Re: Straight harp albums

[GREENWAY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Mike Curtis wanted advice about records with straight harp playing.

The most common straight harp playing available today is the stuff by
Bob Dylan and his many imitators in the folk and rock fields. But their
harp playing, although it often adds a nice dimension and feel to
their music, is not usually that interesting technically or musically.

In the blues zone, Jimmy Reed played quite a bit in first position.
His very famous and widely imitated harmonica style is based on his
wonderful skill on the high end of the harp in first position. His
hit tune "Honest I Do" is a good example. Big Walter Horton also played
quite a bit of first position or straight harp. He was a master at
using the low end of the harp in the blues style. He learned to play
from the many great jug band harp players in Memphis in the 1920s, and
like them he enjoyed playing tuneful instrumentals, often in first
position, that weren't blues tunes. His version of "La Cucaracha" is
a great example.

Cross harp playing took over from straight harp playing as the dominant
style around the time of World War II. A lot of the best straight harp
playing can be found in blues and country records recorded in the 1920s
and 1930s. My own favorite straight harp player is the amazing DeFord
Bailey, a black player who was a big star of the Grand Ole Opry
broadcasts from 1925 until 1941. DeFord's playing is quite dazzling and
highly complex, but anyone interested in straight harp playing  should
check him out.

Luckily for all of us, Document Records, and Austrian label, has
released all of DeFord's recordings on a recent CD, "Harp Blowers
(1925-1936) (DOCD-5164). The CD also includes great harmonica cuts
by John Henry Howard, D. H. "Bert" Bilbro, and George Clarke.

Document has several great CDs of prewar harmonica. "The Great Harp
Players (1927-1936)" (DOCD-5100) is an outstanding collection of
harp cuts by many players, including the great Blues Birdhead, one
of the first jazz players on the diatonic. Document also offers CDs
of individual players, including Noah Lewis, Jaybird Coleman, John
Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson (5 CDs worth), and of harp-oriented bands
like the Memphis Jug Band. Document CDs are distributed in the U.S.
by:Arho

Arhoolie Records
10341 San Pable Ave.\
El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-525-7471

--Kim Field