And talking of good blues voices, Tom Jones deserves a mention. Just listened to his rendition of Please Make a Change on Hugh Laurie’s blues/soul/spiritual /etc album Let Them Talk. Really very good and so much better than the so-called “popular” numbers for which he is known. Grieves me to say it because he is not a very nice chap. Never met him meself but Mrs T interviewed him years back and did not come away with a good impression (he typed with extensive understatement!).
To learn an instrument I guess you’ve got to really want to play it. Only thing that gets me like that are the big-bloke seriously large full-orchestra cymbals. Would so like to do the two cymbal notes in Bridge Over Troubled Water as the accompaniment goes from solo piano to full orchestra. One of the best moments in any music, ever!