Proudly Presents...
Blues Band
The
TheOm
ar Colem
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
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
Omar ColemanHe has recorded 3 studio albums, plus a live album recordedat Chicago’s legendary Rosa’s Lounge.
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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.
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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
Mud
dy W
ater
s
How
lin’ W
olf
Blues
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBandListen to Omar play and talk about playing the blues!
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
This fall’s EISMA concert will feature Omar Coleman playing in a trio, or three musicians.
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
INSTRUMENTS InstrumentsLet’s look at the instruments the trio will be playing.
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
INSTRUMENTS
Click to watch and listen to Omar play harmonica!
Harmonica
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
INSTRUMENTS Electric Guitar
The Electric Guitaris a 6-string fretted instrument.
It is tuned and played like an acoustic guitar.
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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!
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
INSTRUMENTS
Click to watch and listen to a sample of electric guitar!
Electric Guitar
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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.
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
The Bass Guitaris a 4-string fretted instrument. Like all “bass” instruments, it plays low notes.
INSTRUMENTS Bass Guitar
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
INSTRUMENTS Bass Guitar
FretsA string bass has no frets
Like a guitar,a bass guitar has frets.
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBandClick to watch and listen to a sample of bass guitar!
INSTRUMENTS Bass Guitar
TheOm
ar Colem
an BluesBand
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
The
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.