Customer Reviews

Blowing the Blues: Fifty Years Playing the British Blues

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Most blues guides focus on American blues music: Dick Heckstall-Smith and Pete Grant's Blowing The Blues covers fifty years of playing British blues, includes cd with previously unreleased tracks, and provides insights into blues saxophone to accompany a blend of autobiography and British blues history. Add cartoons by Biff making comments on the life of a blues musician and you have a honest survey of the music scene of the British blues world.

This is a unique first-hand account of the birth of a genre of music and the birth (and subsequent demise) of two of the genre's flaming stars: The Graham Bond ORGANisation and Colosseum. Along the way we hear tales of many other musicians of the time, such as John Mayall, various early 'jazzers', Jimi Hendrix and more. As if that wasn't enough we also get the pre- and post-story of the author's development as a musician and a deep-thinking person. It's all told with an entertaining anecdotal-based ease that belies the often deep insights at work throughout the book (see the section devoted to Graham Bond and the causes of addiction for example). A great read and highly recommended. AND it comes with a cd with seven previously unreleased tracks, many from DHS's own in-situ live recordings. Thanks and kudos to Clear Books in the UK for re-issuing this valuable piece of writing (the original book was what is now the first part of this release, a book titled 'The Safest Place In The World') in such a great package.

Anyone remotely familiar with the British blues scene of the 60s and 70s will have heard Dick Heckstall-Smith, whether you are aware of his name or not. I'm halfway through this book and...what a treat! In his own words, Dick recounts his personal history as a musician growing up in the British Jazz scene of the 50s and the blues rock period of the 60s and beyond. In the process, he writes a veritable history of the British blues. Why? Because he was present during many of the key episodes of that history. In addition to his musical insight, DHS shares some stories of the road which sound so impossible that they just have to be true. Standouts are the tale of the "homemade stew", Jack Bruce's introduction to him and Ginger Baker's attempt to drive in a blinding snowstorm. The tales of his tenure in the Graham Bond ORGANization are worth the price of admission alone. DHS was a wonderful musician, inquisitive human being and a true ambassador of the British jazz/blues scene. This is a must read book. Rest in peace Dick.

Dick Heckstall-Smith was an amazing sax player, but after reading Blowing The Blues, I came away with the impression he was an interesting, funny guy. It's almost tragic how overlooked he is as a musician, but his "warts and all" explanation of his career, as well as the material added by Pete Grant, spells out what can go right and wrong in the world of music. For any fan of DHS or Colosseum, it's a nice view inside and behind the scenes.

Plenty about early UK blues and jazz. Lots of famous names and those not so famous. DHS was , per the recorded evidence, one of the greatest ensemble and backup saxes ever. This is exactly what a vocalist or band leader wants. Read the book and see what is meant by "playing for the song," or "make the singer happy." Then buy the Graham Bond stuff.