Light On Dark Water

Weekend Music

Call this a tribute and memorial to Bert Jansch, who died of cancer on Wednesday.

I first encountered his name in connection with Donovan, having read somewhere that Donovan's songs "Bert's Blues" and "House of Jansch" were references to a mysterious guitar genius named Bert Jansch. I didn't hear him until a couple of years later when the group Pentangle appeared. I never liked Pentangle as much as I wanted to, because I never really warmed up to Jacqui McShee's voice. But the guitar playing, by Jansch and the equally gifted John Renbourn, was great.

I shouldn't give the impression that his music was more important to me than it was. I have one of his solo albums, and several of Pentangle's, but that's all. I suppose I'm touched by his death as much for his significance to the musical culture of the 1960s and after as for any devotion to his music specifically.  But I do love the guitar style of which he was one of the most important practitioners, and of course the folk songs which were the mainstay of his work, and the way he and others took that material and reworked it with a sensibility shaped in part by pop, jazz, and the folk music of other countries, respectful and loving but not purist. Jansch's "Black Waterside" is a perfect example.  I've always liked his very plain and limited, but somehow engaging, voice.

Here's an excellent obituary/bio.