American blues style

[ce124]

I used to have a compilation cd of blues/folk stuff. It had this really sparse solo bass/deep guitar instrumental with notes played and then bent for ages. It was kind of like desert/landscape music. Any idea what type of music this is and where I might look for some?

[andy hughes]

It sounds like Delta Blues - check out Robert Johnson, who more or less started it all - and see if you like it.

[ce124]

I don't think it was delta blues. There was no singing. The guitar playing was really slow.

[jenky]

Ry Cooder?

[ARSENAL]

Alot of the bluesmen past and present play different styles.  Reading what you said ce124, it sounds like a sort of deep south / swamp type music.  Jenky could be right and it could be Ry Cooder.  Check out Music By...a compilation of his film score music.  Some of the tracks on that, like the stuff from Southern Comfort and Paris, Texas is knid of like you have been describing.  Other than that it really is worth checking out Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Leadbelly and Blind Willie McTell - people like that.  There are also some great modern artists who play the same stuff like Ben Andrews and Terry Garland who are fantastic players.  Hope this helps.  If you or anyone else has any recommendations I would love to hear them.