Sugar Blue Brings 'Colors of Blues' to Chinese Audiences

［After the COVID－19 pandemic has passed， Sugar Blue will finally be able to bring wonderful performances to the Chinese people with the album＂Colors＂ in 2023． Starting from November， Sugar Blue will hold eight performances with the theme Colors of Blues in Tianjin， Beijing， Hangzhou， Shanghai， Zhuhai， and Shenzhen．］

1949年12月16日，Sugar Blue生于纽约哈莱姆区，他的原名是James Whiting。15岁时，姑母将一把布鲁斯口琴（Blues Harp）作为礼物送给了他，从此打开了一扇通往Blues殿堂的大门，踏上了他开挂的人生旅途。

从街头卖艺开启他早期的艺术生涯，深谙生活蕴藏巨大能量的道理，Sugar Blue的歌词灵感来自于新闻、自身的情感以及发生在他周围的各种事情，他的音乐往往能够与听众产生超越语言、地域和文化的共鸣。1977年，Sugar Blue在Johnny shine的专辑《Too Wet to Plow》中演出，之后在蓝调钢琴家Memphis Slim的建议下搬到了法国巴黎，在那里他被滚石乐队的主唱Mick Jagger发现，并邀请他作为乐队的session player（录音室乐手）。

Sugar Blue aka James Whiting was born in Harlem， New York， on December 16， 1949． When he was 15 years old， his aunt gave him a harmonica （Blues Harp） as a gift， which opened the door to the world of blues and mbarked him on a life journey of music．

He started his early artistic career as a street performer， and he understands that life contains huge energy． Sugar Blue＇s lyrics are inspired by the news， his own emotions and various things happening around him． His music can often transcend the expectations of his audience with a resonance for language， place and culture． In 1977， Sugar Blue performed on Johnny Shine＇s album＂Too Wet to Plow＂， and then moved to Paris， France， at the suggestion of blues pianist Memphis Slim， where he was discovered by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger， who invited him as a vocalist and the band＇s session player．

接下来的几年里，为滚石乐队的三张专辑录制了口琴部分。他最著名的作品是热门单曲《Miss You》。1978年，Sugar Blue与滚石乐队和路易斯安那红（Louisiana Red）乐队一起在美国巡演，并与他们合作录制了两张专辑。

Sugar Blue的首张个人专辑《Crossroads》于1980年发行。在1982年发行《From Chicago to Paris》专辑后，Sugar Blue搬到了伊利诺伊州的芝加哥，在那里他与Big Walter Horton、James Cotton和Junior Wells等知名蓝调艺术家一起演出。

1985年，他获得了格莱美最佳传统蓝调专辑奖，以表彰他在合辑《Blues Explosion》中的贡献。在40多年职业生涯中，与众多传奇音乐家并肩同台经历（Ray Charles、Muddy Waters、B．B．King、Eric Clapton、Buddy Guy等）让Sugar Blue在蓝调音乐世界里的不断吸收着养分。

Over the next few years， harmonica parts were recorded for three Rolling Stones albums． He is best known for the hit single＂Miss You＂． In 1978， Sugar Blue toured the United States with the Rolling Stones and Louisiana Red， recording two albums with them． Sugar Blue＇s first solo album＂Crossroads＂ was released in 1980． After the release of＂From Chicago to Paris＂ in 1982， Sugar Blue moved to Chicago， Illinois， where he performed with such well－known blues artists as Big Walter Horton， James Cotton， and Junior Wells． In 1985， he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album for his contribution to the compilation album＂Blues Explosion＂． In a career spanning over 40 years， Sugar Blue has continued to absorb nutrients from the world of blues by sharing the stage with many legendary musicians （Ray Charles， Muddy Waters， B．B． King， Eric Clapton， Buddy Guy， etc．）．

他成功的音乐人生引得了多家大型媒体如百⽼汇音乐等平台争相报道，加之摘得音乐人梦寐以求并且终身为之奋斗的格莱美奖，坐实了他传奇布鲁斯音乐人的称号。

such as Parkway Music and other platforms to report on it． In addition to his Grammy Award， his successful music life has attracted the attention of major media outlets， confirming his title as a legendary blues musician．

