"Well, blues along with jazz was invented by African Americans, so in a way, it has done good things for black people in the US. This music brings whites and blacks together. That was especially important in the 1950’s and 60’s here. But now blues inhabits a very small community and has little social implications."

Dudley Taft: The Rock n' Blues Kingdom

Cincinnati based singer-songwriter and guitarist Dudley Taft is a tour de force in the blues world. Dudley Taft grew up in the American Midwest where he learned the values of friendship, roots blues, rock 'n' roll and a good ear of corn. In his music you’ll hear delta roots mingling with Seattle grunge, a southern twang with a high-octane propulsion. His unique sound—Delta riffs and Texas sagebrush served with edgy Seattle's rock intensity—reflects the eclectic journey of his 35 years in music. Dudley embraces the Blues—the foundation of all the great late ‘60s and early ‘70’s rock he loved as a teen. Local guitar hero Rob Swaynie in Indianapolis taught Dudley the value of music theory interspersed with B.B King, Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top riffs. Dudley Taft grew up in a country called the "Midwest", where he learned the values of friendship, roots blues, rock 'n' roll and a good ear of corn. With a background that includes Berklee College of Music as well as years touring with the hard-rock bands Sweet Water and Second Coming, Dudley is a thinking man’s blues rocker.

(Dudley Taft / Photo by Stefan Schipper)

There’s plenty of swagger here, but also the sensitivity of a thoughtful songwriter. In his music you’ll hear delta roots mingling with Seattle grunge, a southern twang with a high-octane crunch. Dudley’s music career began in high school when he founded the band Space Antelope with friend Trey Anastasio (of Phish). In the 1990’s he joined Seattle band Sweetwater, touring the states with Monster Magnet, Candlebox and Alice in Chains. After recording two albums for Atlantic, he left the band to resurrect Second Coming. More touring followed with an album on Capitol Records and a taste of success thanks to the single “Vintage Eyes” which made it to #10 on the Rock Radio charts. In 2006, Dudley started playing blues rock in Seattle, and released the albums: Left For Dead (2010), Deep Deep Blue (2012), Screaming In The Wind (2014), Skin And Bones (2015), Summer Rain (2017) and one live album Live In Europe (2016). Dudley's music can be heard in movies and on television, most notably The Sixth Sense, and on That Metal Show and Gene Simmon's Family Jewels. Taft's  seventh album "Simple Life" (2019) delivers contemplative songwriting between bouts of howling guitar and delicate delivery. In 2017, Dudley was nominated "Best Guitarist" by the European Blues Society. Dudley Taft released "Cosmic Radio" in 2020, the songs for this album were written between Fall 2019 and the Spring of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly gave me unexpected extra time to complete the tracks! His new album "Guitar Kingdom" will be released on April 28th, 2023. Dudley Tate enhances his top-flight guitarslinger bona fides with original songs replete with stylish hooks and transitions, above and beyond the call of typical muscle rock  The Cincinnati-based axeman drops a rock-solid set which shouldn’t disappoint those in search of fretboard fireworks either. 

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

The blues and blues-rock I play is an expression of my taste, interpretation and sensibility. Growing up in the ‘70’s, most of the rock music I was listening to was based on American blues. I like the darker side of things and the blues can touch those dark emotions that run deep. Playing and listening to blues can make you realize that those dark feelings you think are only yours are actually shared by a great many people, and this is comforting to know!

How do you describe Dudley Taft sound and songbook? What characterize your music philosophy?

My sound is rock that emerged from the blues, went to Seattle, and dipped back in the blues again. Like some sort of circle, I touch on a lot of different influences, but the voice remains my own. My philosophy is to let songs emerge without trying to make them into something they are not- the idea is to keep them true to themselves. “The truth talks, bullshit walks.” They are parts of you that need to come out. And if I am inspired to play a four minute solo at the end of a song, then that’s exactly what happens.                                               (Dudley Taft / Photo by Stefan Schipper)

"The blues and blues-rock I play is an expression of my taste, interpretation and sensibility. Growing up in the ‘70’s, most of the rock music I was listening to was based on American blues. I like the darker side of things and the blues can touch those dark emotions that run deep."

What were the reasons that you started the Blues Rock researches? Where does your creative drive come from?

