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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 15:06:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: martin oldsberg <martinoldsberg@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Harmonica as a regular instrument
Two bands have been mentioned here recently, Charlie Winston, w/
harmonica player Ben Edwards, and Steppin in It /w harmonica
player ... -- whose name escapes me now.
What´s interesting w/ these two, i think is that the harmonica is
treated as a "regular" instrument, filling it´s place in the
soundscape the band creates, and not just something a singer brings
up and shows that s/he can draw, blow and wow, even bend 4D.
This usage of the harp is not very common (outside of blues) and
bands that comes to mind are of course War, J Geils and ... and ...
-- it sort of ran out there. But of course there are some more.
When one listens to, e.g. Charlie Winston, mostly the harmonica is
very discreet, not defining the band´s sound but more laying some
sort of foundation, or filling out the bottom. On a a live show I
have w/ them I think he doesn´t even take a solo for the entire
concert. But he´s there.
Can anyone fill in more band that use the harp, diatonic/chromatic
in this way? Well known, unknown, no matter; just forget blues
because there it´s often a given thing.
With services like Spotify you can explore music you´d never dream
of spending your money on and it´s a very fortunate situation, for
as long as it holds.
Cheers,
Martin
PS Yeah, I´m well aware of a Swedish band, Wilmer X, that answers to
the above criteria. Well known and successful here, but no bigger
splash internationally. One reason: they sing in Swedish.