Jazz and Blues

Here is news from Frank Bracco, host of Nothing but the Blues and The Night Bridge.

The Blues is a distinctly American artwork that has its roots in the Deep South. It is impossible to tell who “created” the blues, but we certainly know it owes homage to the African American spirituals sung by fieldworkers. In an ironic twist, a music form that served as a way to deal with the torment of working as slaves created a genre of music that carries through to this day. The blues brings us some of the most iconic artists in history: from Son House, Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters to Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, and B.B. King to Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Robin Ford.

The blues is carried on in the backwaters of the Mississippi Delta to the night clubs of Chicago and New York to the outdoor festivals of Portland. We can even say the Blues helped create [and is still sampled by] Rock N' Roll, Hip-Hop, and Pop music.

Each Saturday, WUFT-FM celebrated the Blues through “Nothin' But the Blues”. The show was originally hosted by Chuck Michaelson and, in the last several years, gave way to student hosts as Michaelson left the station for greener-pastures. For the last couple years, Nothin' But the Blues” aired from 11PM to 1AM with student host Frank Bracco. “Nothin' But the Blues” was one of two shows that was designated for as training shift for students to both host and produce a musical show (the other being “Soul Circuit”).

Fans looking to find blues music on the radio and in the local air should the following:

• Smooth Blues Saturday Night with Qquincy: This is a show that airs Saturdays from 9PM to 12AM on Smooth Jazz 100.9FM and is hosted by Qquincy.
• Back of the Bus: This is a show that airs on Thursdays from 2PM to 3PM on WGOT 94.7 FM-LP. You are likely only to pick up this station in Gainesville.
• The North Central Florida Blues Society: NCF Blues is the premier blues group in North Central Florida. Their website includes links to current events, bands, and venues that are all about the blues. http://www.ncfblues.org