He continues to make recordings that, as he puts it, bought him a house: music deep in the popular blues tradition.

"I was more interested in finding the great artists who helped to shape and redefine the blues tradition."

It included more instruments, vocals and dancing than the previous blues tradition.

The first jazzmen were from the white Creole tradition and also the darker blues tradition.

Contemporary sampling, while reproductive in the way Warhol's screens are, is more deeply connected to the blues tradition.

Early in the 20th century, jazz evolved from the blues tradition, but also incorporated many other musical and cultural elements.

Shepherd named his debut album after this neighborhood as an homage to the blues tradition of his home town.

Thursday's concert presents dancing that evolved alongside blues traditions.

Tonight the spotlight is on Mississippi, where the rough-edged rural blues tradition is still going strong.

Later the blues tradition developed, with roots in and parallels to sacred music.