Re: [Harp-L] Hip Hop Harp

[Colin Epstein <colin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rob Paparozzi wrote:

> Hey Guys,
>
>   Re: the Hip Hop Harp, if you get a chance, check out what I played on
> Cyndi Lauper's CD "Hatfull of Stars" a song titled:
> "Broken Glass"...not exactly pure hip-hop but they call it "New-Jack"
> groove.
>
>   Although I played some solos, the crux of my performance was comping
> rhytmically with the hip-hop groove.
>
>    I also having a "Hip-Hop" groove written for me by ex Joe Jackson
> Guitarist Vinnie Zummo and hope to include it on a forthcoming CD.
>
>   a few months ago I played on a hip hop version of the "Sanford and Son"
> theme in a rap format.....
>
>   As harmonica players we should always be open to to "new forms" and how
> we can fit in....it's not only 'fun'...but helps pay the bills,-))

Along with Mr. Paparozzi's fine playing on "Broken Glass" (I have that 
right here on my iTunes and was able to refresh my memory immediately on 
just how fine it is), I've found harp turning up in all sorts of 
dance/pop/if-not-quite-hip-hop sortsa things over the years.  Here are a 
few examples, many of which are old enough to have shown up on Harp-L 
before, but what the hey, forgive any unintentional retreads:

Alabama 3's "Exile on Coldharbor Lane" is a fascinating album of 
self-described "country acid house music."  Lots of blues influence in a 
very groove-heavy album, including a lot of harp, sometimes just as a 
rhythm support, sometimes as a extremely crunchy lead.  These guys did 
the opening song to "The Sopranos," called  "Woke Up this Morning," 
which is on this album in a different mix.

Another track used in the Sopranos was R.L. Burnside's "It's Bad You 
Know" from his cross genre blues/techno album "Come On In."  That's got 
some simple rythmic harp riffs that really give the track some 
atmosphere.  The whole album is the interesting result of a classic 
bluesman meeting up with some techno producers.  Cool stuff.

Big Pig, a band from Australia in the 80's, was a strange mix.  They 
played new wave/dance music with lots of heavy percussion (there were 
about four drummers in the band), keyboards, and amplified harp as their 
main solo and melodic instrument.  Their one US release, "Bonk," is 
worth checking out for an atypical use of the harp.

Beck, who's played things like Sonny Boy Williamson tunes at his 
concerts, often uses blues instruments in his collage of sound.  There's 
a very crunchy harp breakdown in "Hotwax" from his Odelay album, for 
example.

Peter Gabriel's "Us" has some nice harp on the sexy, groovy track "Kiss 
That Frog."  There's a live version out there as well with the harp much 
more prominent.

The Eurythmics' "Revenge" has some fine harp front and center on the 
tracks "Missionary Man" and  "Let's Go."   Some other songs on the album 
have harp as a rhythm instrument, just adding to the overall groove.

And there's some other song stuck in my head that has harp kicking in 
with its drumbeat intro, but it just won't surface enough for me to 
remember what it actually is...

I hate that.

--
C