横跨四大陆，流动的声响与情绪承载着持续涌动的创造力，凝结为五光十色的音乐之声。《Colors》这张专辑融合了多个国家和多位艺术家的“颜色”，歌曲的概念多样化，以一种海纳百川的姿态进行音乐语言的表达。第一支曲子是与Nick Tremulis合写的向 Bo Diddley致敬的曲目。

Across four continents， flowing sounds and emotions carry a continuous surge of creativity， condensed into colorful sounds of music． The album＂Colors＂ combines the＂colors＂ of many countries and artists． The concepts of the songs are diverse， and the musical language is expressed in an attitude that embraces all trends． The first track is a tribute to Bo Diddley co－written with Nick Tremulis， with Rico McFarland contributing his talent to the guitar．

Rico McFarland负责吉他部分，他长期在Sugar Blue乐队中演奏放克及灵魂之声。改编自披头士乐队的“Day Tripper”，编曲灵感来自于已故的口琴大师朱尼尔·威尔斯，传递出一种芝加哥风情，为这首歌曲赋予了新的生命力。＂Dirty Ole Man”，一首经典布鲁斯音乐，是对有毒的男子气概的反驳。鼓手 Brady Williams、Yan Boodhoo以及贝斯手 Ilaria Lantieri、Maestro Johnny B． Gayden为这首曲子提供节奏基础。指拨大师Max De Bernardi为“Good Old Days”提供了精美的吉他作品，新奥尔良的Washboard Chaz负责节奏。希望之歌“We will be alright”由来自南非索韦托的年轻合唱团Afrika Riz助阵。“Shanghai Sunset”（上海日落）是一首充满活力的大都市深情颂歌，在这首曲目中Sugar Blue更是与中国音乐家凌博合作将口琴古老的演化源头——笙的演奏加入其中。

He started his early artistic career as a street performer， and he understands that life contains huge energy．

He has long played funk and soul sounds in the band Sugar Blue． Adapted from The Beatles＇＂Day Tripper，＂ the arrangement is inspired by the late harmonica master Junior Wells， delivering a Chicago feel that gives the song new life．＂Dirty Ole Man，＂ a classic blues tune， is a rebuttal to toxic masculinity． Drummers Brady Williams and Yan Boodhoo and bassists Ilaria Lantieri and Maestro Johnny B． Gayden provide the rhythm foundation for this song． Fingerpicking maestro Max De Bernardi provides exquisite guitar work on＂Good Ole Days，＂ while New Orleans＇ Washboard Chaz handles rhythm． The song of hope＂We will be alright＂ was performed by Afrika Riz， a young choir from Soweto， South Africa．＂Shanghai Sunset＂ is a vibrant and soulful ode to the metropolis． In this track， Sugar Blue collaborated with Chinese musician Ling Bo to add the sheng， the ancient anticedent to the harmonica．

在这张专辑中你可以捕捉到布鲁斯音乐最深层的身份认同，拥抱它的变革并满怀感激与热情地看向前方。

The album captures the deepest identity of blues music， embracing its transformation and looking forward with gratitude and enthusiasm．

这不是Sugar Blue与中国的第一次结缘，这位殿堂级的布鲁斯音乐大师曾于2017年、2019年携乐队到中国演出访问，并接受了中央国际频道 CGTN采访。2019年，Sugar Blue与中国著名民乐演奏家吴彤一同录制并登台湖南卫视《汉语桥总决赛》，与众多优秀国外音乐家同台演出，谈到对中国的印象，他说这里的人非常友好，食物也非常地道，中国很摇滚，China Rocks！

This is not Sugar Blue’s first association with China． This legendary blues master has visited China with his band to perform in 2017 and 2019， and was interviewed by the Central International Channel CGTV． In 2019， Sugar Blue recorded and appeared on Hunan Satellite TV＇s＂Chinese Bridge Finals＂ with Wu Tong， a famous Chinese folk music performer， and performed on the same stage with many outstanding foreign musicians． When talking about his impression of China， he said that the people here are very friendly， the food is also very authentic．．．＂China rocks， China Rocks！＂

