Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Blues from Thailand/Laos !!

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Hal Walker has played a Khaen for a while now and made it extremely  
interesting for many of us. Some time ago I posted some vids of him and master  
players from Thailand playing Khaens. Hal brought his to the last Garden State 
 Harmonica Festival in November, 2011, wowing the crowds and all the kids 
who  follow him around as though he's the Pied Piper. He has a unique ability 
to  connect with kids and adults alike. Like MadCat he also enjoys playing 
many  instrumentals--even has a beatboxing vid playing a jaws' harp (the  
Khaen doesn't show up until 3:42 or thereabouts):
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watchfeature=player_embedded&v=klscV2Y_mVg
 
 
THIS version of him improv-ing with a group of guys called 'Ball In the  
House' in a stairwell blew me away: 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGqF2E07XTg
 
I immediately wanted to buy a Khaen :)
But after reading some of his comments (on youtube), it seems the best  
sounding ones are bought directly from the makers IN Thailand (where he got  
his).
 
 
He came to SPAH and then joined with Al and Judy Smith to play harmonica  
and sing with them in a new trio, but more recently Hal survived a very  
frightening near-drowning which killed a fellow camper at JP Allen's harmonica  
retreat last year on Hawaii. I don't know how well he is doing lately--but 
sure  hope he's feeling much better and getting back to his great playing.
 
Elizabeth
PS: I LOVED the Stevie Ray Vaughn song too. How cool was that? She was so  
into the music!
 
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2013 13:22:48 -0500
From: Kevin Hamilton  <kham27@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Blues from Thailand/Laos  !!
To: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Fantastic. I want to play the Khaen now! What  an amazing sound and rhythm.

Totally impressed too.

On 12 October  2013 08:44, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> oh  wow...she picked pretty much the most ambitious SRV tune to take on.
>  That is impressive.

> On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 4:38 AM, Ben Bouman  <fitgo@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Hi all
> >
>  > On a dutch bluesharp forum I found this:
> >
> >  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRHCJDc72Vk
> >
> > The player  is using a Khaen ( traditional thai instrument) , his name 
is
> >  Sombat Simlaa . The style of music is called Morlam.
> > He's using  some kind of bullet mic to play amplified.
> >
> > And how  about a Stevie Ray Vaughn song played on Guzheng:
> >
>  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX-T0eBr31w&feature=player_embedded#at=78
>  >
> >
> > Ben Bouman
> >  www.customharmonicashop.com
> > www.harmonicainstituut.nl
> >  www.marble-amps.com