# Piano Blues

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 8, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634 "2003-02-08T02:45:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![koawala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@koawala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koawala)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/1 "2003-02-08T02:45:09Z")

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I am looking for some blues where the piano takes the place that is usually reserved for a guitar.In other words, pianist as virtuoso, upfront and letting go. I just got Marcia Ball’s Presumed Innocent and I am wanting more piano, up tempo blues edged music, with or without vocal tracks.

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**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/2 "2003-02-09T04:04:08Z")

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Otis Spann, Big Maceo, Roosevelt Sykes, Champion Jack Dupree, Dr. John. The first three are essential. That should get you started.

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**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/3 "2003-02-10T07:37:32Z")

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So, threads about Rush last for weeks while a thread about piano-based blues draws one response and dies?

We’re doomed.

Bump.

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/4 "2003-02-10T14:32:18Z")

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Pinetop Perkins is a must. And don’t limit yourself to Piano - the Hammond B-3 Organ is a wonderful addition (Booker T. or Jimmy Smith, anyone?)

And James Booker, with _Spiders on the Keys_, and _New Orleans Piano Wizard_, will take your head off.

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**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/5 "2003-02-10T15:21:11Z")

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Hell, I was going to come in and recommend Otis Spann, Big Maceo, and Roosevelt Sykes, but you beat me to it. And I hate “Me Too!” posts.

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**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/6 "2003-02-10T15:44:14Z")

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If you liked Marcia Ball, you’ll LOVE Professor Longhair.

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**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/7 "2003-02-10T20:11:00Z")

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Fats Waller. He often gets pigeonholed as a comic singer, but damn! the man could play.

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**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piano-blues/153634/8 "2003-02-10T20:52:25Z")

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NIckie Hopkins did a great piano break in “Blues Deluxe” on Jeff Beck’s “Truth” album. The “Red House” of 12-bar piano breaks, imho–great blues cliches all over the place!