2020年，Sugar Blue还与 Tom Forst以及其他全球几十位音乐人一起跨国合作演唱《Together》为中国和武汉加油，透过音符让我们感受世界各地的祝福和支持，感受到互相连结的爱。歌曲表达出了尽管疫情黑暗，可只要找到正确的路，困难终将过去，一切都会变好的美好祈愿。

In 2020， Sugar Blue also collaborated with Tom Forst and dozens of other musicians from around the world to sing＂Together＂ to cheer for China and Wuhan． Through the notes， we can feel the blessings and support from all over the world， and feel the love of interconnection． The song expresses beautifully the wish that despite the darkness of the epidemic， as long as we find the right path， the difficulties will eventually be overcome and everything will get better．

INTERVIEW

1．您之前就在中国演出过，专辑的发行也正好赶上疫情，这次回来觉得中国有没有什么变化？对这次久违的巡演有怎样的期待？（You＇ve played in China before， and your album release coincided with the epidemic， have you seen any changes in China this time around？ What are your expectations for this long overdue tour？）

我期待着再次为大家演出，在中国演出是我有过的最激动人心、最难忘的经历之一。在上海 One Music Dream录音也是一次很棒的经历，在Tiger和他的团队中感受到的友好、敬业让录音过程充满欢乐！我非常期待我和乐队能与我们离开这些年所错过的优秀听众分享我们对音乐的热爱！

I’m looking forward to playing for the people once again， playing in China was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences I’ve ever had． Recording in Shanghai at One Music Dream was also a great experience， Tiger and his crew of friendly， dedicated professionals made the sessions a joyful enterprise！ I expect that the band and I will share our love of the music with the wonderful audiences we have missed in the years we’ve been away！

2．您之前曾在上海长住过一段时间，疫情这几年无法来中国，最想念的是什么？（You lived in Shanghai for a long time before， but you couldn＇t come to China during the years of the epidemic， what are three things you missed the most？）

第一次踏上上海的土地，我们就爱上了这座城市。当新冠疫情发生时，我们本以为为期三周的旅行无法返回，我们感到十分悲伤。我们首先怀念的是欢迎我们来到这座城市的美丽朋友们。然后是令人难以置信的历史和文化、令我们着迷的音乐和建筑、艺术、音乐和音乐家，实在是有太多太多令人惊叹的东西了！

We were in love with Shanghai from the first time we set foot there， when Covid hit and we couldn’t return from what we thought was a three week excursion our sadness was palpable． The first thing we missed were the beautiful friends that had welcomed us to the city． Then there is the incredible history and culture， the music and architecture that enthralled us， the art， music and musicians， so much to marvel at！！

3．想知道您跟滚石乐队合作时有没有发生过什么印象深刻的事情可以跟我们分享？（You recorded with the Rolling Stones on several albums． Is there any notable story you could share with us of your time working with them？）

与＂滚石乐队＂的合作是我职业生涯的一个重要方面，它让我有机会制作我的第一张个人专辑。在去录音室的路上，我在录音室周围的树林里迷路了，我四处寻找出口，但怎么也找不到，于是只好决定离开。就在我转身要走的时候，我听到从许多扇门中的一扇门里传出了鸡西口音，Mick Jagger在向我招手，让我进去，如果再过几分钟他才把头伸出来，我就错过了这次一生中难得的机会！这大概就是缘分吧！Mick Jagger也说这是命中注定的事情。

Working with the Stones was an important aspect of my career， it enabled me to work on my first solo album． On the way to the recording sessions I got lost in the woods surrounding the studio． I was wandering around looking for the egress and couldn’t find it anywhere and decided to leave． Just as I turned to go I heard a cockney accent from one of the many doors and there was Mick waving for me to come in， if a few more minutes had passed before he stuck his head out I’d have missed the opportunity of a lifetime！！ It was truly kismet！！

4．您经历了很多个音乐时代的发展，见过一些音乐的兴起和衰落，有没有一个时代是您觉得最好的时代？（You have experienced the development of many musical eras and seen the rise and fall of some of them． Which one（s） most impacted your sound and works over the years？）