After playing in rock bands through my mid-thirties, I decided I needed a break with the genre, so I thought I would do a ZZ Top tribute band for fun. After searching for live videos of them playing the songs on YouTube (which was in it’s infancy at the time), I discovered Freddie King and thought the ZZ Top approach might be a bit narrow. So, my new band, Dudley Taft Blues Overkill, played a lot of Freddie King, plus Albert Collins songs, Johnny Winter tunes, BB and Albert King’s plus many more! I think I have always had blues influences in my playing but didn’t realize it until I did this research. As for my creativity – it’s hard to say where it comes from. But I love guitar-based music so much that I can hear new songs in my head, and I do my best to “catch” these songs as they come in.

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music?

I wrote my first song when I was 13 years old, which is now almost 44 years ago, so a lot has changed, but the essence has remained the same. It’s really about the song. From the very beginning I was interested in translating what I hear in my head to the guitar or the piano. After many decades I hope that I am better at this! I have learned a lot about song structure, arrangement, and form along the way, but the muse is still the very same. Silence is a blank page that has infinite ways of being filled. I believe I have found my own voice and style and am quite comfortable with it.

What has remained the same about your music-making process?

Mostly the process: capture ideas as they come (thanks to the iPhone it is so much easier now), nurture and refine them, then try to find the best way to present them whether it’s with drums, bass, electric guitar and keyboards or maybe just an acoustic guitar. Usually, I hear what is close to the end result in my head, but sometimes I have to experiment!

"The technique is the tool to translate the soul into sound. If it has no soul, it cannot resonate in the listener! Surely some things are fun to listen to – super fast guitar playing and the like, but at the end of the day, for me, a good song always wins!" (Dudley Taft / Photo by Stefan Schipper)

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album Guitar Kingdom (2023)?

Many of the songs on Guitar Kingdom are about me as a young man and my earliest inspirations. Old School Rocking is a prime example of this; “I fell in love at thirteen years old, electric guitar had me at hello.” In the bridge section, I talk about listening to 8-track tapes in the carpool going to and from high school – I said all those words when we tracked the song, and felt it was perfect, so I didn’t change a thing!

Also, we had five days off on the last European tour and spent them in Prague where I found a nice little studio. We recorded the bulk of the album there in one and a half days. A few of the songs were not quite finished, but we felt inspired by our surroundings and came up with some good ideas I think!

What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome as a person and as artist and has this helped you become a better musician?

Ha! Learning to play the guitar! For some reason it came slowly for me. I suppose I never tries to hurry the process. I was lucky to focus more on my voice – or the way I bend the notes or choose chord shapes – than on being able to play other people’s music. I think I am a slow learner, but perhaps this makes me a more thorough learner! Over the years I have learned that my instincts are really quite valid. Early on I lacked self-confidence.

What moment changed your music life the most? What do you think is key to a music life well lived?

Signing a major label contract when I was 24 was quite a validation of my songwriting abilities. I realized that I wasn’t just hanging around with good songwriters and musicians, but that I was one of them. A music life well lived is one that is full of little song-babies, and that those babies are all valid in their own way. After all these years I have written hundreds of songs that I am very proud of!

"Mostly the process: capture ideas as they come (thanks to the iPhone it is so much easier now), nurture and refine them, then try to find the best way to present them whether it’s with drums, bass, electric guitar and keyboards or maybe just an acoustic guitar. Usually, I hear what is close to the end result in my head, but sometimes I have to experiment!" (Dudley Taft / Photo by Stefan Schipper)

What's the balance in music between technique and soul?

The technique is the tool to translate the soul into sound. If it has no soul, it cannot resonate in the listener! Surely some things are fun to listen to – super fast guitar playing and the like, but at the end of the day, for me, a good song always wins!

How do you describe your previous album "Cosmic Radio" (2020) sound and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

Cosmic Radio was written from late 2019 through early spring 2020. The album was finished earlier than planned because of the COVID lockdowns, and reflects some of the frustration with the loss of live gigs and the poor way the US government handled the pandemic. But most of the album is fun rock and blues! I find inspiration in little things like a phrase or a guitar riff, then carefully develop the idea keeping the song true to its muse. Usually there is some tequila and marijuana involved!

Are there any memories from Cosmic Radio studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Writing the song "Relentless" with my daughter Charmae was a highlight. I had the music and it was up to her to write the melody and lyrics. We played that song every day for about two weeks until she felt comfortable with it. We were also doing a lot of Facebook LIVE sessions, so the band was at the house quite a bit and Charmae was able to practice it a lot with the whole band!

