The main points of the text from Dave Evans and Paul Oliver were mainly based on uncovering

the original origins of the Blues. The two authors discuss the correlation of the Trans-Atlantic
Slave trade and its impact on music. The authors uncover how spirituals and field songs later
translated down to what we know as Blues. Evans and Oliver both explain how musical
instruments are connected back to the slave trade and the original land. From my perspective the
two authors shed lights on how slaves utilized what they had available, despite the region, to play
music. The authors continuous reveal examples of how past musical traditions transitioned over
into Blues. They connect original roots of instruments, to the instrument’s slaves had available
and to what instruments were use in more modern times. The song “Levee Camp Holler” and the
Muslim call to prayer is a great example.
Paul Oliver writes how the banjo can be connected back to the griots. The griots, a group of
people that were musicians and storytellers. It is noted that they originally came from the Islamic
people. Oliver states that their music is the foundation to Blues. It is amazing how griots, a
profession that originated in Africa, made it was into the Unites States. Oliver states, that griots
would have had an advantage in becoming a slave musician in the United States (Oliver Pg.66).
Moreover, both Evans and Oliver cover instruments like the banjo and fiddle. Oliver covers
blues in Savannah and how string instruments were the most popular instruments due to
European influences He also states how string instruments were more prevalent in the South. In
my opinion, based on the little I know about the Blues, the guitar is the instrument that comes to
my mind when someone mentions the Blues.
Evans stated that the banjo is not primarily a Blues instrument. That statement stood out to me a
lot because I would have considered that to be one of the main early instruments early Blues.
Evans also explains how the drums were not played in the south due to the Protestant religion.
However, he goes on to explain how the drums were played in Louisiana. Evans text, also
explains the complexity “African balafone” also known as the xylophone. He suggests that
maybe xylophone players may have turned into piano players due to the similarities.
Overall, I had no prior knowledge of the vast number of instruments that were used to play the
Blues. I enjoyed learning about how music of the past has translated into what we know as Blues
today.