What is REAL music?
For my money it is music that comes straight from the inner part of the
human soul where there is no self-consciousness, only joy. It comes through the heart and tumbles out of
the mouth and doesn’t even need instruments.
You hear it in religious chants, work songs, tribal celebrations and
even when the drunks stumble home early in the morning. In India I heard it in
the voice of the blind beggars who sang for alms.
It has nothing to do with polish or production. Only soul
and closed eyes are required. The album we highlight tonight is about as close
as you can get to the bone without killing the singer. It is pure music,
unadulterated, simple and very complex and absolutely non-negotiable. Though it
is sung by ‘uneducated’ probably, barely literate people who are unafraid to
laugh, cough, growl and shout as they sing the music they make sounds as if it
came out of the very first volcano on earth. It is hot, cutting and
unrelenting. So uplifting and moving too.
It is a collection of gospel ditties, sea shanties and
parables from the Bahamas sung by itinerant preachers, pick up guitarists and
very powerful speakers of truth. Many of
the songs are sung by various members of the Pinder family about which I was able to find this lovely portrait.
The Pinder Family
lived in the Bahamas and were descended if not in blood then certainly in
spirit from a long line of Island musicians.
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| Joseph Spence |
Joseph Spence played the
guitar and sang, if you can call it that. It's hard to say exactly what he did.
He grunted.
He snorted.
He made low guttural noises, and then would suddenly
break into a demented scat.
He would be singing along and his English would descend
into complete nonsensical gibberish.
Sometimes he almost sounded like Popeye. But whatever it
was he was doing*, you could tell he meant business.
They say he looked like he was going into a trance when
he played. The man was almost certainly filled with the Spirit.
And his guitar playing was phenomenal.
Sometimes even to this day while listening to him I
wonder if my ears might be playing tricks on me.
Paired along with his voice, his guitar playing could
weave incredibly complex rhythms and produce some of the most intriguing music
I've ever heard to this day. His lackadaisical and carefree (almost irreverent)
style is guaranteed to lighten any mood, and to hear his laugh always puts a smile
on my face. Most people unfortunately would dismiss this sort of music offhand,
if not because it seemed strange and exotic (and perhaps even frightening!),
then because much of it was gospel. But any musician, or anybody with an ear
for good music for that matter should immediately recognize its value.
*Actually, the Bahamians refer to this style of singing
as "rhyming", and it could almost be considered a precursor to modern
rap.
The Pinder
family often accompanied Spence, and
together they were nothing short of a veritable music machine. Edith sang in a powerfully deep and
throaty tenor that reminds me of a Jamaican reggae singer. Her husband Raymond provided a deep and rich bass,
while their daughter Geneva warbled
along in a flighty treble. You just have to hear them to understand, but I'm
telling you it's unbelievable stuff. They sang with an incredible intensity
that at times can be almost overwhelming to listen to. The music is simple, but
the complexities are astounding. It's truly a wonder to behold. If you've ever
heard The Incredible String Band or The Grateful Dead performing their
versions of "I Bid You Goodnight" then you've heard their tribute to
the Pinder Family. These groups
heard the song on an album called The Real Bahamas, a 1965 Nonesuch Records
release which has since been re-released. Other musicians who claim Joseph
Spence as an influence include Ry Cooder
and Taj Mahal, both of whom had
the pleasurey to meet and play with him before his death in 1984. (http://spence.bryandeno.net/)
This is where the blues came from. Where almost every form
of music in America came from. This could be 1760 rather than 1960. Phenomenal!
Track
Listing.
01 We'll Understand It Better By And By
02 Sheep Know When Thy Shepherd Calling
03 I Told You People Judgement Coming
04 Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend
05 Sailboat Malarkey
06 Up In The Heaven Shouting
07 Won't That Be A Happy Time
08 Out On The Rolling Sea
09 I Am So Glad
10 Come For Your Dinner
11 God Locked The Lion's Jaw
12 Great Dream From Heaven
13 My Lord Help Me To Pray
14 Numberless As The Sands On The Seashore
15 I Ain't Got Long
16 I Bid You Goodnight
17 Mary And Joseph
18 Peter, You Need The Lord
19 Jesus Promised Me A Home Over There
20 Troublesome Water
21 Kneeling Down Inside The Gate
22 Jesus Your Name So Sweet
23 Take Me Over The Tide
24 When The Leaves Turn Red
25 That Glad Reunion Day
26 The Great Coronation
27 The Captain Go Ashore
28 Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold God's Body Down
