Playing the Blues

If the great American musical tradition of the blues is defined by names like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Freddie King and Pinetop Perkins — than it's only fair to include the name David Maxwell — because he's played with them all.

Maxwell has been a part of the history of the blues since the mid-60s when, as a classically trained kid from the Boston suburbs, he fell under the spell of the great blues pianist Otis Spahn of the Muddy Waters band.

Ever since, Maxwell has been playing the blues — perhaps not as a household name but certainly as one of the great sidemen. And while many of the great old Chicago Blues men are gone, he's kept their music alive — while making it his own.

Hear a conversation with bluesman extraordinaire David Maxwell.

Guests:

David Maxwell, bues musician and pianist.