[Harp-L] RE: Most amazing harmonica shows

[John Kally <jkally3@xxxxxxx>]

I've got to agree with FJM.  Hans Olson is an underappreciated great  
rack harp player. His career has seen some real setbacks, I remember  
years ago he did a recording session with some heavyweight players  
(seems like Al Cooper was on one session, etc) , then could only get  
the tapes by agreeing not to make anything off of them.  He also ran  
a blues club for awhile, and one night  heavy rain collapsed the roof  
over the stage, ruining equipment.  He toured with Brownie McGhee for  
awhile in the southwest, so some folks may have seen those shows.   
Still at it, he sometimes does an opening act at the Rhythm Room for  
touring acts but I don't think he goes on the road anymore.
And about Bill Tarsha,  I think it's  real shame he's not better  
represented by recordings.  Ever since the death of his regular  
drummer, and going down to a three piece with Bill doing the drumming  
most of the time, most people that see his band don't get to really  
see the full range of what he can do.  A contemporary of Piazza,  
Estrin, etc,   in years past he's played with many of the greats,   
(I've seen him back up George Smith and others) and his technique is  
just flawless.  A great Chicago style player and tone monster, for  
sure and I'm lucky to have gotten to know him pretty well over the  
years .
From my own memory, the best harp  show that comes to mind was  
seeing the Bacon Fat with both Piazza and Smith in 71 at the Ash  
Grove in LA.  They'd just gotten back from recording in the UK,  were  
added on at the last minute to a show featuring Big Mama Thornton,  
and maybe 30 people in the place.   Smith  (wearing a red  satin  
church choir gown) and Piazza were tearing up the stage, going head- 
to-head, with a young Richard Innes on drums, Buddy Reed (later with  
Bill Tarsha here in Phoenix for many years) on guitar,  JD Nicholson  
on piano, and I can't recall the bassist.   I saw George many times  
in later years but this really seeing him still in his prime and Rod,  
even early on, was pretty exiting too.