Memphis and the blues have been synonymous for years, but the The University of Memphis and the blues?
The U of M has been documenting the sounds of the Mississippi Delta for about 20 years with Highwater Music, the school's record label.
David Evans, a 20-year music professor and producer, got Highwater rolling in 1980. In 1981, the University built a recording studio to compliment their commercial music program.
Federal grants got the label moving. Sales and royalties later provided the means to keep it going.
"Memphis had a pitiful scene at the time," Evans said. "Many record labels were leaving town and the industry itself was at a low level."
Evans set out to document as well as promote the region's sounds, but needed help with distribution.
"The business aspects always made it hard," Evans said.
Luckily, he said, Highwater was approached by some outside labels for licensing.
During the LP era, Highwater was licensed through three companies --one in England and two in France. With the CD revolution came a 20-CD deal with Hightone records out of Oakland, Ca., and some dealings with Memphis' Inside Sounds. Of the 20, 18 have been released. Two await their February debut: Jukehouse Blues, and Memphis Blues Bands and Singers.
The first is a compilation of traditional Memphis blues performers from 1980 to 1986. Jukehouse is a recording taken from R.L. Burnside's Mississippi home in 1979.
"This (Jukehouse Blues) should open some eyes," Evans said.
Music building manager Matthew Kosel said Highwater has influenced the whole blues scene.
"It's the real blues, real down-home stuff and no one else is doing it," Kosel said. "It's been important to the industry. (Evans) has been documenting the whole movement."
"There's always been a wealth of talent down here," Evans said. "Nobody has really paid attention outside the community. We've always paid attention. I think we certainly helped to create an audience."
Evans said more recent focus has landed on the Daddy Mac Blues band (former house-band at the Center for Southern Folklore), who received a good response following Highwater's 1999 recordings. Daddy Mac has a classic Memphis blues sound, Evans said, and sports a slow-groove style on dance-oriented tracks, Evans said.
Yet Highwater has branched out from simply the blues.
A recent project had Evans traveling to Venezuela to record and bring back some international flavor.
"I wanted some music that was equally talented and equally interesting where it receives little attention," Evans said.
Evans said future plans include getting as many old recordings into circulation as possible. There are still about five or six projects left, he said.
"We hope we can expand in the future and release more stuff that exists today. I'm still looking to the international stuff," Evans said. "I think it can make a good impact. I'm not trying to hit the Top 40, and everyone is doing that. I'm just trying to fill the niche of contemporary music."
Any of Highwater's releases are available through the U of M music department, at www.hightone.com, or locally through Inside Sounds.
