"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" - 1920s Blues by "Mother of the Blues"

Lovable Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was affectionately called "Mother of the Blues" and she certainly was chronologically one of the very first female artists of 1920s blues - material here is from 1924-1928 so naturally it sound ancient but it spark with humor, spirit and defiance. Her voice is a wonder - gruff, rough and raw but powerful, Rainey still communicates emotions and this is something that clearly shines trough a now-historical recordings. Whenever she laughs, jokes, moans or sings about unfaithful lovers who beat her and "black both of her eyes" there is something deeply affecting (and affectionate) in her music - perhaps its her earthiness and complete lack of any "sophistication" that transcendent decades separating us from her. Some other artists from same time (Alberta Hunter, Ethel Waters, Adelaide Hall) optioned for sweet chirping instead, but Rainey was pure unrepentant country-blues with rough edges and if other performers got bigger commercial success by adopting white-washed sound, Rainey was and will forever be a real thing.