American Music

[Independent Gal]

As DH and I embark on our new "See America" mission, we''ve decided to explore American music beyond the realm of rock and pop too "Hear America!" (if you will).

Our latest discovery is the American contemporary composer John Adams. I think his opera "Nixon in China" is one of the great operas of the 20th century. It''s musically and psychologically brilliant. Wow!

Share your musical discoveries: the unexpected and great hidden gems of American musical culture... folk, classical, bluegrass, anything... things we''ve never heard of! Share them with us.

 

[ladypirate]

For me, the ultimate American music is Jazz--far too deep a subject to get into in one post, but if you haven't explored the genre, that's a great place to start!

I'd start with some of the "birth of jazz" stuff--early Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Art Tatum, Bix Beiderbecke, Fats Waller, etc. (too many to list--I'm sure if you google it, you'll get a great sampling of artists to start with) and move on from there.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I love ALL kind of music. I know people SAY that, but I''m saying it and MEANING it. Seriously, I''d listen to Gregorian chant if it''s all I had.

I particularly love music that has soul--the kind of music where you an really feel what the composer was creating in a way that is raw and unsophisticated. I think that''s why Bluegrass and Zydeco music are appealing to me. I love that it''s the kind of music that was passed down through generations.

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 5/21/2008 4:12:28 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
I love ALL kind of music. I know people SAY that, but I''m saying it and MEANING it. Seriously, I''d listen to Gregorian chant if it''s all I had.

I particularly love music that has soul--the kind of music where you an really feel what the composer was creating in a way that is raw and unsophisticated. I think that''s why Bluegrass and Zydeco music are appealing to me. I love that it''s the kind of music that was passed down through generations.

Bluegrass is great! I''m with you--I''ll listen to just about anything, which drives my musically finicky SO nuts.

 

[Independent Gal]

We listen to lots of jazz, but I''ve never heard Bix Beiderbecke... so that''s our next stop!

In terms of Zydeco and Bluegrass, any particular artists?

By the way, I think Tom Waits is one of the great gems of distinctively AMERICAN music too. "9th & Hennepin" summons a musical landscape as vivid and American as any.

 

[sumbride]

How about Ragtime? Scott Joplin (of The Entertainer fame) is from my hometown, Texarkana, and I always thought that was a nifty bit of trivia.

 

[Independent Gal]

Funny you should mention that, Summer, cause I have my new CD of "Nixon in China" on right now, and this chorus has a decidedly ragtime feel.

When it comes to music, what goes around comes around!

I''ve heard Scott Joplin, long ago, but I haven''t properly LISTENED, if you know what I mean. So that''s going on the list too! Thanks! And we''ll toast your hometown while we listen.

Do you know anything about the roots of that music?

 

[sumbride]

I really only know what Wiki knows: Ragtime but I like what I''ve heard. I used to have The Entertainer as my ringtone on my cell phone, and it always pepped me up a bit. It is a precursor to jazz and seems to be an impromptu type of music, much like jazz. It makes you want to get up and dance though.

 

[princesss]

I really like Old Crow Medicine Show. It''s old-time, banjo and fiddle music with a real twang to it. Now, 5 years ago I would have died if somebody said I''d be recommending it, but it''s really cool to listen to. ("Wagon Wheel" is my favourite song at the moment, but mostly because I just moved further south into NC and it makes me happy.)

 

[Elmorton]

Bluegrass/folk...when I hear it, I swear I feel a connection to my ancestors, dirt floors, log homes and all. Blues is my second favorite American genre. And, you can't get on the pulse of today's American music without gospel. No good picks for that genre, but I'm sure iTunes would get you in the right direction.

Also - if there were a sampler of American music, I think that Latin music should also be included - like Selena, Gloria Estefan, Santana. Even though the roots didn't begin here, they're definitely a part of the tapestry of American music.

My picks:
Alison Krauss - I love her voice. Alison Krauss and Union Station Live is a great album.
Dixie Chicks - modern country with bluegrass roots - Taking the Long Way is literally my favorite album on earth. I can go months without taking that CD out of my car.
Another great CD - Heartland: An Appalachian Anthology by Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Yo-Yo Ma, Stephen Foster
If you want to go instrumental, Appalachian Waltz by Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer is an amazing CD from a few years back



Do you listen to NPR? A fun sampler very American music can be found between acts on Prairie Home Companion.

ETA: Hey, I live in Bix Beiderbecke's hometown!!! In July there's a big race (not sure how that connects to jazz) named after him and music festivals.

 

[somethingshiny]

I second Elmorton''s Alison Krauss recommendation. She has a pure clean voice and great lyrics. Bill Monroe is the grandfather of bluegrass, so you should try any of his albums, I''d suggest a collection of hits.

I''d also suggest any of the "war time" music. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was like an anthem at one time. "Oh, Johnny" is another great song. Those are both by the Andrews Sisters.

Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra are all classic American of course.

Country music is vast and varied anymore, but it''s my favorite. Old Roger Miller has great lyrics--"You can''t rollerskate in a buffalo herd", Hank Williams is very twangy, Patsy Cline sung for the era, Loretta Lynn was raised in "Butcher Hollar" and has been singing about it ever since, Dolly Parton was told she wasn''t good enough to sing. The Outlaws of Country-Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson have records based in political statement and good timin''. George Strait is the King of Country, Garth Brooks has a huge fan base, and the newer guys like Gary Allan, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban have phenomenal guitar skills that add a rock edge.

So, that''s a lot to take in if you aren''t familiar with some of it already, but I think it''s all great American Music.

 

[ksinger]

Well, maybe someone has heard them, but I usually find I''m the only one....anyone heard the 2 album wonders that were The October Project?
Tight vocal harmonies, complicated rhythms, poetic lyrics...kinda folky, kinda not. Hard to categorize. A very unique sound, made more distinctive by the vocals of Mary Fahl. Albums came out around 93/94. I still love their stuff, and was crushed when they broke up.

And Eva Cassidy. God, what a loss to the music world when she died so young...

 

[Octavia]

I second Appalachian Waltz, those guys are fantastic. Also, I have to admit a bias because these guys are our friends, but if you like instrumental music Time For Three are an amazing instrumental group -- they''re classically trained musicians but their trio plays a really fun mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz, and lots of other influences. A lot of their music is based on traditional tunes, but arranged for their own style.

As for jazz, Beyond the Missouri Sky, with Charlie Haden and Pat Methany, is a great album. Actually, pretty much anything I''ve heard with Pat Methany is good. John Patatucci and Christian MacBride are great contemporary jazz bassists, and The Yellowjackets and Spiro Gyra are both amazing in concert and very good on disc.

I''ll be thinking of more...looking forward to reading everyone else''s recommendations!

 

[mimzy]

it''s not for the faint of heart, but i''d recommend the film American Hardcore if you are interested in something totally new. it''s not something everyone can stomach, but it''s an awesome look at some majorly influential bands that didn''t exactly make it into casey casume''s (sp?) top twenty (black flag, minor threat, etc) but were part of a HUGE movement back in the eighties that spurred a lot of cultural phenomena that is still seen all the time today