“Talk about that, Freddie,” was all the encouragement Freddie Vanderford needed to begin wailing on his harmonica.
Playing a free concert at McKissick Museum on Thursday night, Vanderford was joined by three other musicians to play traditional blues and folk and tunes from his latest album.
Vanderford gained notoriety after receiving the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award in 2010. The award is given by the state General Assembly and recognizes artists who have worked to keep South Carolina’s traditions alive through their work.
Vanderford was recognized for “maintaining and sharing the tradition of Piedmont Blues Harp,” an achievement that was on display at the concert.
The band was made up of a harmonica, two acoustic guitars and an electric bass. The four men each took turns singing traditional music and picking their favorite songs to play. Vanderford then opened up the concert to take requests from the audience, made up of professors, students and young children.
“We’ll play whatever you want,” Vanderford said. “And if we don’t know it, we’ll play it anyway.”
The concert included both slow-tempo blues tunes and more-upbeat instrumentals, including “Lost Mind,” a track on Vanderford’s album “Piedmont Blues.” Each musician had the chance to show off his talent during a solo round, while he was cheered on by his fellow bandmates.
The men also harmonized vocals during each song, and as they played, they smiled, nodded in rhythm and tapped the soles of their boots.
Vanderford’s presence also captivated the audience, as he wore a wide-brimmed hat, tinted glasses and a belt buckle emblazoned with his name.
While he jammed on his blues harp and sang with a deep, throaty voice, Vanderford commanded the direction and mood of the songs. Interacting with audience members and focusing on the music, Vanderford’s concert gave those in attendance a feel of tradition blues music.