The Story of the Blues: From Blind Lemon Jefferson to B. B. King

Producer Jordi Vall Escriu's The Story of the Blues (well, partial story; there's nothing later than B.B. King's “Sweet Little Angel” and Elmore James' “Dust My Broom,” both recorded half a century ago) is part historical documentary, part music lesson, part student (i.e., amateurish) video project…and, except for the music, quite awful in every respect. In the absence of any relevant performance footage of the many blues musicians mentioned, what we get is a passel of photos and an endless, repetitive array of video images (bare trees outlined against an ominous cloudy sky, a wagon-rutted country road to nowhere…that kind of thing) treated with various sound and visual effects. The voiceover narration is deadly dull, not to mention laden with inaccuracies (the classic blues form is referred to as “12-beat,” rather than the proper “12-bar”), mistakes (blues songs are “always in a major key”--hell, there's music right here on this disc that disproves that), and pure stupidity (white men don't have “the innate musical sense to be able to play” blues. Really? I'll be sure to inform Paul Butterfield, Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite…). The music is the only saving grace: we hear dozens of tunes, many of them complete, by everyone from Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy to Duke Ellington and Bessie Smith. But you'd be far better off with Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey (VL-1/04). Not recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)