[Harp-L] Re: Cadillac harp player
I would have to agree with Ryan, the harp has Kim's phrasing. The only other
person who phrases like that is Sugar Ray Norcia, who Kim gives credit in
influencing his style. Ray is a monster, anyone on the east coast needs to see
him live. Of course his singing is great, but he has a style all his own.
In a message dated 12/7/2008 11:47:13 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Send Harp-L mailing list submissions to
harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx
You can reach the person managing the list at
harp-l-owner@xxxxxxxxxx
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Harp-L digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Larry Adler plays gypsy jazz with Django Reinhardt
(David & Jackie Naiditch)
2. Re: grooving to backing tracks, drum machines, etc...
(Steve Baker)
3. re: evil twin (jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx)
4. Re: Question about custom harmonicas (Steve Baker)
5. re: grooving to back up tracks (jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx)
6. Question about custom harmonicas (John F. Potts)
7. Customizers and Marine Bands (Richard Sleigh)
8. RE: Columbus Short Learned Harp for Cadillac Records Movie
(Ryan Hartt)
9. custom harmonicas model vs model vs brand / jt minster (Buddha)
10. RE: Re: Question about custom harmonicas (Jim Fitting)
11. Question about custom harmonicas (Shawn Williams)
12. Re: Question about custom harmonicas (M. N.)
13. Small harp keys (Dominick Galluppi)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 23:36:04 -0800
From: David & Jackie Naiditch <french10@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Larry Adler plays gypsy jazz with Django Reinhardt
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <BDE65FBC-B595-4019-948E-E5BBDB7F180B@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
I've been playing the chromatic harmonica at various gypsy jazz
jams. I was originally inspired by Larry Adler who recorded 4 tunes
with Django Reinhardt--My Melancholy Baby, I Got Rhythm, Body and
Soul, and Lover Come Back to Me. You can hear samples at
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1027423/a/Django+With
+His+American+Friends.htm
Scroll down to Django With His American Friends Album DISC 3 to find
these 4 tunes.
Django was Toots Thielemans's first idol and he got to hear Django,
but never played with him. Recently, however, Toots played at
Carnegie hall with the great gypsy jazz accordionist Ludovic Beier.
This show wasn't recorded, but you can hear Ludovic play with the
great gypsy jazz guitarist Angelo Debarre:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqjJznHOSWA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbd4zfQ0eVg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZdVWfTRa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5QLPpR3ZbE
and you can find many others on YouTube.
--David Naiditch
www.davidnaiditch.com
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 12:29:33 +0100
From: Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: grooving to backing tracks, drum machines,
etc...
To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <4CF16103-A049-4205-AACC-B6B242ED1238@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
I think Slim has hit the nail on the head with his post. The main
difference between performing to backing tracks and recording
overdubs is the headphones,
Steve
Steve Baker
steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.stevebaker.de
www.bluesculture.com
www.youtube.com/stevebakerbluesharp
www.myspace.com/stevebakerbluesharp
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 07:26:49 -0500
From: jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] re: evil twin
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
<386fc0380812070426p7ceef0a8l890a7c0ce19565f0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
When I saw Magic Dick, that's the amp he used as well.
--
Rainbow Jimmy
http://www.spaceanimals.com
http://www.myspace.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 14:03:04 +0100
From: Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Question about custom harmonicas
To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <6B6AB8D8-EE86-485B-82E8-D9E231CDDB21@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
John F. Potts wrote:
Here's my question about custom harps: Why do customizers only
customize Hohners? I don't like Hohners. I'd rather play Suzukis. A
custom Hohner would be an improved version of a harmonica i don't
like in the first place. Presumably, a customized Suzuki (I'm not
talking about a Fabulous here) would be a better product, because the
stock harmonica that the work is performed on is a better product to
start with. A custom Hohner is an improved version of an inferior
product. A custom Suzuki should be superior because the instrument
that is being customized is superior to start with.
