HOMESPUNTaught By Geoff Muldaur.
Level 3
85-minute DVD or VHS, includes music and tab book
Legendary singer and guitarist Geoff Muldaur has chosen six gospel and blues arrangements that are filled with ideas, techniques and wonderful songs to add to your repertoire. They include two traditional gospel songs: "Just a Little While to Stay Here," based on a New Orleans funeral march in dropped D tuning; the soulful "Trouble Soon Be Over" in open G; and "I Believe I’ll Go Back Home," Geoff’s own version of the biblical story of the Prodigal Son.
Geoff teaches his blues arrangement to "Wild Ox Moan," the amazing rendition of Vera Hall’s Texas Blues that was one of the highlights of his hit CD “The Secret Handshake.” His original blues/ballad "Got to Find Blind Lemon" tells the compelling story of Geoff’s search for the blues master’s resting place so he can “see that his grave is kept clean,” and includes some vintage Blind Lemon licks in the arrangement. Finally, Delta blues riffs and rich chord shapes in open C tuning (EGCGCE) make a powerful setting for Blind Willie Johnson’s "Tears Come Rolling Down."
Geoff’s vision of the guitar as an arranging tool gives this video lesson a uniquely important place among instructional materials. He uses standard ingredients of fingerstyle playing -- alternating bass, arpeggio rolls, moving lines, harmonized scales and syncopations, combined with rich chord voicings that add a jazz sensibility to traditional music. With his rare musical intelligence, he sheds light on how to “find the little things that make a difference” and how, by making small changes, you can make turnarounds and blues licks sound fresh and new.
Student Review:
"I was trying to work up an arrangement of a piece and happened to think of the Geoff Muldaur video. I had forgotten how many musical ideas are covered in this tape in a very user friendly fashion. Please forward a word of thanks and appreciation to Geoff if you have a chance." - G.D.W.Ferris II
"I purchased a copy of Geoff's video and just had to let you know how much I am enjoying learning his arrangements. I have many of your instructional tapes that have been a boon in my practice. However, Geoff's songs and tunes have blown me away. They are fantastic and I get a real buzz out of learning these tunes and playing them." - Sean Corley (Liverpool, England)
"I bought my first Homespun dvd a year ago. For someone like me who's
never going to be an accomplished player (I'm a little too old & busy), being
able to do passable versions of Wild Ox Moan, Deep River Blues and Hesitation
Blues is truly satisfying. I'd recommend any of your products but Geoff Muldaur's
is extra special in my opinion. Nice guy, nice music." Tim Daniels
Playing his 12-fret 1935 Martin, Geoff Muldaur brings to
his instructional video three decades of experience and a deep knowledge of American
roots music. He is one of the great singers, guitarists and all-around musical
forces to emerge from the folk and blues scenes centered in Cambridge (MA) and
Woodstock (NY) in the 1960's. He was a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug
Band from 1963-68, recording four albums with them for Vanguard and Warner Brothers.
He was also one of the original members of Paul Butterfield's Better Days, and
he recorded two albums with his ex-wife Maria Muldaur and one with guitar wizard
Amos Garrett. Geoff’s recording credits include appearances with Jerry Garcia,
Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, Bonnie Raitt, Hal Ketchum, Benny Carter, James Booker,
John Cale, Victoria Williams, Otis Spann, Phil Everly and Bobby Charles. He has
produced records for Lenny Pickett and the Borneo Horns and the Richard Greene
String Quartet. He's also composed film and television scores, winning an Emmy
in the process. His definitive recording of "Brazil" provided the seed
for and was featured in Terry Gilliam's film of the same title.