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Dave Specter
injects heart, soul and blues into his
Message In Blue
By Eric Schelkopf
Chicago blues musician Dave Specter will likely garner even more fans
with his latest album,
Message In
Blue,
released on May 20 on Chicago-based Delmark Records.
Q. Message In Blue was just
released. In sitting down to make the album, what were your goals and do
you think you achieved them?
It's my first studio recording in four years and I wanted to make an
album that featured all the styles of music and blues that I love to
play. I've been writing quite a bit of new music over the past few years
and was glad to record eight original tunes on the album. I'd like to
think this is very much a Chicago music album - from soul to R&B,
a touch of jazz and different shades of blues. That's the "Message"...I
guess you could say
Having Otis Clay as a featured guest on three tunes is a real thrill and
I'm really proud of the tracks we cut with him. He was truly inspiring
to work with in the studio -- so much blues and deep soul power! I think
that Brother John Kattke is also one of the MVP's on the album. Check
out his vocals on “Chicago Style” (co-written with Bill Brichta) and
“Same Old Blues” -- not to mention his stellar keyboard work throughout
the album.
Q. How did you hook up with Otis Clay? Did you have him in mind for
those three songs from the beginning?
I probably first met Otis around 25-30 years ago back when he was
playing clubs around Chicago. I'll never forget seeing him with the
legendary Hi Rhythm Section at B.L.U.E.S on Halsted.
Tad Robinson and I cut one of his tunes "I Die A Little Each Day" back
in the mid-90s on my Live in
Europe album and I've sat in with Otis a number of times over the
years.
I chose two of the songs on the album, "Got to Find a Way" which Otis
first cut back in the ‘60s, and "I Found a Love" which has always been
one of my favorite deep soul cuts -- and I thought Otis would be
perfect covering it. Otis chose "This Time I'm Gone For Good" and I'm so
glad he did as his vocals really capture the soulful intensity of the
tune. I've recorded with some great singers but working with Otis is
about as good as it gets.
Q. "This Time I'm Gone For Good," was recorded as a tribute to the late
Bobby Blue Bland. What do you think was his greatest contribution to the
music world?
Bobby Bland was simply one of the greatest blues and R&B singers of all
time. An amazing body of work with a long list of classic songs and
albums. His early Duke sides are my favorites along with
His California Album and
Dreamer albums from the ‘70s.
Q. You are just coming off an extensive European trip. How did that go?
I've heard that European audiences are more receptive to the blues than
American audiences. How do you find European audiences compared to
American audiences?
Well we just played 14 shows in 8 countries in 17 days - so I think I've
finally recovered!
Very cool tour with great audience response. The European fans don't
take us for granted. They respect the music and show it. They also buy
our albums and often show up to gigs with entire collections of your
work wanting autographs. European audiences are generally more reserved
and polite than here in America, which can be a bit of an adjustment.
Q. I understand you were first introduced to the blues listening to
"The Midnight Special" show on WFMT. Was there any artist in particular
that got you interested in the blues? Who would you say has been your
biggest influence?
I grew up in a very musical home here in Chicago where my parents loved
listening to WFMT's
Midnight Special as well as Studs Terkel's radio show - where I
first heard Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, Josh White and Mahalia Jackson,
who my dad really loved. My older brother (who plays harp) also turned
me onto the blues of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Junior Wells - as
he'd tell me about seeing them perform live when I was just a kid.
Impossible to name only one influence so I'd have to include my family,
Chicago blues from Muddy Waters to Otis Rush and Magic Sam. T-Bone
Walker and Kenny Burrell, B.B., Albert and Freddy King, Steve Freund,
Jimmy Johnson, Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard.
Q. You toured with the likes of Son Seals, Hubert Sumlin and Sam Lay
before forming your own band in 1989. What did they teach you? How do
you think your playing has evolved over the years?
Hubert taught me that developing an original style of playing is what
it's all about. Don't copy other players. Be yourself. Hubert was also
so encouraging as I first toured with him and Sam Lay when I was only in
my early 20s. It took me awhile to learn Hubert's lesson and I wish so
many of the blues guitarists on today's scene -- that seem to make a
living copying what other guitarists recorded on Chess Records 50 or 60
years ago -- would listen to his advice as well. The blues world would
be a lot more vital, contemporary and interesting if they did.
I learned a great deal from playing and touring with Son Seals for two
years -- I admired his commanding stage presence, interplay with horn
sections and his all for business "no shtick" interaction with his
audience.
I spent over 80% of those gigs with Son just playing rhythm guitar --
which every guitarist should be required to do to become a complete
player.
Sam Lay was also very encouraging back when I was in my early 20s; he
taught me that the color of one's skin has nothing to do with whether or
not you can play the blues.
One of the things that keeps me going in this crazy business is that I
feel I'm improving and growing as a guitarist and a musician with age.
I'm writing more and more and hopefully developing more of my own sound
and style over time.
Q. What do you think of the Chicago blues scene compared to other blues
scenes around the country? What can be done to boost the interest in
blues music in general?
Well Chicago still probably has more places to play and hear blues than
anywhere in the world. The tourist element has watered down the scene
but there are still some excellent players here.
Having come up on the scene in the ‘80s when you could hear blues like
Otis Rush, Buddy and Junior, Lonnie Brooks, Magic Slim, Hubert Sumlin,
Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Rogers and Pinetop Perkins on a weeknight or every
weekend, I'd have to say that today's scene doesn't quite measure up.
I think the overall interest in blues music is fairly strong - although
it's still, and probably always will be - an alternative musical form.
Another crossover artist like Stevie Ray Vaughan is probably what's
needed to garner more attention for the blues today. Let the purists
cringe, but that's what it will take for the blues to reach a wider
audience.
Q. You've played and recorded with so many musicians over the years,
including Pinetop Perkins, Otis Rush and Buddy Guy. Do you have any
dream projects or collaborations?
Thanks. I feel lucky to have grown up here in Chicago. Other than
wishing I could enter a time machine and play behind Muddy -- or play a
few tunes with B.B. King while he's still with us -- I'd love to
collaborate on a project bringing musicians from Chicago and New Orleans
together. Two of my favorite musical places on earth, with very
different, yet similar and soulful, musical sounds and styles.
Eric Schelkopf has covered the arts and entertainment scene in Chicago
for the past 25 years. Visit his informative blog at:
http://www.thetotalscene.blogspot.com/
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