VOA常速英语2008年-Yellow Dog Records Roster Boasts Some of Today'

By Doug Levine
Washington
28 April 2008

Memphis, Tennessee is known as "The birthplace of the blues¹." So it's no surprise that a record label specializing in new blues, jazz and soul music set up shop near Beale Street, home to many of Memphis' world-famous blues clubs. VOA's Doug Levine fills us in on Yellow Dog Records, whose roster² boasts some of today's best blues and Americana performers.

Meet The Bo-Keys, a Memphis-based jazz-blues group comprised of former session players for Stax Records, the legendary³ soul label.

Signed to Yellow Dog in 2003, The Bo-Keys titled their debut⁴ album "The Royal Sessions" after another Memphis landmark⁵, Royal Recording⁶ Studio.

Guitarist William Lee Ellis holds a degree in classical performance. But a chance meeting with blues and gospel pioneer Reverend Gary Davis steered⁷ him towards traditional folk music.

Ellis, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and Keb' Mo' are among those influenced by Davis' unique finger-picking guitar style.

Three Yellow Dog recording artists are nominated for Blues Music Awards: Mary Flower, Fiona Boyes and John Bigham, also known as The Soul Of John Black.

The Soul Of John Black is nominated for Best New Artist Debut at the upcoming Blues Music Awards to be presented May 8.

Before going solo, John played guitar and keyboards for everyone from Fishbone and Eminem to Miles Davis and Bruce Hornsby.

Rounding out the Yellow Dog Records lineup are pianist and vocalist Eden "Little Boogaloo" Brent. Blending jazz, soul, gospel, pop and acoustic⁸ blues, Brent pays tribute to her Mississippi Delta⁹ roots on her album "Mississippi Number One," featuring the track "Darkness On The Delta."

1 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

2 roster   

n.值勤表，花名册

参考例句：

• The teacher checked the roster to see whom he would teach this year.老师查看花名册，想了解今年要教的学生。
• The next day he put himself first on the new roster for domestic chores.第二天，他把自己排在了新的家务值日表的第一位。

3 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

4 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

5 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

6 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

7 steered   

v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
• The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。

9 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。