"Con Alma de Blues Magazine" Nº7 English Edition Con Alma de Blues Magazine Nº7 /English Edition | Page 15

since I started doing it. Years ago there
were 100s of independent record labels.
U could get a deal easily. The competi-
tion was fierce. Today you only have 4
major distributors and not many labels in
the world instead of 100s. And the many
stations across the world...and controlled
by a few corporations. So who controls
the media controls the message. I am the
"last of the independents" But the inter-
net and technology has allowed anyone
to make a record and get it out there.
For many the odds are against them...
but when you do what you love...it ain't
a job. There will always be music but the
problem is this: The "music business" is
an oxymoron. An artist only sees his or
her art...as art. A business man in the arts
only sees the bottom line. Therefore there
will always be a conflict. I am an artist first
and last. But I should be more business
like...but being an existential bluesman, I
can't be both. play somewhere else. He came to my out-
doors gig and saw me playing. Loved what
he heard and asked could he come on the
stage to play. I did not know Baba but I said
ok because the promoter said he was great.
And he was right. Baba Sissoko is an ama-
zing artist. We hit it off immediately. I came
back to Lithuania and through Jay our (Li-
thuania gig promoter) he secured a studio.
And we recorded Griot Blues is four days.
It was magical and a blessing for all of us.
The reviews have been wonderful and I am
grateful people “got it.” I mixed and maste-
red Griot Blues back in LA at a wonderful
studio Maurice Gainen Studios Glad u like
it. It’s the first, of a three part cycle of what I
call Afro Blues. It’s world music with roots in
Mississippi and in Mali, Roots to Roots The
Blues went back home.
GZ: Tell us about your last disc “Griot
Blues” with Baba Sissoko, It’s excellent!! A Blues life ain’t easy. But neither is life. As
Buddha said...life is sorrow. The greatest
Bluesmen made little money. And many
people have taken their gifts and got very
rich. I don’t mine you get rich off Blues but
“Griot Blues came about because I had
a gig in Lithuania and Baba was there to
GZ: What is the best advice a bluesman
ever gave you? What are the secrets of
Blues Life?