Students get a lesson in the Blues Joe Bonamassa

Jan. 31, 2007

At age 29 blues guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa hardly seems qualified to be an instructor in the Blues In The Schools program created by the Blues Foundation. The program has blues legends giving in-school seminars about the history of the blues while they are touring the country. Virtually a kid himself, one must wonder what credentials a white kid from upstate New York could possibly have to pass on and educate a younger generation of music lovers on a music form created by African-Americans in the early 1900’s.
Yet Joe Bonamassa will come to Traverse City February 2 and host several area middle and high school students at the Milliken Auditorium. Later that evening he will present his knowledge of the blues during a concert for those lucky enough to obtain a ticket.
Now back to Bonamassa’s credentials. On the surface it just seems wrong. Kids ought to be hearing about the blues from the legends – people like BB King, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland or Buddy Guy. The problem is that most, but not all, kids probably wouldn’t listen to some old guy talk about the music form, even though it is at the root of the music they are listening to today. They probably wouldn’t want to hear about the sacrifices these great blues legends made so future generations of African-American musicians would have the opportunities they have today in the music industry.
Whether it is The Who, The Rolling Stones, Kid Rock or Jay-Z, and everyone else inbetween they all owe their success to the blues. Most first and second generation rockers and rappers know that, but what about the under 30 year old musicians, do they know it? Kids today don’t know about eight tracks and records, and their kids won’t know about CDs so it is hard to expect that they would know who Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker were.
So Bonamassa is the right cat for the job: his youthfulness gives him an automatic in. It’s too bad more musicians out there are not willing to take the time to give kids today a music history lesson, because a lot of them think Britney Spears invented music.
Despite his age, Joe Bonamassa has 25 years experience playing the guitar. He began playing at the age of four – his father was a guitar dealer – and by age 10 he was performing at local clubs. Then BB King came to town and he was asked to open for King. BB King is one of the most gracious artists on the circuit. Despite his legendary status, he takes time to listen to his opening acts and reflected on hearing Bonamassa play for the first time.
“I remember telling people at that time he was one of a kind,” said King. “I don’t remember how old he was, maybe 11, but you could tell then he was going to be something special.”
King was right. Bonamassa has been a regular (opening act) for King for
years, and played this summer at Interlochen during King’s 80th Birthday Celebration Tour.
Bonamassa hit it big while still in high school (14 years old). He met Berry Oakley, Jr. (son of Berry Oakley, the founding bass player of the Allman Brothers), and they put together the group Bloodline. The group featured Waylon Krieger, son of Robby Kireger of the Doors, and Erin Davis son of the great Myles Davis. They signed to EMI Records; their self-titled debut CD produced two chart hits, “Stone Cold Hearted” and “Dixie Peach,” both hard-driving fusions of blues, boogie, funk, and southern roadhouse rock. After six years, Bloodline eventually disbanded and Bonamassa began a solo career.
After three years of doing the Blues In The School program, does Bonamassa think it is making an impact?
“I think so. Sure there are kids who could care less. But most kids are into music, and when you show them a connection to their musical taste with the blues, some sit up and take notice,” said Bonamassa. “I figured everyone should know who Robert Johnson is, why Muddy Waters is important and how the Rolling Stones got their name. It’s cool when they figure out that Led Zeppelin and Willie Dixon and Robert Johnson all have something in common.” After his presentation Bonamassa will perform a concert for the students.
While Bonamassa is helping to carry the blues torch to the younger generation, in the classroom, he tutors the older generation at night school.
His simple lesson in each performance is that this art form known as the blues, is alive and well.
He is a wizard at the guitar and a master of blending legendary guitar riffs together. Bonamassa also knows the heritage of blues music. It’s not about duplication, it is about interpretation. A great example of this is on his current CD, “You & Me,” with his blistering rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Tea For One,” where Bonamassa doesn’t try to imitate the legendary Jimmy Page, but instead presents his virtuoso version of the song.
His CD, “You & Me,” features drummer Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer – the late John Bonham, and bass player Carmine Rojas – longtime Rod Stewart bass player. On the road, bassist Mark Epstein of Johnny Winters Band and drummer Bogie Bowles of Kenny Wayne Sheppard join Bonamassa.
So does Bonamassa have any problems calling himself a blues guy when he finds himself rockin’ out on stage, often performing classic rock tunes by Jethro Tull, Free, Led Zeppelin and others?
“No, its like I tell the kids, you have to be different. You can’t play the same old shit. Well I don’t say that, but you know what I mean,” said Bonamassa. “Even the blues purists tell you that. I like to mix it up. Too many guys take the minimilaist approach. It is the road so many go down, and we have heard it all before. I think people want to hear something different. I am proud to be in the blues category. A lot of guys like Clapton are blues guys. At the end of the day, all of this starts with the blues.”
Joe Bonamassa is a breath of fresh air on the music scene of today. He is humble; he lets his guitar speak for his talents. He spends his days sharing the heritage of the music that is the foundation for rock and roll. At night, as he takes the stage, picks up his guitar and begins to play, it is as if the spirits of Johnson, Waters, Hooker and Hendrix have bestowed their gifts upon him.

Tickets have long been sold out, but
Milliken Auditorium has a waiting list at (231) 995-1553 if you would like to try and get tickets. Of course you could try to convince the school that you were one credit short and didn’t really deserve to graduate, and that you will make up the credit by attending Joe Bonamassa’s Blues In The Schools Presentation. Hey, this is the blues – it’s worth a try.