Cross Road Blues Analysis

In Rita Williams-Garcia’s book, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, the plot revolves around Clayton, who strongly believes in his self-manifested identity, to become a Bluesman. At a young age, Clayton was deeply affected by the death of his grandfather, who he idolized to become. While Clayton’s dismissive mother fails to understand his loss, Clayton ran away from his house to reconcile with the Bluesmen, whom he thought would relate to his grief. The tragic events that Clayton had to face played an imperative aspect on his journey to self-discovery. Even though the author makes Clayton face difficult challenges throughout the story, the struggles helped Clayton attain a sense of self-identity and be at peace with his grandfather’s death.

In James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" is told from Sonny's brother point of view the "narrator." This story is about the hardships of black individuals that faced discrimination, unemployment, etc. The story starts of with the two brothers being separated, one living by himself and one stuck in jail.   As Adorno writes " intramusical tensions are the unconscious phenomena of social tensions" (57).  This article ties in along with its musical form, and its many other forms of social aspects in James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues." In the short story jazz explorers a mutual bond between the "human connection

The poem “Homage to the Empress of the Blues” by Robert E. Hayden, written in 1962, is a tribute to the blues singer Bessie Smith. This poem requires careful reading and attention. This poem is an honor to Bessie Smith, an African American blues singer who was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. I listened to the blues song on YouTube and the rhythm it made me want to sing along but there was definitely a message behind the song I think about African American slaves.

Jazz is a powerful form of art that has influenced the change of music since the beginning of its existence. It has the power to bring different forms of people apart and allows them to not only listen to music, but actually hear it. It also has the power to find new hope when you start to believe that all hope is lost. By showing the suffering of others, jazz can give us perspective on our lives and the lives of others. The film Round Midnight directed by Bertrand Tavernier and Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin are two examples where jazz gives people another chance to rekindle their lives. This is how jazz can affect the lives of the people who hear it.

There are many controversies and interpretations surrounding this novel. Some argue that it is a story about going from invisibility to visibility, from ignorance to enlightenment through the naming of the self and identity (Neighbors). Yet others like Gene Bluestein argue that it is a story that through the blues shows the story of the American identity and equality (Bluestein). I will mostly agree with Bluestein that this novel does show obvious “bluesy” tendencies since it backs my understanding of the novel which is a story, like Neighbors said, about coming “from ignorance to

What is the Blues? In the words of B.B. King, “Blues is a simple music and I’m a simple man” (qtd. in King and Ritz). From its simple and primitive origins, not only has the Blues affected culture throughout the Deep South, but Southern culture has had a strong influence on the creation of the Blues and its musicians.

Evolution of the Delta blues can be seen by identifying specific elements of the Delta Blues in music genres that came after it. Rock ‘n’ Roll for example, is one of the modern genres that still exemplify elements of the Delta Blues. Many rock legends such as the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles were highly inspired by the Delta blues. Regan Wardensky writes, “The goal of both genres is to create music with raw emotion.” (Wardensky, 2012) . A visible aspect of the Delta Blues in Rock n Roll is the lyrics and the extent at which artists use them to express deep emotion. The rolling Stones, sang “Paint it black” with the aim of allowing the audience to look into the life of a troubled fellow who wishes his life was all painted black just like his moods. The Alabama shakes, a modern rock band showcase the same emotion when they sing “Bless my heart, bless my soul. I didn’t think I’d make it to 22 years old.” in “Hold on” Similar sadness can be seen in Robert Johnson’s “Come on to my kitchen” who continuously asks his lover to come back to him. Not surprisingly, Robert Johnson receives credit in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for writing songs that set foundation for rock n roll. Another element of the Delta blues present in Rock n roll is the use of the minor pentatonic

The Miles Davis Quintet was so influential to jazz history because they were able to spontaneously explore changes in temp, mood, and form walked a fine line between hard bop and free jazz that is still used today. The younger member in the quintet also energized Davis so he was playing with such

I was born and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi, an area immersed in a relaxed coastal culture and a vibrant jazz and blues heritage. Gulfport is located right off the Gulf of Mexico and less than an hour from New Orleans, Louisiana. Living near the Gulf, heavily influenced my childhood, I would spend weekends at the beach, and long hours traveling to distant islands far from the coast I called home. The music you would hear at the beach were always from timeless Americana artist; such as, Bob Dylan and Jonny Cash. My parents, not musicians themselves, were infatuated with the music of the late 1980’s from artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Journey. My particular favorite artist from that time period was Queen, and my love for rhapsody

Music absorbs us, devours us, and makes us love every rhythm in its path. Music consumes us, changes us, and create better opportunities for us. That is why I feel that I am going to sequentially introduce the most talented, legendary, Delta Blues musician; Muddy Waters to you. I am going to give you an overview of his life, his accomplishments, and how he has overcome the obstacles in his life in order to have a tremendous impact on the music industry and the genre of Blues.

“Sonny’s blues” takes place in Harlem, an Afro-American neighborhood in New York City. Harlem plays a crucial role in this short story, because it is depicted as place where the narrator and his brother must struggle to escape the hustle and bustle of their own reality. “Sonny’s blues” is

James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blue’s” makes great use of different literary devices throughout the story. The author utilizes conflict, symbolism, and the narrator’s point of view to give the story a deeper meaning and significance to the story. Sonny’s Blue’s is about an older brother’s relationship and differences with his younger brother, Sonny. Sonny’s ambition to become a jazz pianist points him into an opposite direction than his brother, and into a place where the common suffering is handled with drugs and music. The fundamental differences between these two brothers in their lack of understanding for each other and their gradual acceptance of one another, is presented and explained by their personal and social conflicts, what the symbolism casts upon the story,

Charley Patton was the scrawny child of sharecropper parents. In 1900, his family moved 100 miles north to the Delta and the Will Dockery Plantation. There Patton fell under the spell of guitarist Henry Sloan and would follow him to gigs. By 1910, he had become proficient as a performer and songwriter, having already composed "Down The Dirt Road Blues," a slow drag called "Banty Rooster Blues," and his theme song "Pony

The harmony in the musical piece helps connects each stanza to the next with minimal repetition. The intro to the piece helps the reader understand the theme of the piece. The listener can see how Brakeman’s Blues discusses a man who is carefree and Chris Thile thoroughly explains it with lyrics by discussing the man’s adventure. The song incorporates the AAB pattern, which typical Blues songs contain. This song being Blues would mean that there is variation in rhyming between each lyric. The first two rhyme and the last doesn’t follow the same pattern. Something both sides can agree on is that this song works as a piece of art because it contains unique timbre.

Close your eyes and try to imagine a melding the history of the Irish and Scottish tunes, of the twang of country music, and the reverence of a gospel message. Enter a touch of the blues and the spirit of generations who played music to express themselves with this unique genre of music. Each of these components brought with it instruments steeped with tradition. Country music built the foundation with the guitar and bass guitar, the Scottish and Irish influences added the mandolin. The Africa American 2/4 beat contributes the banjo and the washboard adds the finishing folk music touch. This church type music combined with the blues is speaks from the soul. The expressive melodies based on simple tunes and intricate harmonies create a