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Natalia's Blues Tale My greatest blues moment was my very first blues moment - because with out that - the ones to follow may never have existed... Listening to the blues always brings me back to my family cottage up north outside of Cochrane, Ontario. Having 13 children, my grandparents thought it would be suitable to clear a large piece of land and build 3 cottages, so that no matter how large our family became - we would always have a place away from the rest of the world, where we could come together to laugh, be loud - and of course - enjoy music. My first experience with the blues took place right there....I may have been 12.....It was night, the sky was clear and there were a million stars in the sky. A few of us (aunts/uncles/cousins) were sitting around a fire during what seemed to be the most peaceful moment you can imagine.....no wind....fire crackling...no one speaking because we were comfortable enough not to.....my stepfather pulls out his guitar from beside him and starts playing this deep, sexy blues riff.....you know the kind that makes you close your eyes... I sank back in my chair and took it all in like it were fuel... My uncle then joined.......came in slow with his harmonica in a smooth, soulful note. I remember sitting there while they jammed that night for so long - playing, creating and stretching a vibe that belonged solely to us - and that one night around our fire. I slept that night satisfied by something I had no idea I needed until then. ...Since that first basic yet overwhelmingly beautiful experience with the blues, I have continued on with an open mind toward all music and its effect on us as each our own...taking on our world alone. I don't expect to understand it all...yet I believe there is a music to cleanse every soul....and for me - it's definitely the blues...it has effected me in a way that no other music can compare - and trust me - I've dipped into my fair share of genres...I am now 24 years old... Over the past couple years I have done my best to acquire different instruments (percussion/string/keys) to see if I can use the blues as my outlet, but unfortunately being a student I have yet to gather funds or time to learn how to play them....so until then - I will have to leave it up to Charles Brown, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins and the rest of the masters in the world of blues who know how to make us all feel so real.... |