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Scott Herman's avatar

I'm amazed I read this whole piece without one mention of Willie Nelson! Always talking about his influences from the world of jazz and Tin Pan Alley, and you can totally hear it in his playing. It isn't once in a while, it's just Willie's sound. He is a fusion in and of himself.

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Chris Molanphy's avatar

Came here to say this. Willie’s behind-the-beat vocal phrasing alone has always struck me as fundamentally jazz-derived.

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Don't Rock The Inbox's avatar

definitely! just plucking examples, and not really any of the biggest ones tbh - so much to explore! - nw

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Donnie C. Cutler's avatar

This right here ---> Most of these songs imagining the Wild West were, after all, written by coastal songwriters whose idea of roping and riding was based on books and the very movies they were shaping the soundtracks to.

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Don't Rock The Inbox's avatar

🤠🤠🤠

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Bob McCulloch's avatar

Thanks for pointing me towards Queen Esther and J Poindexter. I purchased two of their albums on Bandcamp and enjoying their work. Very talented people! Bob

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Don't Rock The Inbox's avatar

that’s awesome to hear!!!

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Dave Blomquist's avatar

This post is exactly why I'm a subscriber. My own musical journey has led me to the intersection of country and jazz, so I'm looking forward to digging into all these recommendations. (In my current band, we describe our music as "country music played in between the cracks" - which of course is a thing that already exists. But up in the northland so much of our folk is very straight without a blue note to be found...). I'd certainly welcome a whole book on this topic someday 😊

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Don't Rock The Inbox's avatar

thank you so much Dave!! really happy to hear you dug it, and happy musicmaking!

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