Awhile ago, someone lamented that there seemed to be fewer music diaries. I agreed, but I am a procrastinator. Today, I finally contribute!
I have varied and eclectic musical tastes. My exposure and preferences are a time progression so I will walk through and try to highlight important milestones.
I cam of age during the hazy days of 70's FM radio. There were more locally owned stations and regional music. I grew up in the Pittsburgh area and the music reflected the working class roots. We had a couple of public radio stations that focused on Jazz and Blues. We also had a hard rock station and a free form FM station that playing a smorgasbord of newer stuff.
Like most adolescent males, I was attracted to the fast and hard stuff. Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Ten Years After and a multitude of rock n' roll acts.
My break out experience was the evening I saw Roy Buchanan. I have been a blues man ever since.
I was still young and impressionable. I worked with a guy just a few years older who was into fusion. He turned me onto The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Larry Coryell and other fusion artists.
I turned into a vinyl junkie and would scour record stores for new stuff. New to me that is. I took a deep dive into the roots of the music. After all, Led Zeppelin didn't invent rock n' roll.
I never lost my affinity for rock or the blues. One day in 1983, rock and blues converged is a most magical way.
I found a group of kindred spirits. A group of us started going to The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It was love at first bite, sight and sound.
New Orleans and the music! It helped me stay current and appreciate the next generation.
Where did those guys get that sound?
There is a whole world of music out there. Bombino played Jazzfest this year.
I'll be back with more. I can't promise it will be any more coherent than this rambling screed.