The Story
Winner ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for Outstanding Book on MusicReuters calls it one of the wittiest, bawdiest, most fascinating dictionaries ever. Bonnie Raitt adds: What a great resourceas fascinating as it is informative. Debras passion for the blues shines through. Wall Street Journal critic Nat Hentoff says its invaluable, and producer Hal Willner agrees: Its an invaluable reference book. And its also great fun to read.The Language of the Blues is a musthave for fans of blues, jazz, rock and slang. in it, author. rock musician and Huffington Post blogger Debra Devi explores over 150 terms like buffet flat, killing floor, and mojo with fresh insights from her indepth interviews with blues legends like Hubert Sumlin, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Henry Gray, Bob Margolin, Robben Ford, Jimmie Vaughan and more. As a musician myself, not a scholar, Devi explains, I thought I could best make a contribution by talking directly to blues artists about what the words in blues songs mean to them.The result is a lively read Blues Revue deems an essential purchase for scholars and fans. New York Times columnist Shelton Ivany adds, If you have any questions about songs, lyrics, musicians or events, chances are you will find your answers in this unparalleled publication.The Language of the Blues opens with a remarkable foreword by Dr. John, who helped Devi uncover the illegal gambling origins of terms like gig and axe. This new edition includes over 30 stunning photos of legendary blues artists (17 in color).
Description
Winner ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for Outstanding Book on MusicReuters calls it one of the wittiest, bawdiest, most fascinating dictionaries ever. Bonnie Raitt adds: What a great resourceas fascinating as it is informative. Debras passion for the blues shines through. Wall Street Journal critic Nat Hentoff says its invaluable, and producer Hal Willner agrees: Its an invaluable reference book. And its also great fun to read.The Language of the Blues is a musthave for fans of blues, jazz, rock and slang. in it, author. rock musician and Huffington Post blogger Debra Devi explores over 150 terms like buffet flat, killing floor, and mojo with fresh insights from her indepth interviews with blues legends like Hubert Sumlin, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Henry Gray, Bob Margolin, Robben Ford, Jimmie Vaughan and more. As a musician myself, not a scholar, Devi explains, I thought I could best make a contribution by talking directly to blues artists about what the words in blues songs mean to them.The result is a lively read Blues Revue deems an essential purchase for scholars and fans. New York Times columnist Shelton Ivany adds, If you have any questions about songs, lyrics, musicians or events, chances are you will find your answers in this unparalleled publication.The Language of the Blues opens with a remarkable foreword by Dr. John, who helped Devi uncover the illegal gambling origins of terms like gig and axe. This new edition includes over 30 stunning photos of legendary blues artists (17 in color).
