Evolution Of The Blues Song

Tracklist

A1	Introduction
A2	Amo
A3	Some Stopped On De Way
A4	Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
A5	New Orleans
A6	I Had My Share
A7	Please Send Me Someone To Love
B1	Sufferin' Blues
B2	That's Enough
B3	Aw. Gal
B4	See See Rider
B5	Jumpin' With Symphony Sid
B6	Sun Gonna Shine In My Door
B7	W.P.A. Blues
B8	Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

Credits

• Narrator, Vocals – Jon Hendricks (tracks: A1, 2, 3, B3, 7)
• Vocals – Big Miller (tracks: A6, B1, 7), Hanna Dean* (tracks: A4, B2), Jimmy Witherspoon (tracks: A7, B4, 6), Pony Poindexter (tracks: A5, B5)

Notes

Of the many projects Hendricks has been involved in, this is his crowning glory. It toured the country as a stage production, depicting the history of African-American roots music, from spirituals and field hollers to blues, gospel, and jazz. Hendricks recites signposts of the musical progression in rhyme, and singing here and there. Pony Poindexter plays a little tenor sax and talks about New Orleans, while Ike Isaacs' trio backs the singers. An intro by Hendricks postulates that adults "have their minds made up, don't confuse 'em with facts" and refers to musicians as "metaphysicians." This is one of several pieces where the chorus hums while Hendricks tells his tale. African drums, serving as a call-and-response device, inform "Amo." A slave story told in a Harry Belafonte style by Hendricks accents "Some Stopped on De Way," while a spiritual rap precedes "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." Big Miller digs into a personalized gospel blues, "If I Had My Share," and Witherspoon belts "Please Send Me Someone to Love" like only he can. A highlight is Miller's "Sufferin' Blues," followed by Hendricks' field holler "Aw, Gal" and Witherspoon's groovin' "C.C. (Circuit) Rider." Poindexter returns on "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid," which includes references to jazz and Lester Young. The program ends with Witherspoon's brilliant rendition of Big Bill Broonzy's "Sun Gonna Shine," Hendricks' downtrodden take on "W.P.A. Blues," and Big Miller's turn on "Motherless Child." If you'd like to get your children -- or uninformed grown-ups -- a quick, painless, enjoyable lesson in the last 100+ years of our American classical heritage, this is a perfect primer.

Other versions

Category	Artist	Title (Format)	Label	Category	Country	Year
CS 8383	Jon Hendricks	Evolution Of The Blues Song ‎(LP, Promo)	Columbia	CS 8383	US	1959
CS 8383	Jon Hendricks	Evolution Of The Blues Song ‎(LP, Album, dee)	Columbia	CS 8383	US	Unknown
WT 75069	Jon Hendricks With The Ike Isaacs Trio And Ben Webster	Jon Hendricks With The Ike Isaacs Trio And Ben Webster - Evolution Of The Blues Song ‎(Cass, Album)	Columbia	WT 75069	US	Unknown