John, your personal preferences are your affair, but this is to put
it mildly an extremely contentious claim. I and many other pro
players including a substantial number of high end customizers regard
the Hohner Marine Band as pretty much the benchmark harp for blues
and related forms of music. Buddha works on Golden Melodies because
he feels that for his sophisticated musical aspirations they give the
best results. These craftsmen choose Hohner Classic harmonicas to
work on because they consider them to offer the best raw material
presently available for their purposes. The reason lies mainly in the
tone and response of the reeds. That's why I play them myself. This
is by no means intended to denigrate Suzuki, their harmonicas are
very well made even though they don't correspond to my personal
taste. Tastes differ, so other players (and customizers) may have
different preferences, but few would justify their choice by claiming
Hohner instruments are inherently inferior. How about trying a Hohner
Classic harp out of current production before making such absolutist
statements in public?
Steve
Steve Baker
steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.stevebaker.de
www.bluesculture.com
www.youtube.com/stevebakerbluesharp
www.myspace.com/stevebakerbluesharp
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 08:17:04 -0500
From: jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] re: grooving to back up tracks
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
<386fc0380812070517r4eb16239w1b48a422aff482b@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
When the Space Animals practice, we always try to have either a drum track
or a drum machine going. Really helps me to keep the groove.
--
Rainbow Jimmy
http://www.spaceanimals.com
http://www.myspace.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 09:24:08 -0500
From: "John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Question about custom harmonicas
To: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <4CC4B380-494B-491E-A69E-282CC75918F1@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Steve,
To be fair, my most recent experiences (last 3 or 4 years) have been
with MS series Hohners, although I did also acquire a couple of new
Special 20's and several Golden Melodies. The Hohner harmonicas i
liked best used to be in the classic series, but Hohner stopped
making those models and I have not been as satisfied with the MS
series models that replaced them. I agree that the inconsistent
quality control that used to be a problem in past years has
improved. I also acknowledge that I really don't have the expertise
to objectively assess harmonica construction in an informed fashion
and it is unquestionably true that a large number of players (many of
them much better players than i am) have a strong preference for
playing Hohners.
BUT, a player does not need to be very expert to know when a harp is
airtight and when one is not. All of my Suzukis have consistently
good compression. I cannot say the same about my Hohners. This is
not subjective. The rest of my statements could just be a refection
of my subjective opinion, which may be influenced by my particular
style of play. If I knew more about harmonica construction I might
be better able to analyze that, but I don't and i won't pretend to
have expertise i don't possess.
Best regards,
JP
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 10:01:48 -0500
From: Richard Sleigh <rharp@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Customizers and Marine Bands
To: Richard HarpL Sleigh <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <1533E17C-DBFE-4EAF-A684-3E9420DB2433@xxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Reasons why most customizers work with Marine Bands:
The Marine Band is still the most widely used harmonica for blues,
and the history of the music is full of classic recordings done on
the Marine Band. It has a lot of momentum going for it.
On a purely practical level, if you customize harps, you better be
ready to replace reeds. That is 360 reeds if you count 18 keys from
lo D to high G, times 20. So you need to have a lot of reeds sorted
and ready to go.
Keeping an inventory of reeds for just the marine band is a lot of
work. Doing the same for other harps creates whole new levels of
complexity. It is hard to get paid for finding, sorting, and storing
reeds.
I have tried other harps and there are some great harps out there.
I'm just not ready to start going through the process of getting set
up to repair a lot of different harps.
I think the manufacturers can make it easy for techs to repair their
harps. The question is - do they want to?
Richard Sleigh
shop address:
205 E. Pine Street
Philipsburg PA 16866-1623
814 342 9722 (w)
http://www.customharmonicas.com/
http://isthmusofchristmas.com/
http://www.myspace.com/richardsleigh
http://www.youtube.com/rsleighharp
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 10:04:13 -0500
From: Ryan Hartt <rhartt1234@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Columbus Short Learned Harp for Cadillac Records
Movie
To: <airmojoken@xxxxxxxxx>, <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <BAY109-W25315828DC77A822A34164C2FC0@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I'm pretty confident that its Kim Wilson playing in this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ojv5OQF1F4
Columbus Short does a very bad harp-synching job. He does not look
comfortable enough with the instrument.
Ryan
> Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 07:54:35 -0800
> From: airmojoken@xxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] Columbus Short Learned Harp for Cadillac Records Movie
>
> I read where Columbus Short learned to play harp for his role as Little
Walter for the Cadillac Records movie, and played all the harmonica parts.
