Proudly Presents...

Blues Band

The

TheOm

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an BluesBand

Omar Coleman is a blues singer and harmonica player fromChicago’s West Side. He has performed in Chicago bluesfestivals, clubs, and concerts around the world since 2003.

Omar Coleman

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Omar ColemanHe has recorded 3 studio albums, plus a live album recordedat Chicago’s legendary Rosa’s Lounge.

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BluesBlues is an original American music. Theblues originated on Southern plantationsin the 19th Century, evolving fromAfrican spirituals, African chants, andwork songs.

It has influenced many other styles ofmusic, including Rock ‘n’ Roll, R&B, HipHop, Jazz, and Country.

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During the Great Migration ofthe 1930’s & 40’s, the Blues spreadnorth from the southern U.S. tocities such as St. Louis andChicago.

Musicians then began to playthe blues on electric instruments.

Koko Taylor

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Blues

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Blues songs deal with themesabout the difficult struggle toovercome hardship.

The music is often built on Riffs -short repeating themes, oftenplayed on guitar. Many bluessongs are composed of a 12-measure, 3-chord progression.

Buddy Guy

Blues

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an BluesBandListen to Omar play and talk about playing the blues!

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This fall’s EISMA concert will feature Omar Coleman playing in a trio, or three musicians.

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INSTRUMENTS InstrumentsLet’s look at the instruments the trio will be playing.

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INSTRUMENTS Harmonica

A harmonica – sometimescalled a “Blues Harp” – is aninstrument played using themouth, lips, and tongue todirect air into or out of oneor more holes along amouthpiece called a “comb”.

comb

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INSTRUMENTS HarmonicaIt is a reed instrument – like saxophone, clarinet, and oboe – but ithas several tiny metal reeds. Sound is created when air is blowninto a harmonica and the reeds vibrate.

metal reedsSaxophone

reedcomb

metal reeds

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INSTRUMENTS

Click to watch and listen to Omar play harmonica!

Harmonica

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INSTRUMENTS Electric Guitar

The Electric Guitaris a 6-string fretted instrument.

It is tuned and played like an acoustic guitar.

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INSTRUMENTS Electric Guitar

It’s called a “fretted” instrument because it has

little metal bars on the neck called “frets”

Frets

INSTRUMENTS Electric GuitarAn electric guitar can be plugged into an

amplifier, which makes it louder!

TWANG!

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TheOm

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INSTRUMENTS

Click to watch and listen to a sample of electric guitar!

Electric Guitar

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MUSICIANS Tom HollandElectric Guitar

Tom Holland grew up on Chicago’s southside listening to jazz and blues. He beganplaying guitar at 13, and was playingprofessional gigs by 19.

He has toured the world, playing withblues legends such as Eddie “the Chief”Clearwater and James Cotton.

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The Bass Guitaris a 4-string fretted instrument. Like all “bass” instruments, it plays low notes.

INSTRUMENTS Bass Guitar

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The bass guitar has 4 strings tuned exactly like a string bassfrom an orchestra or jazz band.

INSTRUMENTS Bass Guitar

Electric Bass Guitar Acoustic String Bass

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INSTRUMENTS Bass Guitar

FretsA string bass has no frets

Like a guitar,a bass guitar has frets.

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an BluesBandClick to watch and listen to a sample of bass guitar!

INSTRUMENTS Bass Guitar

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MUSICIANS Harlan TersonBass Guitar

Harlan Terson has played bass forover 50 years. Born in Chicago, hebegan playing guitar at age 15.

He has played with a number ofblues legends such as Otis Rush,Lonnie Brooks, and Albert Collins.

...and thanks again for the support of EISMA, the City of Evanston, the Evanston Arts Council, and the Illinois Arts Council.

Thanks to...

Blues Band

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EISMA is partially funded by the City of Evanston,in partnership with the Evanston Arts Council,and by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.