First black man I'd ever heard play blues fiddle. (wait a minute
I *still* haven't heard another black man play fiddle blues like
GMB; I'm guessing they're out there somewhere, I just haven't heard them)
I haven't heard of too many blues fiddlers that are still playing at all these days.
Howard Armstrong, whose praises Steve Gardner frequently sings on this list, recorded
a new CD two or three years back. I haven't heard it, but I'll bet it features some
of his blues playing alongside the more pop and raggy-oriented material. He plays a
couple of blues numbers on the "Louie Bluie" soundtrack album. He also recorded two
albums with his string band, Martin, Bogan, and Armstrong, for Flying Fish in the
1970s, both of which were released on one CD. Good stuff. Before that, they recorded
an album for Rounder in 1972 or so. I saw about 50 copies of this one at a charity
record sale in Skokie, IL last fall.
One of Armstrong's buddies in M, B, A, Carl Martin, was recorded in his later years,
playing fiddle along with Sam Chatmon and Walter Vinson on guitars, as the New
Mississippi Sheiks. I believe this also was a Flying Fish release. I haven't heard
or seen this in years, and cannot remember any other details.
Carl Martin, along with blues mandolinist Johnny Young, and guitarists John Lee
Granderson and John Wrencher recorded an album for Testament (ca. 1966?) as the
Chicago String Band. Raw, urban string band blues. This record, with two extra
tracks has been reissued on CD. Check the Hightone catalogue for details.
I mentioned the New Mississippi Sheiks above. Well, the *real* Mississippi Sheiks
were one of the hottest string bands to ever record. Featuring at various times,
Lonnie or Bo Chatman on fiddle, Walter Vincent, Sam Chatman, or Bo Carter (Chatman) on
guitars, much of their material has found it's way onto CD. Probably the best place
to start is the Yazoo release, "Stop and Listen," though I think their entire output
is available on a series of CDs on the Austrian Document label. The song, "Sitting On
Top of the World," was originally recorded by the Sheiks.
Jim Nelson
