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

[Mike Wilbur <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hal is a master on the Khaen 

Mike Wilbur



On Oct 14, 2013, at 7:58 PM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx wrote:

> 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