Young Bluesman from Maine
Samuel James is a throwback ? an original bluesman, a songster and a monster guitar player. Just 30 years old, he would have fit in with musicians of the 1930s, ?40s or ?50s. He does play the blues standard on occasion, but it?s a custom version ? his own. And his compositions tell stories. Just one song might include infidelity, humor, murder and the KKK. Sound like the old ballads?
Samuel?s grandfather played blues guitar in the songster era. Samuel learned his way around the piano as a kid from his dad ? a professional pianist and trombonist. A tap dancer at five and professional performer by 12, Samuel lived in foster homes after his mother died. The story goes that a youthful broken heart sent him to recuperate in Ireland, but lacking funds for the return trip, he took to busking ? and learned harmonica as he earned his fare home. Once back home in Maine ? oh yes, that hotbed of the blues, Maine ? Samuel decided to try making a living at music, and threw himself into mastering the guitar (both fingerstyle and slide), also banjo, harmonica and piano.
He mastered them, all right, and reviewers call him ?extraordinarily talented.? His stories are described as ?novels in musical format: O Henry meets Mose Allison.? He thinks of his music as intimate and conversational ? in pre-war blues terms ? and believes in the power of the acoustic performance. Samuel?s take on Piedmont blues is truly engaging, and his slide guitar work generates significant electricity. His voice wraps around the lyrics, and the foot keeps time.
You probably haven?t heard or seen Samuel James. You?ll be telling others about him once you?ve experienced this fine entertainer on our March program ? at 8 pm on Saturday, March 5, at the Washington Ethical Society Auditorium, 7750 16th St., NW, Washington, DC 20012; General admission is $15, free to members.
