo somewhere outside of New   
Orleans, Charlie Parker soon follows.  Americans (ever the clever ones)   
call it Jazz.
2.2.2) Big City Blues makes its way to Memphis, gets played at 78 instead   
of 33 and Carl Perkins writes "Blue Suede Shoes."  Pete Townshend begins   
getting his Nose Complex about this time.

This is a highly simplified tree, but it's pretty much how every music   
history treatise that I've ever read has laid it out.


OK,
KLW