[Harp-L] Nat Reese

[robert mcgraw <harpbob@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Many of you made your way to Blues Week in Elkins, West Virginia over the years. This is for you. Sad to report that West Virginia bluesman Nat Reese, whom many of you knew, passed last Friday at the age of 88. Nat was an interesting and powerful musician who played a mixture of blues and swing music [Nat had worked as a guitarist and singer in big bands in the early 50's]...he was one of the original instructors at Blues Week, and was a patient and generous man. Nat partnered for a few years with Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong in the 90's; they traveled the world a bit ; some of you may have heard them. Towards the end of his life, Nat occasionally gigged with Phil Wiggins, after John Cephus had died. Nat was a  good and decent man who always had time for people who were learning the music...and he loved the harmonica, playing with and encouraging harp players of all skill levels over the years. There's a ton of his stuff on youtube, but much of it isn't really representative of him at his best...here's a clip [though the video isn't very good] from Nat's induction ceremony into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.  Phil Wiggins, who inducted Nat, is on harmonica. The song is appropriate; it's the gospel tune Nat often closed his shows with: "Save a Seat for Me."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDR9pNck7TM
 
West Virginia has lost a unique and beautiful voice. RIP, Nat, RIP.
WVa Bob