>
> Kim Wilson has been mentioned a few times here on Harp-L as providing the
harp music... that seems way more believable to me, than Columbus Short
actually doing it.
>
> I'm just wondering what the real story is.
>
> Here is one of the links (if it doesn't work, just Google
> "Columbus Short harmonica").
>
>
http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?Columbus_Short_learns_harmonica&in_article_id=428312&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=
>
> http://tinyurl.com/69cxq2
>
>
> Ken H in OH
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
_________________________________________________________________
You live life online. So we put Windows on the web.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032869/direct/01/
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 08:04:32 -0700
From: Buddha <groovygypsy@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] custom harmonicas model vs model vs brand / jt
minster
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
<3c8737c70812070704m78b14d6dj2d99774673dbcc5a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
The biggest reason I use Hohners and most specifically the Golden
Melody is because that's *MY* favorite harmonica. Like many others, I
had phases where I just wasn't happy with anything brand nor model. I
tried everything that was available at the and always came back to
Golden Melodies.
When I decided to start building harmonicas for anybody who wants to
play the best harmonica possible, I thought I would focus on building
Overblow harps. From what I have heard from other harp building
friends is they dislike building OB harps. It's just so happens
that's what I am best at because it's like setting up a harp for
myself, I know how to get every tick, squeal and sound out of every
note. Most importantly, I know how to get rids of those sounds too.
My style of playing demands that I have reeds that are at that finely
tuned to each other and set at the perfect balancing point to get
every nuance and tone out of each reed. Mostly due to Howard Levy the
Golden Melody has often been thought of as the jazz harp or
Overblower's harp and that's precisely why I focus on Golden Melodies.
Joe Filsko is the guy who really started the custom harmonica
movement. IMO- aside from the Filisko guild the Marine Band builders
build Marine Bands because that's what Joe does. It don't mean it as
a knock on any builder but it's just something that I see when I see
others follow the leader when working in the same industry. Perhaps
I'm completely wrong. Joey once told me that he makes Marine Bands
because of tradition. According to him it's the image of the
harmonica that most of us have in our brains, it's the stalwart or the
old guard of harmonica. He was largely disappointed that modern day
Marine Bands didn't play as well as the prewar Marine Bands and he
wanted to bring it back to life. In the early days, Joe worked on
making Lee Oskars better and many of his old brass harps have Lee
Oskar plates in them. He's since only focused on Marine Bands.
Jason Ricci recently told me he prefers to work on Blues Harps. To me
they are the same thing. I personally choosse Golden Melodies. I can't
speak for other harp builders but what *I* do can be done to any
harmonica brand or model. I've done it to a full set of Huang harps
back in the early 90s. I've done it with Suzuki's, Herrings and I've
recently worked with a huge order of Seydels. What I don't like about
the suzuki's is the welded on reeds. Replacing them is a pain but it
can be done.
If you want harps that crisp, tight and more responsive than anything
you've played before look no further.
Prices are as follows:
Buddha Harp - $175 - Golden Melody or Marine Band with wood comb set up for
OB/ODs ie; Jason Ricci, Carlos delJunco, Howard Levy style playing
(wood combs are back ordered at the moment)
Zen Harp - $150 OB/OD harps with stock parts - Available in
sp20/GM/MB/Blues Harp
- The Marine Band and Blues Harp will have screws and a sealed comb.
Lotus Harp - $85 - Available in sp20/GM/MB/Blues
Harp/suzuki/herring/seydel - A stock harp with minor
reed work done. Reeds are destressed, gapped and tuned. Slots are
slightly embossed. These harps are not necessarily set up for OBs.
These are great blues harps.
+$10 for sealed wood comb
+$5 for screws instead of nails.
some suzuki, herring, seydel model maybe more expensive depending on
the base price of the harmonica.
I am just finishing up most of my orders this weekend so the wait time
is minimal again. Currently, there is a delay with wood combed Golden
Melodies but that is beginning to look minimal again as I just
received another batch of wood combs that I am sealing and drying as I
type.
email me off list to order.
