Cookeville Blues Jam

06/15/2026

Next up in the guantlet..... Larry McCray's Mr. Easy. This one is extra special for us! I hope we get some ambitious jammers out to do this one at the Cookeville Blues Jam - July 1st edition!

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Larry McCray – "Mr. Easy" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists still writing new songs using the traditional blues engine. Few artists represent that better than Larry McCray.

Before Cookeville Blues Jam existed, our own Larry was watching Larry McCray tear up stages around Detroit, including appearances at the Motor City Music Awards and the legendary Blue Goose blues jam. That makes this month's selection of "Mr. Easy" a little extra special.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ Vocabulary – Blues vocabulary is present throughout the song. The guitar phrasing, vocal delivery, and overall musical language are unmistakably blues.

✅ Tone – Thick guitar tone and a powerful vocal performance deliver exactly the kind of emotional weight blues listeners expect to hear.

✅ Feel – The groove sits comfortably in the blues pocket. Nothing rushed, nothing forced. The band lets the song breathe.

✅ Form – Traditional 12-bar I-IV-V blues form. This is exactly the kind of contemporary blues song this month's playlist was designed to showcase.

⚪ Standards – While "Mr. Easy" is an original song, it draws from lyrical and musical traditions that blues listeners will immediately recognize.

RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET

More importantly, "Mr. Easy" demonstrates that the traditional blues form is still alive and well. This isn't a cover of a classic blues song. It's a contemporary blues artist writing new music using the same engine that has powered blues songs for generations.

🎧 Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/myfvbX1lHRQ?si=fowpOCjMpxpbKBek

06/15/2026

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Larry McCray – "Mr. Easy" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists still writing new songs using the traditional blues engine. Few artists represent that better than Larry McCray.

Before Cookeville Blues Jam existed, our own Larry was watching Larry McCray tear up stages around Detroit, including appearances at the Motor City Music Awards and the legendary Blue Goose blues jam. That makes this month's selection of "Mr. Easy" a little extra special.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ Vocabulary – Blues vocabulary is present throughout the song. The guitar phrasing, vocal delivery, and overall musical language are unmistakably blues.

✅ Tone – Thick guitar tone and a powerful vocal performance deliver exactly the kind of emotional weight blues listeners expect to hear.

✅ Feel – The groove sits comfortably in the blues pocket. Nothing rushed, nothing forced. The band lets the song breathe.

✅ Form – Traditional 12-bar I-IV-V blues form. This is exactly the kind of contemporary blues song this month's playlist was designed to showcase.

⚪ Standards – While "Mr. Easy" is an original song, it draws from lyrical and musical traditions that blues listeners will immediately recognize.

RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET

More importantly, "Mr. Easy" demonstrates that the traditional blues form is still alive and well. This isn't a cover of a classic blues song. It's a contemporary blues artist writing new music using the same engine that has powered blues songs for generations.

🎧 Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/myfvbX1lHRQ?si=fowpOCjMpxpbKBek

06/13/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Blues Comin' On” — Joe Louis Walker

Joe Louis Walker has spent a lifetime carrying the blues forward, and Blues Comin' On is a perfect example of how modern artists can write new songs without abandoning the traditional form.

Vocabulary — PASS
Everything about this song speaks the blues language. The vocal phrasing, guitar work, and overall delivery are rooted firmly in tradition.

Tone — PASS
Authentic, gritty, and unmistakably blues. Joe's personality comes through without ever losing sight of the genre.

Feel — PASS
Strong blues groove with plenty of triplet gravity underneath. The song feels comfortable in its own skin.

Form — PASS
Built on a clear listener-recognizable 12-bar blues cycle. The classic I-IV-V movement remains easy to hear throughout the song.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a classic AAB lyric structure. The song uses a more contemporary storytelling approach while remaining firmly rooted in the blues tradition.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form. A modern blues song that proves the traditional engine still has plenty of miles left in it.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Don't get distracted by the guitar work. This tune succeeds because the groove stays locked to the form. Let the pocket lead and everything else will fall into place.

https://youtu.be/8pqx-iwfTK0?si=ik0hMi82XBup-xYj

06/11/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Suitcase Full of Blues” — Tommy Castro

Some songs try to disguise the blues. This isn't one of them. Tommy Castro builds this one on a traditional blues foundation while delivering it with a modern voice and modern production.

Vocabulary — PASS
The phrasing, guitar work, and vocal delivery are deeply rooted in the blues tradition. No explanation required.

Tone — PASS
Rich, gritty, and unmistakably blues. Tommy's personality shines through without ever leaving the language.

Feel — PASS
Strong groove with plenty of blues gravity underneath. The pocket drives the song from beginning to end.

Form — PASS
Built on a clear listener-recognizable 12-bar blues form. The song briefly steps away from the pattern during the chorus, almost functioning as a bridge, before returning to the traditional blues cycle.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a classic AAB lyric structure. The song uses a more contemporary lyrical approach.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form. A modern blues song built on a traditional engine.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Trust the groove. The form is familiar, so resist the urge to overcomplicate it. The best performances of this tune let the pocket and the story do the heavy lifting.

https://youtu.be/29cylwESeeI?si=N6zsBiTuwTscsNNF

06/08/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Fresh Out” — Kingfish

One of the strongest examples of a modern artist writing inside the traditional blues form, Fresh Out proves that the classic blues engine is still alive and well. Contemporary production, modern perspective, timeless foundation.

Vocabulary — PASS
Kingfish speaks the language fluently. The phrasing, guitar vocabulary, and vocal delivery are unmistakably rooted in the blues tradition.

Tone — PASS
Big, confident, and modern without losing its blues identity. Every note sounds intentional.

Feel — PASS
Strong blues pocket with plenty of gravity underneath. The groove carries the song from start to finish.

