Country/Gospel influenced music

[bobetterblues]

I was wondering if anyone had some recommendations for me.

I'm looking for some music to work on and practice in the country vein.

A good example of what I'm looking for is Ray Charles' country album. I know Bill Frisell has done some work in this vein but I'm not sure what albums would be best. Gram Parsons wrote some good gospel influenced stuff as well. Also, I know that one of Elvis' guitar players had a very cool soloing style.....hopefully there would be some piano playing on whatever it is

As many of you know I'm a piano player and I'm basically looking to study. I want to transcribe some cool solos, maybe learn some tunes, cop some changes etc. I know the basics, but I'm looking to expand.

Help me out oh wonderful music buffs!

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Floyd Crammer...piano. On a lot/most of the Elvis/Ev's sessions

And check out Doc Watson...OK, guitar, but as Dylan said "His fingers were like wine"

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

It's too late at night to get me started on something like this, Bo! I still have work to do!! I'll have to get back to this later.

But for starters:

An extremely cool honky-tonk piano player was Moon Mullican --check him out for sure!!

A GREAT country/gospel group was the quintessential close harmony duo, The Louvin Brothers. (You'll immediately see where the Everly Brothers found their sound!) Best all 'round collection is "When I Stop Dreaming" on Rhino. Ira and Charlie played mandolin and guitar.

Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, of course, and start with the Tiffany Transciptions, vol. 3. The Tiffany Transcriptions band was a later and better version of the group, and this album features them at their jazziest. "The little man with the mustache on piano: Kelso! Ahh-Hahhh!!"

Their modern counterpart is Asleep At The Wheel, and the best of their many fine albums is their first Tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.

George Strait's first two greatest hits albums have a half-dozen western swing modern classics on them. Some great songs there!

Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant -- Stratosphere Boogie (country BeBop from the 1950s by two master musicians -- these guys will blow your mind!)

George Jones for some Grade A heartbreakers, several of which feature piano prominently. (The Grand Tour)


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For modern jazz versions of country:

Tom Varner -- The Window Up Above (The title of a George Jones song. Daring, brilliant, and beautifully played versions of old American hymns, folk songs, and country tunes. A gem of an album!!)

Joel Harrison -- Free Country (As the title says. Uri Caine on piano will interest you. Norah Jones' version of Tennesse Waltz on this is the best thing I've heard by her. Not as consistently fine as Varner's album, but still highly recommended for country/jazz.)

And Matt Wilson, with some inspired help from Dewey Redman, does a bitchin' version of "Sweet Betsy From Pike" on his album "As Wave Follows Wave."

Junk Genius does a kind of folk-mode jazz on "The Ghost of Electricity," which probably has little to do with what you're looking for but since I've diverted this much of my time here I may as well plug a great record.

Tin Hat Trio's "Rodeo Eroded" has Willy Nelson, a Frisell Country/tribute cut, and several other western tinged pieces.

Frisell's main country album I suppose was 'Nashville,' which wasn't all that good an album. But there's plenty of Americana on his GREAT album "Have A Little Faith."

[Richardo Caerleoni]

The Louvin Brothers ! ...Who I have only discovered in the last year....Bloody amazing, and yes, very "Evs"

I hate country music...the one/only thing I agree with Buddy Rich was when he was dying he said, " Well at least there will be no more F. country music!"

But the Evs and Hank Williams ?...Fool for that!

Besta...RC.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Here's a specific song for you, Bo. This is a country song with a heavy gospel influence that's already right on the edge of breaking out into a kind of celebratory jazz:

Last Time I Saw Him -- Dottie West

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Darol Anger leads an all-star ensemble on a fabulously good album of traditional tunes titled "Heritage" -- beautifully arranged and played, a neglected masterpiece, I think.

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[bobetterblues]

Yes! Thanks guys!

Although, now I'm already feeling overwhelmed! Where to start?

RC,

When you say "evs" you mean Elvis right?

I haven't even heard enough everly Brothers, although recently a friend of mine has been making mixes for me and a song of theirs is always on there and usually one of my favorites of the mix.

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Originally Posted by bobetterblues

Yes! Thanks guys!

Although, now I'm already feeling overwhelmed! Where to start?

RC,

When you say "evs" you mean Elvis right?

I haven't even heard enough everly Brothers, although recently a friend of mine has been making mixes for me and a song of theirs is always on there and usually one of my favorites of the mix.

Not quite, BBB...Elvis fine, but the Everlys were something special...and as SD Steve said, out of the Louvin Bros...

When I was about 15 I went on a school trip to Austria/Germany ...And I bought a rare EP (remember them!) of the Ev's ...Nashville Bues... "My baby just left for Nashville...etc. "! I bought it for my first REAL girlfriend...(Tessa Williams - I can see her now) who then dumped me two months later and lifted all my records...Damn!

That's why I became bitter and twisted and listened to Monk!

The rest is.........JAZZ!

RC.

[Bluebrew]

In the Jazz vein both Horace Silver and Mose Allison have been to church.

[stonemonkts]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

For modern jazz versions of country:

Tom Varner -- The Window Up Above (The title of a George Jones song. Daring, brilliant, and beautifully played versions of old American hymns, folk songs, and country tunes. A gem of an album!!)

I'd like to second this choice. That CD is a favorite of mine. A gem indeed. One of the most ingenious examples of track sequencing I've ever heard too.