The North tlantic Blues Festival-long

[alciere@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Here's a link for photos of the North Atlantic Blues Festival last weekend 
in Rockland, ME. 

http://rockland.villagesoup.com/AandE/Story.cfm?StoryID=16429 

There were so many bands but this harp-l not blues-l so I'll just mention 
the harp players. 

The lineup was stellar. Jerry Portnoy played on Saturaday with the Boston 
Blues Explosion Jay Geils, Darrel Nulisch, and David Maxwell. I saw Jerry 
years ago when he was playing with Muddy Waters, but I didn't really know 
anything about Chicago blues back then. I kept looking for the sax player. 
Jerry's tone was perfect. His phrasing was exquisite. A consumate musician 
and one of the best harp players on the planet. He played one of his 
original slow pretty jazz tunes. Very cool. He played a Sonny Boy Williamson 
song and somehow managed to play the original lick note for note and yet it 
still sounded like Jerry. I intend to swipe some licks.Jay Geils guitar 
playing was great. A reief from the relentless Stevie Ray Vaughnabees. David 
Maxwell's piano playing has to be seen to be believed. The man can boogie 
woogie like no one's business.It was nice to see a band with harp where the 
harp player wasn't the front man. I never heard of Darrell but his singing 
was tremendous.It was also nice to see a band playing the real old 40s 
Chicago blues. 

Otis Rush closed the festival Saturday night. If a harp player can't learn 
something watching Otis Rush, there's something wrong.Tone and phrasing were 
spot on. 

There were bands playing in the all the pubs. $35.00 gets you into two days 
of the festival and a free pass into all the bars. Highlights were the Blues 
Prophets, local folks from Rockland. I didn't catch the harp player's name, 
but he could play.Not Jerry Portnoy, but definately pro level. Boston based 
Gate Street Band also had an excellent harp player. Good showmanship. Lots 
of energy. Plenty of chops. 

The next day, Curtis Salgado played. I never heard of Curtis so I was 
properly blown away. First off, hi sband can turn on a dime. I heard this 
sound like a synthesizer and it was Curtis playing these jazz riffs on the 
harp with the guitar player doubling the notes. Perfectly in sync, stops 
starts, slow down, speed up. The band was a machine. Ugliest rhythm section 
in the world. Curtis does it all. His stage presence is great. His singing 
is outrageous and his harp playing was jaw dropping. Very original licks 
with tone to die for.One of the best shows I ever saw. 

Hard to top Curtis, but Charlie did it. Charlie Musselwhite came loaded for 
bear. He had 15,000 people on their feet screaming for a ripping hour set.He 
knew Jerry and Curtis had played earlier so he had something to prove.  He'd 
start out a Little Walter Off the Wall type of shuffle and throw in notes I 
never heard on the little diatonic. I'm still looking for those high 
octaves. Jerry Portnoy sounded like a sax. Charlie sounded like an organ. 
Tone and phrasing were perfect and he showed a technical brilliance that was 
unbelievable. I've seen Charlie play before, but never like this. The guy 
was on fire. His band was excellent, with the exception of the piano player 
who needs a little more seasoning. 

I heard a lot of harp playing over the weekend and I'd say the future of the 
harmonica is looking pretty good. In fact Curtis, Jerry, and Charlie were as 
good as any harp player I've ever heard.Innovative riffs, excellent tone, 
good showmanship. This is the golden age of harmonicas. 

Gear note-Charlie played a shure mic (not a unisphere some stick mic with a 
black ball) into a Fender blues deville. Curtis played what looked like a 
Sennheiser vocal mic but I couldn't see the amp. Jerry had a Victoria 
Bassman.Jerry also wins the award for best dressed. Man I'd like a pair of 
those boot.s 

Rainbow Jimmy