Form — PASS
Clear listener-recognizable 12-bar blues form. The traditional I-IV-V movement remains front and center.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a classic AAB lyric structure. The song tells its story through a more contemporary approach.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form. A modern blues song that proves the traditional engine still has plenty of life left in it.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Don't overplay it. The form is doing a lot of the work here. Lock into the groove, trust the changes, and let the song breathe.

https://youtu.be/qpr8uWhWrPk?si=_DvGUwMZ1CmL3act

06/06/2026

🎸 July Playlist: Modern Blues, Traditional Engine
Blues music has never stood still. Over the years it has blended with rock, soul, country, funk, and countless other influences. Much of today's blues landscape lives comfortably in that roots music space—and that's part of what keeps the music alive.
But this month we're shining a light on something a little different.
Every song on this playlist is a modern recording by a contemporary artist, built on the traditional blues engine: the classic 12-bar form, strong I-IV-V movement, and the timeless structure that has powered blues music for generations.
These aren't old recordings.
These aren't modern covers.
These are modern artists writing new blues songs.
As we put this playlist together, one thing became clear: songs like these are getting harder to find. Not because the blues is disappearing, but because the music continues to evolve in new directions.
And that's exactly what makes these songs worth celebrating.
The traditional form is still alive.
People are still writing it.
People are still playing it.
And this month, we're listening to it.
Give the playlist a spin, learn a few tunes, and come join us at the jam.
🎶 Cookeville Blues Jam First Wednesday (July 1st) • Red Silo Brewing

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06/04/2026

If you were not at the Cookeville Blues Jam last night you missed out on an incredible evening of celebrating the women of Blues music! Special thanks to ladies who showed up and showed out including Melissa Ellis, Lorie Judd, Regina Coonrod and Vanessa Dawn Rogers. Also thanks to our musician guests, Eddie V, Dalton Martin, Silas Gilreath, Mike McMillan who consistently show up to support the jam and help us do our part to keep the Blues alive in the Upper Cumberland! Details on the July edition of the Cookeville Blues Jam will be posted soon. Stay tuned!

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05/31/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Love Me Like a Man” — Bonnie Raitt

Written by Chris Smither, Bonnie Raitt turned this one into a blues staple. Strong groove, strong attitude, and a lyric that flips expectations without ever leaving the language.

Vocabulary — PASS
Bonnie's phrasing, delivery, and slide work are deeply rooted in the blues tradition. She never sounds like she's visiting the genre.

Tone — PASS
Warm, natural, and unmistakably Bonnie. A perfect example of personality and blues identity coexisting.

Feel — PASS
Deep pocket with plenty of blues gravity underneath. Not a shuffle, but the groove never loses its blues pull.

Form — PASS
Clear listener-recognizable blues cycle. Easy to follow and firmly grounded in traditional blues movement.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a clear AAB lyric structure. The lyric and song form work beautifully, but the listener doesn't hear the classic statement-repeat-resolve pattern.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form — a modern blues classic built on groove, personality, and a deep understanding of the tradition.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Don't rush the groove. This one works when the band settles in, leaves space, and lets the vocal tell the story.

https://youtu.be/K7u0bBrLZsE?si=B6ApCvjfeuyrDIwh

05/29/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Stormy Monday” — Eva Cassidy

Written by T-Bone Walker, Stormy Monday is one of the great blues standards. For generations, blues musicians have used it as a vehicle for interpretation, making it one of the most recorded and reimagined songs in the blues tradition.

Eva Cassidy's version is haunting, elegant, and deeply respectful of the language. She doesn't try to overpower the song — she lets it breathe.

Vocabulary — PASS
The phrasing and delivery stay firmly rooted in the blues tradition. Eva's approach is subtle, but the language is unmistakable.

Tone — PASS
Warm, expressive, and emotionally honest. A different shade of blues, but undeniably blues.

Feel — PASS
Deep slow blues feel with plenty of space and gravity. This one never rushes.

Form — PASS
Clear listener-recognizable blues cycle. The song's traditional structure remains intact.

Standards — PASS
Built on a classic AAB lyric framework. Statement, repeat, resolve — one of the foundational blues verse structures.

Final Score: 5 of 5
Everything lands. A timeless blues standard interpreted through a unique voice without losing its identity.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Don't fill every hole. Let the song breathe. This one gets stronger when the band plays less and listens more.

https://youtu.be/XaMBFy_-LO4?si=Qyd-6MJFpO2TjVnp

05/28/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Evil” — Koko Taylor

Written by Willie Dixon and brought to life with pure Chicago authority, Koko’s version of Evil is slow, heavy, and absolutely unapologetic. This one doesn’t need speed or flash — it wins with tension, space, and attitude.

Vocabulary — PASS
Koko lives completely inside the blues language. Every phrase, growl, and vocal push feels rooted in tradition.

Tone — PASS
Dark, raw, and unmistakably blues. The band and vocal both sound honest and dangerous.

Feel — PASS
Deep slow blues feel with heavy triplet gravity underneath. This one sits way behind the beat and lets the tension build naturally.

Form — PASS
Clear listener-recognizable blues cycle. Even stretched and spacious, the form still feels grounded in traditional blues movement.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a listener-recognizable AAB lyric structure.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form — a slow-burn Chicago blues masterclass built on restraint and authority.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Do not rush this tune. Leave space, trust the groove, and let the tension do the work. The slower this feels, the bigger it gets.

Note - I put the Alligator 25th Anniversary Collection image on this, because this is where I first heard Koko's version of Evil. I was blown away. And this entire disc is a perfect entry into the blues language for someone looking to learn it!

https://youtu.be/Ys3ASiblqdM?si=w7Cp3eMvLFkTa3h3