[Harp-L] NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI TO BE INVADED BY BLUES HARP LOVERS

[jeff silverman <jeffsilverman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For immediate release:

NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI TO BE
INVADED BY BLUES HARMONICA LOVERS
ON MAY 22nd and MAY 23rd, 2010.

Registration is now open for Hill Country Harmonica , a two-day 
intensive retreat for blues harmonica students of all levels, featuring 
workshops, jam sessions, and concerts. Headlining the event is 
Grammy-nominated Chicago legend Billy Branch and world renowned 
performer/instructor Adam Gussow (from Satan and Adam). This event is to 
be hosted on the Foxfire Ranch in Waterford, Mississippi.

Also teaching and performing at the event are Mississippi hill country 
bluesmen Terry âHarmonicaâ Bean and Bill âHowl-N-Maddâ Perry, Memphis 
teen sensation Brandon Bailey, and very special guest Billy Gibson, 
a.k.a. âthe prince of Beale Streetâ and winner of the 2009 Blues Music 
Award for âInstrumentalist â Harmonica.â

Adam Gussow, headliner and host of the event, says âHill Country 
Harmonica is the biggest harmonica-focused event ever to take place in 
North Mississippi. Many people are familiar with the regionâs 
musicâtheyâve heard of R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbroughâbut the hill 
country is NOT known for harmonica playing. So we thought it might be 
fun to bring together some of the most exciting contemporary harp 
players from the MississippiâMemphisâChicago axis and create a 
student-focused environment in which great music gets made by everybody 
from the pros down to the raw beginner.â

âWeâre going to talk Mississippi blues repertoire,â adds Gussow. âWeâre 
going to talk grooves, weâre going to talk about how harp players can 
accompany guitaristsâand Bill Perry, Terry Bean, and my buddy Charlie 
Hilbert are going to work with and back up our attendees. Billy Branch, 
who has been teaching in the Chicago public schools for 20 years, is 
going to teach us Little Walterâs âJuke.â Iâm going to talk about 
foundational techniques, including tone production, and Iâm going to 
talk about overblows. Soup to nuts. Weâre going to create a face-to-face 
community of harmonica players for a couple of days in the beautiful 
hills of North Mississippiâ.

âThere really has never been an event like this for blues harmonica 
players specifically and the blues lover at largeâ says Jeff Silverman 
of harmonica411, co-sponsor of the event. âYes there are harp clinics 
and yes there are the occasional jam camps, but Billy Branch teaching 
and sharing the instrument in Mississippi? His blues lineage goes back 
through James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell all the way to Big Walter 
Horton. Billy IS the blues harp.â

âAnd letâs not forget Adam Gussow,â Silverman adds, âwho was busking the 
streets of Harlem for years before being discovered and playing all over 
the world with Mr. Satan. Brandon Bailey - a kid out of South Memphis - 
won the Orpheum Star Search with he was only 16. Heâs blending blues 
harmonica and beat-box stuff into âharp-boxingâ; a whole new 
contemporary sound. Bill Perry just came in second in this yearâs 
International Blues Challenge in Memphis in the solo/duo category, and 
heâs been teaching the blues at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. 
And Billy Gibson? Heâs one of the most exciting harp players on todays 
blues scene".

Hill Country Harmonica is a two day blues Harp Homecoming event from May 
22nd and 23rd, 2010 in Waterford, Mississippi. FREE onsite camping! 
There are additional camping and motels nearby. (Foxfire Ranch is 50 
miles south of the Memphis International Airport and easily accessible 
by major highways.)

Registration is $150.00 for player/students, $50.00 for non-players 
accompanying a player. Children 12 and under get in FREE!

For additional information on this event please visit
http://www.harmonica411.com/Hill_Country_Harmonica.html

Jeff Silverman
http://www.harmonica411.com
jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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