Blues at Centrum

A Medley of Blues Icons by Helah Blumhagen

Seattle artist Helah Blumhagen describes her 8.4ft. long and 3 feet wide mural of historial blues musicians at the 2008 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival.

The following musicians appear in the mural from left to right:

• Blind Lemon Jefferson The king of Texas country blues (1893-1929) "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and "Black Snake Moan"
• Ma Rainey "Mother of the Blues" (1886-1939) Key songs: "C.C. Rider" and "Bo-Weavil Blues"
• Charley Patton Original king of the Delta blues (1887-1934) Key songs: "A Spoonful Blues" and "Pony Blues"
• Mississippi Fred McDowell Straight, natural, acoustic blues (1904-1972) Key songs: "You Got To Move" and "61 Highway"
• Robert Johnson At the crossroads, he made a deal with the devil... (1911-1938) Key songs: "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Crossroads"
• Bessie Smith "The Empress of the Blues" - first major blues and jazz singer on record (1894-1937) Key songs: "Downhearted Blues" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"
• Muddy Waters Chicago post-war electric blues, major rock & roll influence (1915-1983) Key songs: "Mannish Boy" and "I've Got My Mojo Working"
• Jimmy Yancey First boogie-woogie pianist to record an album of solos, never quit his day job as groundskeeper at Chicago's Comiskey Park (1894-1951) "Yancey Special" and "Jimmy's Stuff"
• Lightin' Hopkins Texas country bluesman who bridged the gap between urban and rural styles (1912-1982) Key songs: "Mojo Hand" and "Baby Please Don't Go"
• Mississippi John Hurt Fingerpicking, gospel-tinged blues enjoyed a revival in the 60s folk movement (1893-1966) Key songs: "Avalon Blues" and "Stack O' Lee"
• Howlin' Wolf Chicago's southside juke joint shout blues (1910-1976) Key songs: "Killing Floor" and "Smokestack Lightnin'"
• Tampa Red Slide guitar wizard who rocked the jukes, the streets, vaudeville (1904-1981) Key songs: "Anna Lou Blues" and "Tight Like That"
• Leroy Carr Pre-war, pre-electric urban blues pianist (1905-1935) Key songs: "How Long, How Long" and "Blues Before Sunrise"

If you are inspired to contribute to this post, please put links to Key Songs in comments.

J-Dog Plays The Port Townsend Uptown Pub Inside and Out

After headlining the Saturday afternoon concert at the McCurdy Pavilion, Jerron "J-Dog" Paxton, did an encore performance in front of the Uptown Pub before going inside to do his evening "Blues In The Clubs" set.

2008 YouTube Channel

This YouTube Channel contains videos recorded by a variety of 2008 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival attendees.

Videoblogging 206 Video Guide:
Interviews, Jams, Concerts (4.5+ hours)

1. Interview Phil Wiggens 15:23 - 2003-2008 Artistic Director
2. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 1) 04:53
3. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 2) 08:53
4. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 3) 07:55 - College drop-out, Xeroxer, C++ Programmer, Teacher
5. Interview Ari Eisinger (Part 4) 03:30
6. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 1) 08:36
7. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 2) 07:42 - First songs and buying a National Guitar
8. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 3) 09:49
9. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 4) 06:56 - What is the blues? Where is the mecca of blues?
10. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 5) 05:57
11. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 6) 09:02
12. Interview Reverend Robert Jones Sr (Part 7) 07:46 - 08Blues Fest highlights
13. Interview Rick Franklin (Part 1) 08:37
14. Interview Rick Franklin (Part 2) 07:07 National Guitar Tricone explained
15. Interview Jerron Paxton Medley 08:31 - Singing Interview
16. Interview Rev. John Wilkins (Part 1) 07:56 -
17. Interview Terry "Harmonica" Bean (Part 1) 08:18
18. Interview Jay Summerour (Part 1) 09:05
19. Interview Shirley Smith, Gospel Choir 15:39
20. Interview Roy Brown WA Blues Society 05:48
21. Blues In The Clubs Reverend Robert Jones Sr 08:50
22. Blues In The Clubs Jerron "J-Dog" Paxton Plays The Uptown Pub 05:25
23. Blues In The Clubs Rick Franklin Plays The Public House 02:46
24. Participants' Concert JT Moor 04:22
25. Participants' Concert - Jerronettes 05:45
26. Participants' Phil Wiggens and Zoë Carpenter Concert 03:02
27. Participants' Concert Shirley Smith Gospel Choir 04:30
28. Student Mary Hilts 03:51
29. Student Tanner Wells 05:21
30. McCurdy Pavilion Friday Night Performances 05:33
31. McCurdy Pavilion Saturday Afternoon Performances 14:02
32. Jam Rev. John Wilkins 204 Sing-a-Long 05:37
33. Jam 204 Jerron Paxton 07:12
34. Jam 204 Tuesday 09:32
35. Jam 210 Jerron Paxton, Jay Summerour, Warner Williams 02:26
36. Jam 204 Monday 09:13
37. Historial Blues Musicians Mural 04:12 - A Medley of Blues Icons by Helah Blumhagen

