Faculty members create a list of essential blues recordings.

October 31, 2003

The list was compiled from thousands of blues recordings dating back to the early part of the 20th century. The list spans the earliest releases of Bessie Smith to such modern marvels as Buddy Guy and is arranged historically by the era in which the artist worked.

To evaluate almost a century of blues recordings, Berklee faculty used a number of criteria. First and foremost, each faculty member contributed suggestions of recordings that were important for their wide influence. Certain selections were unanimous, such as B.B. King’s Live at the Regal and Robert Johnson's The Complete Recordings. Others reflected a general consensus, and a box set or collection was selected to encompass an artist's body of work and introduce listeners to the musician at his or her best.

Chair of Harmony Barbara London and Associate Professor of Harmony Bruce Katz teach a course on Blues Analysis and Application at Berklee. "To winnow the amazingly long list of blues artists and CDs is the same challenge that Bruce Katz and I face in our blues class: there are so many people who have made important contributions."

"Along with analysis of early blues forms, harmonic and melodic tendencies, and polyrhythmic effects, we discuss the African roots and American beginnings of the blues as it evolved in different styles and regions," London said about the blues analysis course. "Early Delta musicians like Charlie Patton and Son House influenced Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, respectively, who themselves started in the Delta and moved to Chicago. In East Texas, Blind Lemon Jefferson influenced T-Bone Walker, who went west to California."

Another Berklee faculty member who played a key role in developing the list is guitar bluesman and Berklee Professor of Contemporary Writing and Production Robert Doezema. He says that any musician who listens to and studies the blues is taking a key step in forming a musical foundation.

"Teaching the blues is central to the study of melody, harmony, musical form, and improvisation," Doezema said. "Most importantly, the study of the blues is the study of the great musicians who made it. Each had their own unique musical voice, born from a lifetime of passion and resolve. With this list, we hope to share some of the artists that helped to make the blues one of the most enduring and important musical styles."

Contributing their input on this list were Berklee faculty Robert Doezema, Kenwood Dennard, Bruce Katz, Alizon Lissance, Barbara London, Danny Morris, Ralph Rosen, and Michael Williams. These faculty are among not only the world's most accomplished contemporary music educators, but are outstanding performers in their own right.

Thirty Essential Blues Recordings

Links of Interest
•	Baby, Please Don't Go: A Night of the Blues
•	Songwriting Department
•	Events at Berklee