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Features: Cecil Taylor, Jacob Collier, John Clayton
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There are certain types of music that are inherently cool. Jazz and blues are perhaps the kings of this category; we can’t think of a single awkward looking musician in this genre of music. What’s more, with names like ‘Blind Lemon Jefferson’ it’s hard to imagine any of these kings of music messing up on stage. Though of course, as jazz musicians they could work it into the song with minimal effort.
Perhaps the most famous story in music concerns a jazz and blues musician named Robert Johnson. He was a mediocre musician at best – no doubt far better than any of us could dream of being, but far from being a great. One night, the story goes, whilst at a crossroads, Robert Johnson met the Devil. He offered him the chance to learn to play guitar, and for a year or two nothing was heard of from Johnson. Then, all of a sudden, there was a great spreading of rumours – there was a fantastic new guitarist in town, who played better than anyone could imagine, possibly the greatest of all time. He played as if gifted with some kind of super-natural power, and could move the soul of any who listened. That man was Robert Johnson.
Nobody really knows what happened to Johnson in that time he disappeared from view. Maybe he simply spent every waking moment practicing his guitar, or maybe he really did sell his soul to the devil. Whatever the case, if there’s a more mysterious, intriguing story out there, then we haven’t heard it.