Interview with Rick Franklin

Rick Franklin demonstrates the Piedmont blues finger picking style he taught in his class.

Rick explains the internal speaker system of his National Reso-Phonic Tricone Guitar.

Interview with Shirley Smith, Gospel Choir

PT Blues: Interview Shirley Smith, Gospel Choir

Guitar student Tanner Wells sits down with Gospel Choir teacher Shirley Smith in the upstairs hallway of building 204.

The Jerronettes

Jerron Paxton plays piano as Zoë Carpenter, Pilar McCracken, Martha Wiggins, and Miriam McCracken belt out "Hit The Road Jack" during the Participants' Concert Thursday night.

Phil Wiggins Performs At The Participants' Concert

Singer Zoë Carpenter performed with Phil Wiggins at the participants' concert Thursday night.

Shirley Smith, Gospel Choir Participants' Concert

Shirley Smith, Gospel Choir, performs with her students.

Mary Hilts, Piano Student

Mary Hilts, piano/singing student, talks about her blues workshop experiences.

Tanner Wells Guitar Student

Tanner Wells, guitar student, talks about his classes at the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival

Interview with Phil Wiggins

Click To Play

Phil Wiggins shares his thoughts about retiring as Centrum's Artistic Director for Blues. At the end of the interview, Phils holds court at the Thursday 3:30 204 jam session. Watch Video on Facebook.

Rev. John Wilkins Sing-a-Long Jam

On Wednesday night, Rev. John Wilkins lead a sing-a-long jam to the tune of "This Little Light of Mine" in the 204 lounge.

J-Dog's Back Porch Jam

Jerron "J-Dog" Paxton leads a jam on the back porch of building 204 Tuesday night. We also recorded a podcast interview with J-Dog the day before he came to Port Townsend. You can listen to that interview here.

Interview with Rev. John Wilkins (Part 1)

Rev. John Wilkins, the son of blues legend Rev. Robert Wilkins, talks about learning how to play the guitar.

Rev. Wilkins plays for the public Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 1:30pm at McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden State Park. Purchase tickets online.

An Interview with Terry "Harmonica" Bean (Part 1)

"Terry "Harmonica" Bean reflects the true nature of the blues. His style is raw and pure. He does not like the use of effects on his music. He uses a style of finger picking that students of the real origins of American music appreciate and understand. His music is perfect for those who appreciate the fact that most American Music finds its roots in the Delta Style Blues." - CD Baby

Faculty After-Dinner Jam

Last night, the after dinner jam on the back porch of building 204 featured faculty members:

• Rev. Robert B. Jones
• Rick Franklin
• Jay Summerour
• Warner Williams
• Rev. John Wilkins
• Terry “Harmonica” Bean
• Jerron Paxton.

An Interview with Jay Summerour

Jay Summerour, harmonica, sits down and talks about playing the blues in the Commons Lobby. Part 1 of 2

210 Country Blues Jam

Jay Summerour (Left), Warner Williams and Jerron Paxton lead a jam outside the Commons right before dinner.

204 Porch Jam 4-5pm

Terry Bean lead a jam on the 204 back porch before dinner. This clip also features Rick Franklin and TJ Moor on Guitar. If you can ID somebody else in this video, please post their name and instrument in comments.

Podcast: An Interview with Jerron Paxton, Guitar

Click To Play Podcast

Jerron Paxton, a 2008 Centrum's Country Blues Workshop faculty member, will be teaching guitar this week at the Port Townsend Country Blues Festival.

The Los Angeles based, legally blind, teen plays the banjo, guitar, harmonica, pinao and washboard. He is part of a rising crop of young African-American musicians learning country blues in the communities from which it arose. This is the second part of a conversation that was set-up with Jerron 24 hours before his very first flight to the Pacific Northwest. Listen to Part 1.

Jerrod covers Cincinnati Flow Rag / Where'd You Get Your Liquor From