Re: [Harp-L] New Richard Hunter blues on Broadjam

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rick Dempster wrote:
>Hi Richard;
>                  Is 'Big 17' done on a 'Chordomonica' - that is, Cham
>ber Huang's beast with the double slides?  I've only heard one on Sam
>Hinton's CD plus had a short honk on one many years ago. Can't think how
>else you could have pulled that off, even with a retune. Has to be a
>slide harp of some kind. Yes?

Rick, thanks for your appreciation for "Big 17." The piece was recorded solo, without overdubs, on an off-the-shelf Lee Oskar Melody Maker harmonica in D (i.e., the key equivalent of a standard G harp).  

As I've said before, one of the big advantages of alternate tunings is that you get a lot of very cool chords out of them that are impossible on a standard tuning.  "Big 17" is a case in point.

I think I played this piece solo in my performance at SPAH in 1998, so a live version in front of an audience is on record too.  This is one piece that I play very much the same way in almost every performance.  (Although I think I did it with accompaniment at the Buckeye Festival in 1999--don't remember, maybe someone else does.  I do remember that the backup band for that show was very very good.)

The piece was inspired by a Fabulous Thunderbirds tune, though it sounds nothing like the T-Birds.  But you never know where an inspiration will take you.

Anyone who wants to hear the piece again can hear it anytime at: 
http://www.broadjam.com/rhunter

Thanks and regards,
Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com