Long live the blues

Celebrated blues legend dies while on tour 

Blues legend Johnny Winter died July 16 in Zurich, Switzerland, while on tour. He died nine days before he was scheduled to play at the Rusty Nail in Stowe.

Winter, age 70, had rocked the blues world with his fast pace and unique technique. He gained almost instant fame in the 1960s after striking a contract with Columbia Records.

Winter collaborated the likes of Jimi Hendrix and his lifelong hero Muddy Waters, with whom he produced three Grammy Award-winning albums. Winter was named one of the top 100 guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Winter’s death gives music devotees a reason to sing the blues — and local blues celebrity Seth Yacovone will give them an opportunity. He and his band will play in Winter’s memory at the Rusty Nail on Saturday night.

“He’s left behind a great legacy of music,” Yacovone said, noting that Winter spent the last 25 years of his life playing pure, traditional blues music rather than pursuing pop hits.

Winter, who had albinism and encountered vision problems at an early age, described himself as a “bluesy kid” who could relate to the sense of alienation that spurred the genre.

He had just finished an album, “Step Back,” featuring collaborations with Eric Clapton, Ben Harper and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. It will be released posthumously in September.

Yacovone, who was slated to perform alongside Winter at the Nail, said he shared Winter’s discomfort with society and crowds.

“You’ve got to feel a bit on the outside,” he explained. “That’s what the blues is all about.”

Yacavone, who’s from Wolcott, gained critical acclaim when he performed with Phish and toured the country with his band before returning to his Vermont club circuit.

Yacovone has long been a Winter fan, calling the bluesman an incredible, unique player with his own style of attack on the guitar.

“He wasn’t afraid to ratchet up the intensity level,” Yacovone said, releasing a “raw fearlessness” that grabbed Yacovone’s attention from a young age.

“There’s nobody who’s really played faster blues lead guitar.”

Although Winter was more tied to the Texas swing style and generally had a faster pace than he does, Yacovone said their respective trios had similar styles, playing loud, “in your face,” guttural blues.

Winter often reworked older tunes in his own style, Yacovone said, maintaining the tradition of passing down music to succeeding generations.

Yacovone’s band is scheduled to play 26 songs associated with Winter.

While other musicians try to keep the blues scene going, Yacovone said Winter’s death leaves an important question: “Who’s left?”