What was the hardest part of writing (a song)? How do you want it to affect people?

I would say the lyrics might be the toughest part - translating what you are feeling into words often is more difficult for me than expressing these musically. Do the lyrics evoke the images and thoughts I want to convey? If one of my songs inspires imagination, then I feel it is successful.

"The blues scene here is very similar to other places I have played around the world except that the US does not sponsor blues societies. The Cincinnati blues society has financial problems that prevent them from putting on large festivals, but the local scene is strong, with many of the "usual suspects" at every gig! There are multiple venues to play around the area including Kentucky, so there is a lot going on under normal circumstances." (Dudley Taft's header photo by Stefan Schipper and Edward Sawicki)

How do you describe previous album 'Simple Life' songbook and sound? What characterizes your new album in comparison to previous?

This album is about me and my beautiful wife being happy after all of our children have left home to start their own lives. We have a lot of freedom now and can travel about as much as we like. It is also about appreciating the very simplest things in life, like conversations with friends, hanging out with our dogs, drinking a few beers, or my favorite; tequila! A lot of my previous albums have concerned themselves with depression, loss and death. This one is much more about love!

Are there any memories from Simple Life's studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

We were prepared to record the album with an Irish drummer. We had done some preliminary demos outside of Paris in the countryside, honing each song and experimenting with arrangements. He knew the songs inside and out but turned out to be unable to come to my studio in the US (visa issue). Luckily, Walfredo Reyes Jr (Santana, Chicago, Steve Winwood, etc…) moved to Cincinnati about the time we wanted to cut the new record, so he ended up playing on most of the cuts. I think he did a terrific job!

How has the Blues and Rock counterculture influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

I grew up listening to British Invasion and Southern Rock which was heavily influenced by American Blues artists. That music shaped my childhood, and because I started playing guitar, it became my repertoire, so I felt very close to the rhythms and melodies and lyrics of those great songs. With many of those bands “getting high” and making music, I felt like that’s what I should do too! Hahahaha… (Sorry mom and dad.) Also, there was a lot of anti-establishment themes in the lyrics that resonated with me. That music helped American society through the rigidity of the 1950s. Peace, love and happiness. Plus, distorted guitar riffs, joints and beer!

"I grew up listening to British Invasion and Southern Rock which was heavily influenced by American Blues artists. That music shaped my childhood, and because I started playing guitar, it became my repertoire, so I felt very close to the rhythms and melodies and lyrics of those great songs. With many of those bands “getting high” and making music, I felt like that’s what I should do too!" (Photo by Robert Wilk)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your paths in music circuits?

Avoid crappy hotels! Hahahaha… the world is a big place. One thing that is really amazing about being a touring musician is getting to see parts of the world and meet people you never would have if you were just a tourist. People love music all around the world – it really does connect us all!

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What is the best advice ever given you?

The best advice ever given me was to just be myself. Being true to yourself comes through in your music. I discovered that what I do naturally gets the best results.

What would you say characterizes Cincinnati blues scene in comparison to other US local scenes and circuits?

The blues scene here is very similar to other places I have played around the world except that the US does not sponsor blues societies. The Cincinnati blues society has financial problems that prevent them from putting on large festivals, but the local scene is strong, with many of the "usual suspects" at every gig! There are multiple venues to play around the area including Kentucky, so there is a lot going on under normal circumstances.

What touched (emotionally) you from the local (Cincinnati) blues scene? What characterize the sound of local scene?

I have only lived here for no more years as an adult. So I don’t know that much about the music scene except that there is a lot of activity here. There are many venues of all sizes to play- so in addition to some great local talent, we get a ton of touring bands coming through! After getting to know some of the other blues guitarists here, I formed the Four Aces. That’s me and three other blues rock guitarists. We play shows where we all guest on each other’s songs and play some great cover tunes. Harmony guitar solos? Hell yeah! It’s really rewarding to be a part of this local music scene.

"The best advice ever given me was to just be myself. Being true to yourself comes through in your music. I discovered that what I do naturally gets the best results." (Photo by Robert Wilk)

What is the impact of Blues music and culture to the racial, political, and socio-cultural implications?

Well, blues along with jazz was invented by African Americans, so in a way, it has done good things for black people in the US. This music brings whites and blacks together. That was especially important in the 1950’s and 60’s here. But now blues inhabits a very small community and has little social implications. It used to be very important but now is a fading genre. I am hoping there will be more innovators like the Black Keys and Jack White and Gary Clarke Jr to keep the genre vital. And I’m doing the best I can!

