Blues ace showcases musical evolution

David Jacobs-Strain. photo provided David Jacobs-Strain has no problem dazzling audiences and critics alike with his fluid and passionate acoustic guitar chops.

They've earned him notice by Guitar One Magazine as one of "Ten Guitarists on the Brink of Greatness."

And the devotion of such a young man -- still in college at Stanford University -- to a venerable folk form like acoustic country blues has subjected him to worn out, double-edged accolades like "child blues prodigy."

What David Jacobs-Strain has shown on his new CD "An Ocean or a Teardrop" is an artist building on a tradition, using his gifts as an instrumentalist to push that tradition into new ground defined by his personal vision as a songwriter.

Jacobs-Strain penned most of the songs on "Ocean," mixing the originals with touchstones like "Kokomo Blues" (Fred McDowell) and "Soul of a Man" by Blind Willie Johnson.

And, while the guitar is the foundation of the sound, "Ocean" is much more of an integrated ensemble piece than one might expect from a "guitar hero." It's also got the loose energy of improvisation among a group of first-class players.

"I decided to let it evolve that way," Jacobs-Strain told The Nugget.

He said he invited "seven of my favorite musicians who were available at that time to come into the studio and make something up."

The added vocals of Anne Weiss and the fiddle of Joe Craven in the title track create a contemporary feel that is impossible to pin down to a single tradition. And it certainly isn't traditional blues.

That's fine with Jacobs-Strain. The blues struck a chord in him at a very early age -- he started playing at age nine -- and he is a serious student of the mix of traditions later categorized as "the blues." But he is the first to point out that he isn't living the life of a bluesman; he has his own vision to express through the music.

"I've never really been interested in writing conventional blues songs," he said.

For him, being a blues player means striking a balance between respect for the tradition "and taking it where you are moved to take it."

Jacobs-Strain is often moved to take the blues in the direction of politics: "Ocean or a Teardrop" depicting the cost of war; "Earthquake," a bid for social revolution.

For the artist, the simple act of playing "hand-made" music, the music of the people, is political.

"There's always been a sense that playing blues -- or really any folk music -- is a political act," he said.

Jacobs-Strain finds balancing school and music challenging, but in many ways beneficial. As a cultural anthropology student and a member of the university community he meets people and delves into experiences that broaden his palette as a songwriter.

And coming off a full-time summer touring schedule allows him to take time to practice and write.

"It's one of the nice things about waking up in the same place every day," he said.

David Jacobs-Strain will perform in concert at Angeline's Bakery on Thursday, September 2, 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.