Post 490: 'DOING A STRETCH' - TUBA SKINNY TURNING WATER INTO WINE

Blind Blake

My regular correspondent Phil Lynch in the USA, who knows a great deal about our music and its history, often sends me interesting and useful bits of information.

In his most recent email, he made a great point and expressed it very well. It was about the way Tuba Skinny can take a very ordinary tune from long ago and somehow recreate it as a great piece of jazz music. He is so right.

Here's what Phil wrote:

As you well know, part of T.S.'s genius is finding average string band songs and creating something unique...turning water into wine.

Doing a Stretch (slang for spending time in prison) is, I think, one of Blind Blake's more mediocre tunes, but T.S. turns it into something special.

CLICK HERE for the Blind Blake original.

And now CLICK HERE for Tuba Skinny's version.

Phil is right, isn't he?