Great report from Samuel Mumenthaler on bernerzeitung.ch about the concert in Bern.
link : http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/kultur/pop-und-jazz/Als-der-Blues-nach-Bern-kam/story/11814066
( Google translate )
It was the night when the Blues reached Bern. But the newspapers did not send critics, the public rally was limited.Featured was an American Folk Blues Festival. With this, among others the lone wolf John Lee Hooker and the guitarist T-Bone Walker, who had electrified blues. On wings sitting Memphis Slim, the double bass played Willie Dixon. Each fan had in this star-studded of pulse skyrocket. Bloss: Blue fans there were at that time in Europe barely. One who did not miss the historic concert in October 1962, was the then 17-year-old Polo Hofer. "The American Folk Blues Festival was one reason why I was drawn by the Oberland to Berne," says Hofer, who was an ardent admirer of black jazz and blues musicians. Yet the Blues had some hip connoisseurs reserved for their information on radio stations such as American Forces Network procured.
With missionary zeal
This changed thanks to the two German concert promoters Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau. Impressed by Big Bill Broonzy, who was marketed as the last Bluesmohikaner in the 1950s, they decided to bring back the "authentic" Blues to Europe. The music fans followed the objects of their desire to the huts on the Mississippi and the music venues of South Side of Chicago, where whites were not welcome. For most musicians, Lippmann and Rau were flown to Frankfurt in October 1962, it was the first visit to Europe. The organizers presented "their" Blues with missionary zeal and didactic ambitions - a journalist spoke of the "hottest adult education center in the world".
Concerts followed Ingenious dramaturgy: As in a revue be soloists, duos and larger formations came off. The stage tricks with which the musicians entertained the public at home in the bar were not desirable in the tour of the European concert halls. "I think that in retrospect not really, because we have talked to in there too our white head", Horst Lippmann later regretted. "We wanted to achieve the acceptance of these musicians and not do it again from them Negroes, make funny things and disavow himself." The professionals were anyway not limit: In the photographs, which are obtained from Bern concert, can be T-Bone Walker see the legendary Gitarrenspagat.
Victim of its own success
Because the first American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 exceeded expectations, it was repeated annually from now on - and sparked a true Blue boom: 1964 was the Royal Albert Hall sold out three times, in the best years were at more than 30 concerts. But Lippmann and Rau were victims of their own success. They had the Blues literally brought into the world and infects young musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton or the Animals with the virus. But then the white students took the blues so popular that the interest in the originals decreased. In 1972 the Festival was set in the 1980s, there was a brief revival.
Tips for Nightlife
In Switzerland Polo Hofer was his Jetmen one of the first who put on black music - also under the impression of the experience of 1962. After the concert Polo hunted for autographs. Had particularly impressed him the appearance of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. "One was blind, the lame other," Hofer says. As he struggled with the blind for an autograph, that took out a stamp with the imprint "Yours, Sonny Terry". John Lee Hooker demanded in return for his signature a tip when it comes to nightlife. "As a non Berner I only knew the Chikito," says Polo. "It took some persuasion, until each one ringed and striped socks had the famous musician in his flood pants and into the nightclub." The Blues was definitely arrived in Bern. (Berner Zeitung)
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( Thanks to Samuel Mumenthaler for the pictures )
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