Clarksdale, MS - Birthplace of North American Blues Music

As I dipped my fingers in the "Big Muddy" (as the Mississippi River is called here) catfish and turtles swimmin' I realized that I am in the Delta!  I think I'm in shock and awe to realize this dream.  There is no reading or writing or singing that can replace actually being here.  Just think...I ate fried green tomatoes ('ta wanda') and a catfish sandwich, baked in the heat and hung out at the local 'gas station' stoop with the people of Clarksdale all in one day.  

I don't know what the people of Clarksdale thought of me all decked out in my new clothes driving a relatively new Toyota and buying a 6 pack of Corona.  It is too soon to talk intelligently of Clarksdale but I will say that this is truly a 'community' of people.  Sitting, waving, talking, arguing people who know each other by the first name.  Amidst the activity there is time for each other.  The closeness is what it sometimes feels like for me at the Blue Chair Acoustic Cafe in Edmonton.  

Some things I've never seen:

1.  4 bags of groceries costing $18.90.

2.  No 'brand' names in the supermarket.

3.  Security at the supermarket.

4.  $.50 at the car wash lasting 10+ minutes.

5.  A wall of plexiglass enclosing the server and all the hard liquor at the local liquor store.

Above you'll see I've posted photos I took today of an abandon cotton gin.  It is difficult to know how old this gin would be but there were signs that updates to the building were had.  I walked out into the rows of harvested cotton, grabbed a handful of dirt and literally baked in the 10 minutes of standing doing the photos.  It was impossible to ignore what picking cotton from morning to night in this heat on this dry and sandy ground would've been like.  I felt a deep sorrow for what has been.

I'll be taking the next couple days off to write, relax and rejuvenate so that I can remain open to this process.  There is no fire here, I'll learn what I learn and translate it into music.  Much is brewing...

Corona Kat

Women of the Delta Blues - Pt. 2- Louise Johnson

In the blazing 27c Mississippi heat I found that little remains of blues piano player, vocalist and writer Louise Johnson.  Her fame seems mostly contained in the Delta but she was impressive nonetheless.  Charlie Patton is quoted as saying "if you wanna hear the finest piano player around come out to Fosters Juke and hear Louise Johnson".  Above is the original Kirby-Wells Plantantion sign where Louise was raised and worked.  (Nothin' like John Deere green mailboxes eh?)

Tickle them L.

Kat

Women of the Delta Blues - Pt. 1- Memphis Minnie

Memphis Minnie is the heroine of any serious blues woman even to this day.  She was a musical genius who held her own in songwriting, playing and singing through the 30's and 40's.  Much has been written about her.  

When I first began my music career it was amazing to see a photo of a woman with an acoustic guitar from an era that is overwhelmingly male.  The first blues song I ever played on stage some 8 years ago at the Hornby Island Blues Camp was "When The Levee Breaks".  I sat on stage with Rick fines accompanying me after a very strong verbal push by Sue Foley to "just get up and do it and quit 'chore whinin' ".  Good advice and lucky to receive that kind of support!

MM Rocks,

Kat

CN Lineman: Anthony Broach of Walls, Mississippi

I introduce to you...Anthony Broach, CN Lineman for Chicago Illinois Line.  He lives in Walls, Mississippi the birthplace and resting place for Memphis Minnie (aka Lizzie 'Kid' Douglas). As I turned on the camera, no word of a lie, Lineman Broach and I heard a train whistle in the distance.  (If you've been following from the beginning you'll note that this also happened in Waldron.)  

And, a gift for me at the Walls crossroad...an old, rusty, bent railway spike.  How much better does this get?

Slide on,

Kat