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Corey Harris: 2007 'Genius' of the blues, In his own words

From David Schulman | 00:03:20
Producers: David Schulman

Credit:
The 2007 MacArthur Fellow talks about the life of the Blues

Corey Harris is the only bluesman among the 2007 winners of the MacArthur 'Genius" Grant. In a Sept. 25 article on this year's awards, Harris told the Washington Post that he's tried to "make evident the connection between black culture in different parts of the world."

Martin Scorsese chose Harris to serve as a guide for "Feel Like Going Home," the documentary Scorsese directed for his PBS series, "The Blues." And it would be fair to call Harris a student of the blues.

But for Harris, the blues is very much a living tradition. In his own recordings --and in this short feature produced in 2004 -- Harris explores the musical connections between the Mississippi Delta and the West African country of Mali, especially in collaborations with Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure.

Harris also has followed the blues into into the realms of hiphop and George Clintonesque funk ? especially on his CD "Downhome Sophisticate," which got four stars from Rolling Stone. On his most recent CD, "Zion Crossroads," his blues journey is powered by Jamaican grooves.

As in all the pieces in David Schulman's CPB-supported Musicians in their own words series, the story is told through a mix of the performer's voice and music. There is no reporter's voice heard, allowing the feature to be seamlessly incorporated into station news, talk, or music programming.

Scripts for intro and outro are attached, and may be edited at will.

This piece debuts on PRX. Hide full description

Corey Harris is the only bluesman among the 2007 winners of the MacArthur 'Genius" Grant. In a Sept. 25 article on this year's awards, Harris told the Washington Post that he's tried to "make evident the connection between black culture in different parts of the world." Martin Scorsese chose Harris to serve as a guide for "Feel Like Going Home," the documentary Scorsese directed for his PBS series, "The Blues." And it would be fair to call Harris a student of the blues. But for Harris, the blues is very much a living tradition. In his own recordings --and in this short feature produced in 2004 -- Harris explores the musical ...
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2 Comments Atom Feed

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Jeremy Mack

Posted on January 06, 2006 at 09:40 AM | Permalink

Review of Corey Harris: In his own words

Very interesting and inspiring piece. I enjoyed hearing Corey's opinion on the roots of the music and clips of his own.
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Bill Palladino

Posted on December 14, 2004 at 11:47 AM | Permalink

Review of Corey Harris: In his own words

Wow! The sound and the focus is on the money. The piece, like the music, is rhythmic, percussive, pulls you along with little bits of genius.

Corey Harris is a musician crossing boundaries. The blues is the father, hip/hop/rap the son. His patriarchy of song stretches from Mali to the streets of LA, touching all weighpoints on the journey.

This short-subject is delectable. Harris speaks the language of the blues like its his own, and makes it clearly recognizable to us living on its periphery. Certainly made me want to hear more of what Corey has to offer.

Broadcast History

PRX debut

Transcript

Keywords: Corey Harris, blues, slide guitar, Africa, Mali, hiphop, Ali Farka Toure, Martin Scorsese, Jamal Millner, ownwords, Musicians in their own words, WUNC, David Schulman
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Timing and Cues

Corey Harris: In his own words

Tape time: 3:20 (including :29 music tail)
Add approx 1:15 for full intro/outro -- 1:00 if outro is spoken
over music tail
Add approx :40 for short intro/outro -- :25 if outro is spoken
over music tail

This piece will fit the new ATC cutaway

Pronouncer:
Ali Farka Toure

Content Advisory

To avoid the appearance of FCC-prohibited "promotion for consideration," stations should avoid airing this feature in close proximity to any funding credit for a venue where the featured artist is soon performing.

Due to some limitations of the interview, sound quality on this piece is serviceable, but not ideal.

Musical Works

All excerpts performed by Corey Harris (vocals, guitar, lap steel) from his CDs "Greens from the Garden," "Downhome Sophisticate" and "Mississippi to Mali."

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