I've been dipping my toe into some different genres like jazz and blues. Suggestions, anyone? Please, no bluegrass or country. I downloaded Marz Mason and I like his "Ghetto Blues." I'm having a hard time finding more upbeat and energetic jazz. I've no problem finding the slower jazz, like Dave Brubeck. I've been listening to smooth jazz, 105.9 when I'm driving in effort to keep the road rage at bay. I've found that Korn and Pantera only make things worse.

Blues: My #1 is Duane Allman, then of course there's B.B., Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Roy Buchanan, Robert Johnson, Howling Wolf, and on, and on, and on.... Eric Clapton's new CD "Me & Mr. Johnson is excellent".

Jazz: Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, Billie Holiday, Mahavishnu Orchestra..... (showing my age)

Also try: John Hiatt (his new "Beneath this Gruff Exterior" is excellent), "alternative country" artists are Robert Earle Keen, Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo. I like Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Casey Chambers, and Lucinda Williams, too.

Don't knock bluegrass too much, there's a lot of "modern" bluegrass that's excellent - The Waybacks, and of course Old & In the Way /Old & In the Gray, and anything that David Grisman did with Jerry Garcia. And Junior Brown can be pretty country sometimes, but he plays a mean guitsteel!

If you have a subscription to RealPlayer, listen to KPIG (kpig.com) sometime. You'll hear a lot of everything; comedy (Smothers Brothers, Firesign Theater, John Pinette, George Carlin, plus the modern ones) alternate country, rock, bluegrass, blues. A subscription is $5.95 a month for internet radio, but it beats what's on commercial radio.

Pay for it? Hmmmm....Heather knows better.

I like Ray Charles. I don't know if he is considered blues or what, but his music is pretty mellow and relaxing.

PBS has a good Blues documentary.

Mississippi Delta blues

Johnny Lee Hooker
Howling Wolf
Muddy Waters

About as blues as I get would be The Stones.

Ray Charles, aaahhh...What'd I Say...One Mint Julep...Hit the Road, Jack...Unchain My Heart...very mellow and relaxing

Ray encompassed all genres. You couldn't categorize him. May he rest in peace.

I haven't listened to 105.9 for a while. I have trouble getting it at home. I must be too close to the mountain to get a good signal, even with a Terk antenna. When I do listen, I find that they play a lot of R&B, Temps, Stylistics, Marvin Gaye, etc. so I usually turn my CD player on instead.

Do like a lot of smooth Jazz though, Dave Koz, Brian Hughes, Earl Klugh, Bob James, etc. but not Kenny G.

You know it!


Thanks for the suggestions peeps. I'll give em a try and get back to ya.

My son is a fan of early blues, and sent me a list of his favorites. You might want to listen to some of these if you are interested: Bessie Smith, Blind Willie McTell, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Furry Lewis, Henry Thomas, Leadbelly, Lottie Kimbrough/Beaman, Luke Jordan, Cedar Creek Sheik, Memphis Jug Band, Mississippi John Hurt, Mississippi Sheiks, Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, John Lee Hooker, Ted Hawkins.

If you are looking for modern day artists, I can't help you there.

Everyone may think me weird after this post, but I liked the "Millenium Celebration" album from DisneyWorld. It is primarily instrumental, with three lyric songs on the CD. The CD was created in 2000, so the only place you may be able to find it is on Ebay.

The reason why I like it so much is that it is very inspirational. Plus, one of the songs on the album, [I]Tapestry of Nations, is awesome. The song is more than 20 minutes long, but weaves various different music styles from around the world.

Check it out if you can find it out there. I think it would be worth your while.

Awesome special! I watched it and being a blues fan got alot out of it. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Some of my favorites

BB King- Anything BB is good

Muddy Waters- If you have a chance listen to (Champagne and reefer) on
best of Muddy Waters. One of my all time favorites along with Mannish Boy

Stevie Ray Vaughn- Texas Flood, Couldn't stand the weather,Willie the wimp

Allman Bros.- Stormy Monday, Whipping post

John Lee Hooker
Buddy Guy
Robert Cray
Albert King

If anyone is interested in a good read The BB King autobiography is awesome. I checked it out of the library several years ago and it was a good read.