我最初受到的音乐影响来自于爵士的音乐家们。Lionel Hampton、Duke Ellington、Ray Charles以及Billie Holiday、Ella Fitzgerald、Dinah Washington和Big Maybelle等音乐家都是我妈妈的朋友。Billie是我们家特别亲密的朋友，她曾来家里看望她朋友刚出生的儿子——也就是我。有人告诉我，当她把我抱在胸前的时候，我在她的丝绸锦缎裙子上打了个嗝！显然，当时只有一个月大的我对这件事毫无印象！当我第一次听到芝加哥蓝调音乐时，我被深深地震撼了，如果没有他们，就没有猫王、披头士、亨德里克斯、滚石乐队等等！

My first musical influence came from the big band jazz cats． Lionel Hampton， Duke Ellington， Ray Charles and vocalists like Billie Holiday， Ella Fitzgerald， Dinah Washington and Big Maybelle， that my Mom fraternized with． Billie was an especially close friend of the family who came by the house to see her newborn son， me． I was told that as she held me to her chest I burped pablum on her silk brocade dress！ Evidently I have no memory of the incident being only a month old at the time！ When I heard Chicago Blues for the first time it blew me away， Muddy Waters， Howlin’ Wolf， Jimmie Reed， Little Walter， Sonnyboy Williamson， James Cotton， Junior Wells， George Smith， Billy Boy Arnold， Honey Boy Edwards， Big Walter Horton， Willie Dixon and many more－these men， their music and philosophy of life led me on a path of musical discovery that I walk to this day． Without them there would be no Elvis， Beatles， Hendrix， Stones， etcetera ad infinitum！

5．蓝调音乐是自由的，且表达生活。您现在仍然会通过乐队的即兴和对生活的观察来保持音乐创作吗？（Blues music is free and an expression of life． What role does improvisation play in your music， particularly live shows？ And how has the blues shaped your life？）

伟大的蓝调桂冠诗人Willie Dixon先生说过：＂蓝调是根，其他都是果！＂我们今天所知的即兴演奏始于蓝调，当欧洲音乐传统与蓝调融合在一起时，即兴演奏演变成了爵士乐。在这种二分法的基础上，诞生了许多流派：乡村音乐、雷鬼音乐、节奏布鲁斯、摩城音乐、摇滚乐、金属音乐、狂欢音乐、流行音乐，未来还将诞生我们尚未发现的音乐！最后，我必须说，蓝调音乐不是免费的，它的代价是先辈们用汗水、鲜血和泪水创造出的一种声音，这种声音不畏他们数百年来生活中所面临的动荡。这种音乐解放了我，让我每天都能以各种可能的方式找到快乐和希望。

The great poet laureate of the Blues， Mr． Willie Dixon said，“The Blues are the Roots， the rest are the fruits！” Improvisation as we know it today began with the Blues which morphed into Jazz when European musical traditions and the Blues fused together． From this dichotomy many genres were born， country， reggae， rhythm and blues， Motown， Rock and Roll， metal， rave， Pop and the future will bring musics we’ve yet to discover into being！ Lastly I must say the Blues was not free， it had a cost paid in the sweat， blood and tears that the progenitors gave to create a voice that defied the turmoil that they faced for centuries in their lives． This music liberates me to find joy and hope in every way possible every day．

6．对于蓝调音乐的新手来说，您会向他们推荐哪五张必听的唱片，让他们了解蓝调音乐？也分别推荐一首过去和现在喜欢的音乐吧！（For someone relatively new to the blues， what are the five must hear recordings you would recommend to them to introduce them to the genre？ Finally， could you recommend one past and one present favorite piece of music and explain why？）

对于蓝调音乐的新手来说，我会推荐Robert Johnson、Muddy Waters、Little Walter、Sonnyboy Williamson、B．B． King、Ray Charles！

Robert Johnson在过去和现在录制的全部作品中，有一位年轻的吉他手叫 Kingfish，你一定不能错过！这是蓝调！

这只是蓝调音乐，还有许多其他风格的音乐值得一提，但那是另一个时间和地点的事了．

I would recommend Robert Johnson， Muddy Waters， Little Walter， Sonnyboy Williamson， B．B． King， Ray Charles and that’s just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the incredible amount of diversity in this so－called simple three chord structure！！

The entirety of Robert Johnson’s recorded works for the past and for the present there’s a young guitarist Called Kingfish that you mustn’t miss！！ That’s in the Blues， there are many other styles that are worthy of mention but that’s for another time and place！！