Which is the most interesting period in your life? Which was the best and worst moment of your career?

Well, my life is almost always interesting! When I moved from Los Angeles to Seattle in 1990, lots of opportunities presented themselves. I had been out of college for two years, and struggling to find my way in the music scene when I heard a band called Mother Love Bone from Seattle. That music spoke to me instantly because there was a lot of honesty and joy in it. When I moved, I quickly landed in a band called Sweet Water that had great success, and counted members of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam among my peers. I was young and touring the country. It was a great time!

The early Seattle years were among the best moments of my career. When the band was in England during the mixing of our first record, I was lucky enough to hang out with Robert Plant for a couple of hours. At the end of the visit we all went into the studio and listened to one of our newly mixed tracks. He heard the guitar solo, turned around, looked at me with a big smile and gave me the thumbs up. That was a big stamp of approval. There were some very dark years at the end of my next big band, Second Coming. Lawsuits, hurt feelings, despair. That was no fun. I stopped playing for a little while after that. But time heals, and I was back at it with renewed vigor.

Why did you think that the Rock n’ Roll and Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

Because it is real. Pop music can be really fun, but rarely does it stir the deep emotions that the blues can. Singing about despair mixed with triumph, you come across like a real person, unlike singing about happiness the whole time. Plus, there’s lots of guitar! You can’t really fake good guitar playing. People appreciate it, and grew up hearing it. It’s our friend!

"Avoid crappy hotels!… the world is a big place. One thing that is really amazing about being a touring musician is getting to see parts of the world and meet people you never would have if you were just a tourist. People love music all around the world – it really does connect us all!" (Photo by Robert Wilk)

Do you consider the Blues Rock a specific music genre and artistic movement or do you think it’s a state of mind?

I think blues rock is it’s own genre. If people tell you are too rock for the blues or too bluesy for rock, then you’re in the right spot! But really it draws from the well that is familiar to people of my age group – born in the 1960’s to the 1980’s. There is a comfort there. And my fans like to hear lead guitar! That’s their state of mind!

What’s the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had?

The best jams happen when everyone lets go. They stop thinking about the future and the past and are directly in the present. Sometimes that can happen when you are playing with famous musicians, sometimes it’s with your cousin. Hahahaha. I did a short tour in Sweet Water with Alice in Chains. We played first, and in the middle of the country people get there early. We were in “Quad Cities” Iowa, playing in a school gymnasium. The place was packed! Standing room only. When we started the first song, everyone in the place jumped up and down and the whole building was shaking to the rhythm. Wild. Another time I was in Second Coming and we played a ski resort in Vermont. The sun was setting and the cloudy sky turned red and purple. Seeing that and hearing the whole crowd sing along to my song was a killer moment.

Are there any memories from previous albums and recording time which you’d like to share with us?

On Screaming In The Wind (2014), we did a lot of work on the songs before we started recording. The sessions went very fast- one or two takes for the basic tracks.

"Because it is real. Pop music can be really fun, but rarely does it stir the deep emotions that the blues can. Singing about despair mixed with triumph, you come across like a real person, unlike singing about happiness the whole time. Plus, there’s lots of guitar! You can’t really fake good guitar playing. People appreciate it, and grew up hearing it. It’s our friend!" (Dudley Taft / Photo by Stefan Schipper)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss real musicians from a lot of today’s popular music. I miss hearing more guitar, but there are some great new songs out there. I’m just going to keep doing my thing. Enough people seem to like it to keep me going.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

Getting paid a fair amount of money for the music. With streaming taking over, the revenues have been reduced by 90%. It makes it tougher for people to choose music as a career, and we all suffer for it.

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues with Hard Rock and continue to Grunge and Rock n’ Roll?

For me, those harder rocking lines start with T-Bone Walker, run through Johnny Winter, Freddie and Albert King, Buddy Guy and dudes like Dick Dale and Link Wray! They were copied in the British invasion bands, turned up louder and with more distortion (thank you Jimi Hendrix). These guys were still working from the blues, and they had that extra shot of energy that defines hard rock.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

I’m good right here, right now! After I finish this interview, I am going to plug my Strat into my Fender Deluxe and have some fun.

Dudley Taft - official website

(Dudley Taft / Photo by Stefan Schipper)