RE: [Harp-L] Chromatic Harp played by Walter Horton?

[Tom Ball <havaball@xxxxxxx>]

Pete,

The only commercially available piece I know of 
where Horton played chrom was an instrumental 
recorded at a birthday party in Dortmund, Germany 
in 1965. It was never intended for release and 
it's unclear whether Walter even realized he was 
being recorded.

The song title is simply "Blues," and it came out 
on Document LP 575, after Horton's death. LP 
title is "Solo Harp" by Sonny Boy Williamson on 
one side (also recorded at a party in Germany two 
years prior,) and Horton on the flip.  Been O/P 
for years, though, and I don't think it was ever 
released on CD.

It's been a long time since I heard this so I'm 
relying on memory here, but as I recall Walter 
was basically just goofing off with a chrom in C. 
Not very interesting as I recollect, and poorly 
recorded to boot.

Also I'm fairly positive that's Little Walter 
(not Horton) on "Don't Go No Further..."

cheers,
Tom Ball
http://www.tomball.us


Ý Ý Are there any certifed recorded examples of Walter Horton playing chromatic
harp? He was once known to have made a statement along the lines of "Chromatic
harp will fry your mind." The only example I have found where he could be
playing chromatic is on the Muddy Waters 
recording of Willie Dixon's tune "Don't
Go No Further", recorded for Chess in July of 1956.


Ý Ý The harp sounds like a chromatic, but the playing is much less aventuresome
that Big Walter's usual brilliant diatonic work. My guess is that he was not
very comfortable with this type of harp, and didn;t want to take any chances of
hitting a bad note or two. As previously noted, however, he did a commendable
job on his own recording of "Skip It", recorded years later in his career for
the Blind Pig label, where he was using a Marine Band Soloist, tuned like a
chromatic. As usual, his tone and execution here was top notch. Any input on
this subject would be appreciated.

Pete Sheridan.


www.petesheridan.net