John Pape Online Blog

What is a blues album in 2011?

If you believe the gang over at the Grammy Awards, it’s whatever sort of music is being made by anyone who happens to be a member of The Allman Brothers Band.

Earlier this month, new albums by Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes and the Tedeschi Trucks Band (featuring Allman Brothers guitarist Derek Trucks) were nominated for Best Blues Album Grammys. Of course, only one of those releases — Gregg Allman’s Low Country Blues — was a straight-ahead blues record.

But to be honest, we like the Grammy approach because it opens the door to blues, roots-rock and blues-rock albums — and it makes for a more interesting and dynamic list that highlights blues in all its ever-evolving forms.

Looking ahead, it’s safe to say we’re looking forward to a full album by Gary Clark Jr., who made it onto this top-15 list with just a promising four-song EP.

And, of course, no talk of blues in 2011 would be complete without remembering two true legends of the genre who passed away this year: Delta bluesman David “Honeyboy” Edwards, who died in August at age 96; and Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s storied guitarist, who died earlier this month at age 80.

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By: Staff

Eddie Van Halen, Photo: Wikipedia

One of the most influential artists in the history of rock made a significant contribution today to help support public school music programs. According to a press release, the Van Halen founder and guitarist Eddie Van Halen donated 75 electric guitars from his own personal collection to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides schools across the country with quality musical instruments.

Per Van Halen’s request, the foundation will dispense the guitars to music programs in public schools throughout the Los Angeles, CA area where the demand of students enrolled exceeds the number of instruments.

“Music is the universal language. It has the ability to transcend and convey every human emotion that exists without saying a word. Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine that no one could take away from me,” Van Halen explained. “Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them. If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that’s a wonderful thing. Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation.”

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation donates new and refurbished musical instruments to under-served schools in an effort to give kids the myriad of benefits provided by music education, help them to be better students in general and inspire creativity and expression through making music. Hundreds of thousands of students across the country have benefited and thousands of instruments have been donated to more than 1,100 school music programs across the country. More information can be found at www.mhopus.org.

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