April/May Memphis Musician
© 1996 all rights reserved
In early March, internet blues and jazz newsgroups erupted in a flurry of posts rallying blues fans to "SAVE MUDDY'S CABIN!!!" As the rumor mill had it, Isaac Tigrett, founder of the Hard Rock Cafe and the House of Blues (sic), had bought Muddy Waters' childhood home and was planning to use it as a promotional gimmick for the House of Blues. Given that Tigrett is regarded as the antichrist of the blues by many purists, the uproar was both understandable and predictable.
Tigrett's' status is not entirely undeserved. The clubs' television program, Live From The House Of The Blues, has featured such noted blues artists as Hootie and the Blowfish, Cheryl Crow, and Tori Amos, the club promotes and hosts authentic blues extravaganzas like the upcoming Sex Pistols tour launch, and their promotional materials prominently feature the visages of blues pioneers Dan Akroyd and John Belushi. Purists had good reason to be concerned.
In point of fact, the arrangement between the House of Blues and the Stovall family (owners of Stovall plantation and the cabin) is somewhat less sensational. An e-mail to Howard Stovall brought the following response:
The Muddy Waters Cabin has not been sold, and no plans exist to sell the Cabin.
Period. End of discussion as far as that is concerned.
We are presently working with the House of Blues to explore several options for
renovation and preservation of the Cabin. In no case would this involve our
selling the Cabin.
The Cabin is owned by the Stovall family, who have borne the cost of its
preservation (such as it is) without financial or other help from any entity.
Our goal, as it has always been, is to ensure that the Cabin remains for the
next generation of Blues fans who might want to see it. We have no desire for
financial gain from this endeavor.
<.....>
Those who have a moral aversion to our working with the most successful
commercial enterprise associated with Blues today are reminded that efforts of
this magnitude require a significant amount of money and expertise. If you
think Newt and the Washington boys are going to come to our rescue, think again.
A prudent compromise of "purism" may, indeed, be in the best interests of future
Blues lovers, who, fifty years from now, will care less about the structure of
the deal made to preserve the Cabin, than the fact that it still stands for
their benefit.
Subsequent reports and a press release from the House of Blues indicate that the House of Blues agreed to pay the Stovall family a substantial sum for a 5 year lease of the cabin. In addition to the lease fee, the cabin will be restored and returned to Clarksdale following a promotional tour of the US and Europe. Second hand sources indicate that the Stovall family intends to donate the proceeds of the lease to the Sunflower Blues Festival in Clarksdale and other preservation efforts in North Mississippi.
Although it is tempting to bemoan the trivializing of Muddy Waters' birthplace by an organization that spouts hippie-feel-good philosophy and treats the Blues Brothers as THE REAL THING, it is nearly impossible to argue with Stovall's logic. Given that public funding for the arts and historic preservation seems on an irreversible decline, it would be foolhardy to refuse the House of Blues offer. However, blues historians can be forgiven if they seem less than enthusiastic about the latest "deal with the Devil" in blues history.
Deadline note: As this column went to press, I received e-mail from Howard Stoval that indicated that contrary to the published reports from the House of Blues a deal had NOT been finalized. Watch this space for further details.
The band consists of tuba, trombone, stand up bass and drums. The members are pictured on an old loading dock. They wear sweats, berets, and leather jackets. The CD is distributed by Rounder. You're thinking New Orleans style brass band or trad jazz, right? Well, you're right all the way through the first half of the first cut. That's when Plunge makes it clear that there's more to low brass and rhythm than funky marches and funeral laments. Although the band makes full use of the a tuba's ability to make cardboard seem funky, Plunge ventures well into a gray area bordered by funk, hip-hop, and afro-carribean jazz. Although the exclusive use of bass clef instrumentation can be a bit overpowering at times, that seems exactly what band leader Mark McGrain has in mind. Falling With Grace (Accurate AC-5016) evokes a real 2 AM FM radio listening ambiance, and is absolutely, positively a must have for anyone interested in unusual instrumentation or new directions in jazz. It also holds the distinction of being the only CD in my collection to feature alphorn.
Finally, the bizarre affront to good taste of the month has to go to Laika and the Cosmonauts' Zero Gravity (Upstart 006). Their surf guitar CD (endorsed by Dick Dale!) may well establish them as the successors to the Ventures, but their Velveeta surf guitar version of Night in Tunisia puts them in a class of their own (dare I say a world apart?). Aural trash. One of my new favorites.
B.B. Bean
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