Legendary Country Blues Guitarists: Guitar: Recorded Performance

Guitarist educator and historian Stefan Grossman was a student of acoustic blues and gospel singer/guitarist Rev. Gary Davis. Beginning when he was 15 Stefan studied with Davis on weekends spending eight to ten hours at his house in Harlem absorbing all he could. While studying with Rev. Davis he met and studied with other country blues guitarists: Mississippi John Hurt Son House Skip James Mance Lipscomb and Fred McDowell.In the early 1960s Stefan formed the Even Dozen Jug Band (which also included such future luminaries as John Sebastian Steve Katz Maria Muldaur and David Grisman). In 1966 he worked with the alternate rock band the Fugs beforemoving to Great Britain in 1967. In 1969 he co-founded Kicking Mule Records with Ed Denson a label that showcased acoustic fingerstyle guitar. Many of these albums that Stefan produced during this period are finally being re-released on CD on his own label.From 1967 to 1987 Stefan Grossman lived in Great Britain and Italy and toured worldwide. He performed and recorded with John Renbourn for 15 years and they produced four albums together.Stefan's solo discography goes all the way back to 1966 when he recorded How to Play Blues Guitar with Rory Block (now released as Country Blues Guitar SGGW103). Since that time he has recorded over 30 solo albums and has written numerous books highlighting the playing of legendary bluesmen from the 1920s and 1930s.Nowadays Stefan divides his time between the USA and England. He continues to do concerts and workshops worldwide and remains one of the world's foremost authorities on acoustic blues guitar. The Guitar Artistry of Stefan Grossman brings together performances from 1965 to today. He performs solo with the Even Dozen Jog Band with John Renbourn as well as Duck Baker. In between the music Stefan weaves together the story behind his playing.An 87 page PDF booklet is included on the DVD. This details

Description Blind Blake was the premier ragtime blues guitarist of the 1920s. His technique featured unique right-hand thumb rolls that evoked the feel of the Charleston dance-step. In this comprehensive new book/audio lesson, Woody Mann explores the ideas, techniques, and styles of this legendary musician who has influenced generations of country blues guitarists. The three companion CDs contain three full hours on note-by-note, phrase-by-phrase instruction. Written in standard notation and tablature.

Guitar Of Big Bill Broonzy. Big Bill Broonzy's recording career spanned from 1927 until his death in 1958. His repertoire was well recorded, from solos and duets to ensemble playing. He was rediscovered just as the "folk-revival" began in the early 1950's. Broonzy was a master of ragtime and country blues guitar whose playing was highlighted by a strong pulsating bass and melodic lead lines. In this comprehensive new audio lesson, Woody Mann explores the ideas, techniques, and styles of this legendary musician who has influenced generations of guitarists. Includes access to online audio containing three full hours of instruction featuring note-by-note, phrase-by-phrase instruction. Selections include: House Rent Stomp: Brownskin Shuffle: Moppin' Blues: Hey, Hey: Worryin' You Off My Mind: Stove Pipe Stomp: and Saturday Night Rub. Written in standard notation and tablature.

Doc Watson was a legendary performer who blended his traditional Appalachian musical roots with bluegrass country gospel and blues to create a unique style and an expansive repertoire. His flatpicking style elevated the acoustic guitar to solo status in bluegrass and country music and whose interpretations of traditional American music profoundly influenced generations of folk and rock guitarists.Doc was born in Deep Gap North Carolina on March 3 1923 into a family already rich in musical tradition. His mother Annie Watson sang traditional secular and religious songs and his father General Watson played the banjo which was Doc's first instrument as well.In 1953 Doc met Jack Williams a local piano player and played rockabilly/swing music for seven years a period and a style that he later revisited in the album Docabilly. But he also continued to play acoustic traditional music with his family and with his banjo playing neighbor Clarence Tom Ashley. In 1960 spurred by the growing folk revival folklorists Ralph Rinzler and Eugene Earle came south to record Ashley and heard Doc Watson in the process. These sessions resulted in Doc's first recordings Old-Time Music at Clarence Ashley's.In 1961 the Friends of Old-Time Music invited Doc Ashley Clint Howard and Fred Price to perform at a now-legendary concert in New York City and one year later Doc gave his first solo performance at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village. From then on he was a full-time professional playing a wide range of concerts clubs colleges and festivals including the Newport Folk Festival and Carnegie Hall.In the late 1960s Doc was joined on the road by his son Merle who provided both musical and emotional companionship; with Merle playing guitar and banjo and serving as partner and driver the father-son team expanded their audience nationwide. Sadly Merle died in 1985 from a tractor accident.A series of over 50 remarkable recordings including collaborations with Flatt & Scruggs Chet Atkins and