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The blues in its purest form doesn’t require screaming electric guitars, pounding drums and flashing lights. A harmonica, a mandolin, an acoustic guitar, and the kind of singing that has been marinated in three lifetimes of soulful musicmaking is more than enough. Orville Johnson, John Miller, and Grant Dermody are living those lifetimes and playing a style of blues that reaches back to the roots and branches of this vital American music.
All three of these talented musicians have played, studied, and taught others about the country blues for most of their lives and are more excited about it now than ever. The music of the blues masters like Robert Johnson, Tampa Red, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Robert Wilkins springs to life in the hands of these three talented musicians. The people who play this music best are those that love it the most and Grant, John, and Orville illustrate that in every song they play.
They got together to perform a few years ago when all three were on staff at the Port Townsend Blues Workshop and have found occasions to keep doing it though they all maintain busy solo careers as well. And, finally, they’ve taken the time to put together their first release as a trio, recorded live in the studio, in real time, with no studio magic beyond that which they bring to the music, entitled Deceiving Blues.
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Grant Dermody
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To purchase Deceiving Blues online
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Orville Johnson • Grant Dermody • John Miller
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These are our Blues, we sing 'em as we please.
We have been playing this Blues music with each other for close to ten years. Individually, we have been doing it much longer--decades. Like many players, we've attempted to hear and absorb as much as we could from the masters who preceded us. When you work in a style in which so many definitive statements have been made, though, the question arises, "What do you have to add to what's already been said?". The music on Decieving Blues is our answer to that question.
We've shied away from recreations of historic recordings for a number of reasons, but primarily because we're interested in seeing what there is to say in this music now, speaking in our own voices. What speaks to us in this music? A memorable lyric, a strong melody, being right there when you sing, an instrument's wordless moan. We hope that our way of singing and playing these Blues speaks to you.
We would like to thank all the great musicians, both those still living and those who have passed on, who have inspired us and made us want to play this music. Our particular thanks go out to the people who gave us the songs for this CD: Memphis Slim, John Lee Williamson, Huddie Ledbetter, Charlie Patton, Tampa Red, Teddy Darby, Blind Willie Johnson, Henry Thomas, Dr. Isaiah Ross, Richard M. Jones, Son House, and Reverend Gary Davis.
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Orville Johnson John Miller
To purchase Deceiving Blues online
visit http://www.cdbaby.com
or http://elderly.com/recordings/items/ORB1007.htm
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