|
ARW
What are your first musical memories?
JB When I was six I was taken to a couple of huge gigs, Paul
McCartney at Earls Court in London and then the Beach Boys at Warwick Castle. At
home there was always music and a guitar, and I watched my Dad's bands
frequently.
ARW
Have you always wanted to become a musician?
JB Since I realised that I'd have to do something to
eventually earn a living being a musician seemed like a good idea.
ARW
How did you get started in music?
JB I found an old Jedson Telecaster copy in the loft which
belonged to my dad. He said I could have it, and when I could play ten chords
... and change them quickly and smoothly he'd buy me a decent guitar. About a
week later I played the chords and we went and bought a better Strat copy.
ARW
Tell me about your musical journey so far.
JB I started out learning the drums at school, and later got
into the guitar. I had lessons at school and passed exams up to grade 8 on the
guitar, (I'm doing the grade 8 drums later this year) At Primary school I was in
a band and we played some bluesy stuff at assemblies etc. Later I auditioned for
the Warwickshire County Rock band, Red Kyte and played with them until earlier
this year. Along the way I was lucky enough to play with some professional
musicians and learn a few tricks. Playing with Dave Kelly encouraged me to try
some solo work, and I have performed around 100 gigs so far plus lots of great
festivals including The Upton Blues Festival , The Gloucester Rhythm and Blues
festival and The Acoustic Festival of Britain. I also sit in with other bands
whenever to chance comes up.
ARW
Who are your favourite blues artists (both old and new)?
JB My favourite blues artists range from the early Piedmont
and Delta players such as Blind Blake, Rev Gary Davis, Charley Patton, Blind
Willie McTell, and Leadbelly, through to '60s folk artists such as Bert Jansch,
Davy Graham, Paul Geremia, Roy Book Binder. Electric players such as BB King,
Albert King, Albert Lee, Otis Rush, and Sonny Landreth are also favourites of
mine.
ARW
Who has influenced you the most in your playing?
JB I guess the biggest influence in acoustic playing is Paul
Geremia because of his great rack harmonica playing, six and twelve string
finger picking.... and his great songs and interpretations of old songs.
ARW
What first attracted you to the blues?
JB It's the feel of the songs and the great differences in
styles each individual player can have, the history and the evolution of the
style into so much great music
ARW
What was the best blues album you ever had?
It's probably
"Ragtime Guitar" by Rev Gary Davis on Kicking Mule records... (It's a vinyl LP!)
ARW
What is your favourite instrument?
JB Right now it's probably my Fender Telecaster '52 re-issue.
ARW
Are there any particular songs that you play that have special meaning to you?
JB "Anji" by the late Davy Graham. It turned out that the
first night I played it live at a show was the night he died. I also always
enjoy playing ragtime blues numbers such as "West Coast Blues" and "Long Tall
Mama".
ARW
You had a session with The Blues Band last year, tell me more about it.
JB After writing to Paul Jones, he phoned up on my 14th
birthday and invited me to the gig in Stratford. He said to bring the Tele! When
I arrived he wasn't there, but Dave Kelly and the others made me welcome and
invited me to join in at the sound check. We watched the band work up the crowd,
then Paul invited me up to the stage with these words, "This is a song I
recorded with Eric Clapton... so no pressure Jack!" We launched into "I want to
know" the Otis Rush number. I took a couple of solos and it went down really
well. In the second half of the evening I was invited up again and stayed on for
about six more songs including "Walkin' to New Orleans" and "Slippin' and
Sliding". It was a great experience. Dave Kelly invited me to play with him at
the Upton Blues Festival later in the year which was also a fantastic
opportunity.
ARW
You have some forthcoming gigs in Clarksdale, USA, how did these come about?
JB We've travelled in the States a lot, and decided this time
to go down to the South - from Atlanta down to New Orleans and up the
Mississippi to Clarksdale and then Memphis. We contacted WROX radio in
Clarksdale who were keen for me to go and play some blues. We also got in touch
with the people at the Shack Up Inn who also run the Juke Joint Chapel also in
Clarksdale and they offered me a gig. Then we looked at the Hopson Commissary
website and contacted them successfully for another gig!
ARW
How do you see the future of blues music?
JB There are a lot of people playing some solid blues-rock in
the spirit of SRV and Hendrix, but it would be great to see more young
guitarists playing the early '20s and '30s acoustic blues and expanding on that.
ARW
What are your future plans / gigs / tours / albums?
JB I have got lots of gigs and festivals lined up and often it
feels like I'm on tour, especially when I do four or five gigs in a row during
school holiday times. I'm really keen to record an album of my songs, alongside
some interpretations of obscure and some better known acoustic blues. I'm also
doing a lot of local and community radio and would love a slot on national radio
(and also on Later!). However I also have to bear in mind that I need to pass my
school exams simultaneously!
ARW
Thank you Jack, I really appreciate your time.
Alan White - earlyblues.com
www.jackblackman.com
Return to
Blues Interviews List
Website, Photos & Text © Copyright 2000-2009 Alan
White. All Rights Reserved.
For further information please email:
alan.white@earlyblues.com
|