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 10:33:27 -0500
From: Jim Fitting <jfitting@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Re: Question about custom harmonicas
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>, <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <COL105-W205C1F5D40804AF5C48674CAFC0@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I am pretty much a hardcore Marine Band fanatic myself, mostly because of the
strength/durability of the reeds. These days I play 75% of the time in an
acoustic setting and I play hard. The marine band stands up to my punishment
pretty much right of the box, and responds to forceful playing with a full
sound and great tone. I must admit I haven't played many Suzukis, but the Lee
Oskars and Golden Melodies of the world do not respond well to my touch. I
bought a Filisko method marine band from James Powers a couple of years ago, and
it was a beautiful instrument that lasted far longer than any other harmonica
I have ever bought. But even it had the tendency squelch out when I got
carried away and played too hard ( which happened a lot)...In short after thirty
years of playing Marine Bands right out of the box, I'm still hooked.
Jim Fitting
PS
Hey Steve, we met back in '93 in Hamburg when I was with The the. I hope all
is well with you. The Harp Handbook (3rd edition) remains on the top of my
reference bookshelf.
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> From: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 14:03:04 +0100
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Question about custom harmonicas
>
> John, your personal preferences are your affair, but this is to put
> it mildly an extremely contentious claim. I and many other pro
> players including a substantial number of high end customizers regard
> the Hohner Marine Band as pretty much the benchmark harp for blues
> and related forms of music. Buddha works on Golden Melodies because
> he feels that for his sophisticated musical aspirations they give the
> best results. These craftsmen choose Hohner Classic harmonicas to
> work on because they consider them to offer the best raw material
> presently available for their purposes. The reason lies mainly in the
> tone and response of the reeds. That's why I play them myself. This
> is by no means intended to denigrate Suzuki, their harmonicas are
> very well made even though they don't correspond to my personal
> taste. Tastes differ, so other players (and customizers) may have
> different preferences, but few would justify their choice by claiming
> Hohner instruments are inherently inferior. How about trying a Hohner
> Classic harp out of current production before making such absolutist
> statements in public?
>
> Steve
>
> Steve Baker
> steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> www.stevebaker.de
> www.bluesculture.com
> www.youtube.com/stevebakerbluesharp
> www.myspace.com/stevebakerbluesharp
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
_________________________________________________________________
Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass.
http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_
122008
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 15:59:10 +0000
From: Shawn Williams <swilliamsffpm@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Question about custom harmonicas
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <BAY113-W31FD513BA8A40D3845612AA3FC0@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
i say, play a custom marine band. a custom in any brand by a good customizer
will be awesome. one brand may take a little more or less work to get "in
the zone" than another, but the end product is the same...and worth it.
Shawnhttp://code29band.comhttp://www.myspace.com/bosqueblues
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 11:19:00 -0500
From: "M. N." <mnessmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Question about custom harmonicas
To: list harp <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <BLU146-W32A79C9800BA5D2E2561ECB1FC0@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
JP wrote:
"Why do customizers only customize Hohners?"
===========
MIGHT have something to do with the fact that traditionally most players who
purchase custom harps utilize overblows (at least a little). I've yet to
play a non-Hohner that would overblow without squealing. With that said, I have
zero experience with Seydels. But the Tombo, Lee Oskars and Suzukis I've
owned all had a tendency to squeal with overblowing. BTW, the MS Hohners are
pretty lousy overblow harps too although wit a LOT of tweaking, they'll do.
MN
_________________________________________________________________
Suspicious message? Thereâs an alert for that.
http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad2_12
2008
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 08:43:41 -0800 (PST)
From: Dominick Galluppi <hobobluz@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Small harp keys
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <627812.55613.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I'm looking for a Piccolo or Puck sized harps in A and B flat. Seems like
they are only made in the key of C by the major companies. Do you guys know
if there is a company that makes them off the shelf? Or is there customizer
who could make some up?
Dom
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L mailing list
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
End of Harp-L Digest, Vol 64, Issue 26
**************************************
**************Stay in touch with ALL of your friends: update your AIM, Bebo,
Facebook, and MySpace pages with just one click. The NEW AOL.com.
(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000012)
This archive was generated by a fusion of
Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and
MHonArc 2.6.8.