Blues break: Mississippi Fred McDowell - "All The Way From East St. Louis"

Another fine performance by a blues master. I had the great good fortune of seeing him at work in Portland in 1972, a few months before he died at the age of 68.

Lucinda Williams: "Joy"

Though I'm not a big fan of Lucinda Williams, she and her band really nail this version of "Joy" (especially in the transition around 6:40).  If I had the ability to play electric blues guitar (and I don't), I'd want it to sound a lot like this -- especially like the young guy to the right (whose name I'd look up if I were less lazy).  The lyrics are, to say the least, "uncomplicated," but still...

More blues from Mali: Tinariwen's Cler Achel

More splendid blues from Mali, with many thanks to Michael Durkan, my ethnomusicological guru. (Sorry for the poor fit on the page -- I need another format for widescreen videos.)

Blues Break: Toumani Diabate - 'Elyne Road'

The legendary Toumani Diabate plays his kora at the 43rd Cambridge Folk Festival in 2007. The song appears as the second track on his latest album, Mandé Variations (2008).

Lighnin Hopkins: "Lonesome Road"

This video was apparently made in 1960. For another fine Hopkins performance, and more information about the artist, check out "Questionnaire Blues" here.

Blues Break: Greg Allman - "Come and Go Blues"

Greg Allman gets in some fine blues licks and vocals during an apparent break (due to "technical problems") in a studio recording session. (Or is it all staged?) The guitar is in open G tuning (DGDGBD).

Blues Break: Mance Lipscomb - "Jack of Spades"

The great Mance Lipscomb (1895-1976) on slide guitar as it should be played: with a jackknife. Lipscomb, born in Navasota, Texas, was the son of a former slave and a mother who was part Choctaw. "Mance" is short for "emancipation."

Blues Break: Rory Gallagher - "Bullfrog Blues"

The indefatigable Irishman Rory Gallagher (1948-95) redlines at 9,000 RPM and mixes it up with the crowd at a 1980 concert in France.

Blues Break: Dire Straits - "You And Your Friend"

Mark Knopfler casts a spell, and displays his inimitable talent, during a performance in (most likely) Nîmes, in the south of France, during the mid-90's or so. The song first appeared on the album "On Every Street" (1991).

Blues Break: B.B. King and Tracy Chapman - "The Thrill is Gone"

B.B. King and Tracy Chapman team up to sing King's classic back in 1997.

Blues Break: Elliott Smith - "Angeles"

Elliott Smith's double album, New Moon, is out today. It's a powerful piece of work, as good as anything that Elliott has done. He was such a prolific songwriter and musician that only 3 of its 24 songs, all accompanied by Elliott's acoustic guitar, have previously been released. It's engineered by Larry Crane, who developed Jackpot Studios in Portland with Elliott in 1997. The songs were recorded between 1994 and 1997. As they've done in the past, Elliott's family will donate a portion of the proceeds to Outside In, a free clinic in Portland for low-income adults and homeless young people.

The Lucky Three video was made by Elliott and Jem Cohen in 1996, two years before Elliott's Oscar nomination for Miss Misery. Filmed in Portland, it was the first video of Elliott's solo career.

On a personal note, I'm proud to claim Elliott—and his wonderful family in Portland, New York and Minnesota—as friends. He is loved and dearly missed by all of us and by his legions of fans around the world.

The people you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still

—Elliott Smith, Between the Bars (from Either/Or, 1997)

Blues Break: Jim Hendrix - "Voodoo Child"

Hendrix and The Experience perform "Voodoo Child" on the BBC in 1969. Hardcore fans of this classic (also listed as "Voodoo Chile" in some versions) will also appreciate the late Stevie Ray Vaughan's cover.

Blues Break: NIN travels to Mars - "Sunspots"

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover makes its way across the solar system, accompanied by Nine Inch Nails'/Trent Reznor's "Sunspots." Outstanding animation by Daniel Maas.

Blues Break: Iron & Wine - "Naked as We Came"

Maybe it's not blues, strictly speaking, but this fine song by Sam and Sarah Beam deserves a larger audience. I&W's next album, Shepherd's Dog, will be released on September 25th. My son assures me that their performance was the highlight of last spring's Sasquatch festival in Washington State.

Blues Break: Joan Baez & Bob Dylan - "Railroad Boy"

From the Rolling Thunder Revue tour (1976), this song is based on a 1928 recording by banjoist Buell Kazee. [The audio skips a bit, so rent the DVD for good quality and some fine performances by these two artists.]

Blues Break: John Lee Hooker And Bonnie Raitt - "I'm in the Mood"

This fine version of the classic also demonstrates Raitt's talent as a slide guitarist.

Blues Break: Keb Mo and Corey Harris - "Sweet Home Chicago"

Keb Mo (born Kevin Moore in Los Angeles) and Corey Harris perform a fine duet version of this classic. Corey Harris distinguished himself in "Feel Like Going Home," directed by Martin Scorcese. This documentary is one of seven installments in 2003 PBS series called "The Blues." Harris demonstrates that he's a capable anthropologist as well as a fine blues musician.

Blues Break: Bettye LaVette - "Joy"

The great soul singer Bettye LaVette covers Lucida Williams' "Joy" at a concert in The Netherlands. For a much better audio version, plus an interview and more of her music, visit NPR's American Routes for March 11, 2007. (To go directly to "Joy," start the audio at 10:00 minutes.)

Blues Break: Lightnin' Hopkins - "Questionnaire Blues"

Texas bluesman Sam (Lightnin') Hopkins (1912-82) grew up in rural Texas but spent his later years in Houston. He was a protege of Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Blues Break: Mississippi Fred McDowell's 'Goin' Down to the River'

Fred McDowell (1904-72) was one of the finest Delta blues vocalists and guitar players--on both acoustic and electric. (And he offers a nice break from politics.) Fred lived the blues, and you get a hint of that on his face at the very end of this fine song. I saw him in Portland (the Upper Left Coast version) in a powerful performance just a year before his death.