Jim Kweskin | Classic Guitar® journal Guitar Contact
Jim Kweskin grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, and in 1958 entered Boston College, inserting him close to espresso homes on the peak of the People Growth. Mixing early jazz with folks, blues, ragtime, and nation, he shaped Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band, respiration life into music beforehand relegated to dusty 78s and influencing teams from the Lovin’ Spoonful to Grateful Useless.
Culling his eclectic tastes and pre-1950 repertoire, By no means Too Late finds the 83-year-old dueting with a bunch of females together with Jug Band alum Maria Muldaur and granddaughter Fiona Kweskin. Within the firm of Cindy Cashdollar’s slide and Suzy Thompson’s fiddle, Kweskin’s acoustic fingerpicking shines vibrant as ever.
What music first attracted you?
I began listening to my father’s 78 information after I was six or seven years outdated. They have been largely early jazz, conventional stuff like Sidney Bechet, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong’s Sizzling 5 and Sizzling Seven, and Bessie Smith. And he had a few Leadbelly information; I cherished that.
When did you’re taking up guitar?
I went to summer time camp after I was 13 or 14, and one of many counselors sang folks songs. That’s after I bought in proximity of any individual taking part in guitar, and I cherished it. Then, Pete Seeger gave a live performance there. That’s the interval when he was blacklisted. There weren’t too many locations he may play, however he got here and performed for us.
I took guitar classes, however the trainer was a jazz man, and I needed to do folks songs just like the Weavers. Once I bought to varsity and began going to golf equipment, I bumped into individuals who may actually play. My ardour simply blossomed, and the following couple of years was when my taking part in actually occurred. Our bible was the Harry Smith Archives’ Anthology of American People Music, which was three double-albums. Then I noticed Eric Von Schmidt at Membership 47 in Cambridge, taking part in guitar and singing “Buddy Bolden’s Blues,” which I knew as a Jelly Roll Morton tune. A lightweight went off. All these jazz songs I cherished, you may sing and play on guitar like a folks music! Which is what jug band music is – early jazz performed on folks devices. As a substitute of trombones, trumpets, and clarinets, it’s kazoos, washboards, jugs, fiddles, banjos, and guitars.
Did you carry out as a solo act?
I infrequently performed alone. I might need 5 or 6 guys onstage with me. Fritz Richmond performed washtub bass. Whoever I may get who was musician, we’d simply be jamming onstage. One night time, I didn’t know that the proprietor of Vanguard Information was within the viewers, and when the present was over he mentioned, “How’d you wish to make a document with that band?” I mentioned, “Properly, that’s not a band, however I’d wish to make a document. Give me three months, and I’ll put an actual band collectively.”
I began taking part in outdated jazzy or jug-band tunes early on. That was the music I used to be interested in – the Memphis Jug Band and Dixieland Jug Blowers out of Louisville. The Mississippi Sheiks have been blues, and blues is a part of folks music, however they’re an excellent string band. Cannon’s Jug Stompers’ “Feather Mattress” – simply superb. However I additionally performed Appalachian ballads, like “The Cuckoo.”
Guitar in jug bands was simply rhythm, not selecting such as you do.
That’s proper. I listened to all the good pickers, like Mississippi John Damage, Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Blake, Pink Anderson. I completely worshipped a complete slew of them. I realized patterns and learn how to three-finger decide – thumb, index, and center – from Rolf Cahn. However I don’t take into consideration patterns after I’m taking part in now. The patterns simply taught my fingers learn how to play.
I bought to fulfill Mississippi John Damage, Reverend Gary Davis, Son Home, Skip James. I assumed they have been actually outdated, however they have been youthful than I’m now. I largely sat round and listened to them play and sing, and I’d watch their fingers and study songs. I wasn’t too focused on their historical past after I was 19 or 20 years outdated; I’m extra focused on that now.
What’s your fundamental guitar?
In 1959, I bought a Martin D-18 at Wurlitzer Music, in Boston. I needed a D-28, however I didn’t have $300. I solely had $200, which is what a brand-new D-18 price then, with the case. It turned out that the D-18 was good for me. I’ve performed one all my skilled life. I additionally bought a D-18S 12-fret from Aged Devices. It sounds wealthy and delightful, however I want a 14-fret guitar to carry out with.
You influenced and impressed folks just like the Lovin’ Spoonful and Dan Hicks and His Sizzling Licks.
The Nitty Gritty Dust Band, even the Grateful Useless, all these bands began out as jug bands. They have been a number of years youthful than us, and so they listened to our information. I listened to the folks earlier than me, and so they listened to the folks earlier than them. I simply occurred to be a band that got here up earlier than them.
This text initially appeared in VG’s April 2024 problem. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.