Page 75 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2022

HOROJO Trio’s (l to r) JW-Jones, Jamie Holmes and Jeff Rogers. Pictured left to right: Jad Tariq, Pat Harrington, drummer Robinson Bridgeforth, John
Photo courtesy of HOROJO Trio Németh and Jon Hay. Photo by Bob Sekinger

exceptional talents: Jad Tariq and Jon Hay. Tariq believes more is the best form of education I can fathom. In college, you learn
young musicians are becoming interested in the blues “because the mechanics and theory of how music works, but there’s
of the sheer number of resources available to hear and see the no college course for living and operating as a professional
legendary blues musicians of the past.” He found inspiration from musician.”
artists like Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and remembers Although he is just 21 years old, this was the seventh blues
that falling for the blues “just spun me down the rabbit hole of cruise for guitarist/singer David Julia. Like Tariq, he studied
blues research. Luckily with YouTube, it isn’t difficult to dig into the music in college, but agrees that the best way to learn is, “to get
old videos, and many of the instructional videos are either from to play with a well-established musician, like the opportunities on
blues legends or instructors talking about those legends.” the blues cruises.” He added that one of the best things about the
Tariq graduated from the music business program at Rhodes cruises is, “none of those musicians seem to have an ego, so it’s
College, but notes that even formal music programs do not not only easy to play with them, but also easy to learn from them.
provide much emphasis on the blues, focusing more on history On each cruise I learn so much, and it’s not just from the older
and theory. Tariq explains there is “only so much the schools can guys. You can be sure I’m watching Christone and Gabe to see
teach you. The rest, you must learn from just getting out there and how they do things too!”
rubbing elbows with other musicians who have been playing What I find so refreshing about all the twenty-something
the music longer, like you can on the cruises. I’ve noticed that guitarists on the LRBC was that despite being clearly capable
the vast majority of the older players are so generous with their of doing so, they did not seem preoccupied with “shredding” or
knowledge, which makes it a lot easier to learn the tradition.” showboating. Ingram, Stillman, Hay, Tariq and Julia all display
Hay agrees, noting maturity and an understanding of how “less can be more” with
that the best way to learn their tasteful playing.
is from seasoned artists. Roger Naber reminds us, “There is never a shortage of
“It’s always a trip getting musicians waiting in the wings to be called up to share the
to jam with these artists, stage with the more established pros.” To see both legends and
particularly on the cruise, rising stars of the blues, get yourself on an upcoming Legendary
because I used to dream Rhythm & Blues Cruise. There are still a few cabins available
of doing exactly that just for the 37 LRBC leaving this October, and the lineup has been
th
a few years ago. These announced for the 38 cruise next January.
th
cats are my heroes! See www.bluescruise.com for details.
One thing I found to be
very cool is how down- Anita Schlank, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and a
to-earth everybody is! board-certified forensic psychologist who has treated criminal
They are also incredibly offenders for over 30 years. She has authored numerous articles
supportive. They’ve got and book chapters, and edited the five-volume book series
decades of experience, entitled The Sexual Predator. She is also a passionate blues fan
and to pass down all that and is on the Board of Directors for the River City Blues Society in
knowledge to us newbies Richmond, VA. To connect, email anita.schlank@yahoo.com.
Photo by Laura Carbone

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