Blues performers pull emotion into their lyrics by relating it to events in their personal past, as well as reaching out to embrace an audience with similar experiences. Yet there is a definite emphasis in blues on effortless performance and contrivance seems to be discouraged.
Some descriptions of the superb performances we’ve seen demand that (like a good speaker) the performer disappears when the music comes on. Thus the demands of an audience for a “pure” musical experience and the personal and professional demands on the performer are, at least to some degree, at odds.
This seems to be a case in which the Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao. Maybe when we perceive a performer successfully threading this paradox we know what music is. At the same time it’s certain possible to study how the paradox comes about.
Posted by gaiteric at January 25, 2005 07:41 PM