[Harp-L] Nominees for SPAH's Bernie Bray Harmonica Player of the Year award

[Winslow Yerxa]

Every year SPAH bestows its Bernie Bray award. This year SPAH is announcing not only this year's recipient at the convention banquet on Saturday night, but also the nominations submitted by SPAH members.

Criteria: 



·     Candidates’ proficiency should be a source ofpride for the community – the award should be for excellence in actuallyplaying the instrument.



·     Award should be for distinction demonstrated orattained recently, preferably during a twelve-month period prior to thedeadline for nominations.



PT Gazell



Whose previous nominations include the Pete Pedersen award in 2015 and 2016


>From his early work with Johnny Paycheck and Ricky Scaggs tohis current career as a purveyor of swing on his Gazell method Seydel diatonics,PT has amassed a solid body of work and left a trail of excellence; his supportof and activity with SPAH in the last several years has enriched ourconventions.


Deak Harp, whose accomplishments were describedin his nomination for the Stan Harper Award.



John Nemeth



Who was also nominated for this award in 2013.


A highly talented soul and blues harmonicist, entertainerand vocalist, over the past four years John has won an album of the year awardand been nominated for a long list of other honors, including a current LivingBlues Award nomination.


Paul Oscher


Paul Oscher was the first Caucasian member of the MuddyWaters Blues Band while Jim Crow laws were still in effect, and since then hasbuilt a fine reputation in his ongoing and reinvigorated career as a triplethreat on guitar, piano, and harmonica – even bass harmonica and melodica in ablues context!


Mickey Raphael


Mickey is nominated for his lifelong body of work in playingthe harmonica in Willie Nelson’s band and being a quintessential accompanist whohas inspired so many on the harmonica.


Jason Ricci



Who was previously nominated for the Bernie Bray Award in 2015.


Jason is both one of the most creative and virtuosicdiatonic harmonica players working at present, and a highly visible ambassadorfor the harmonica as a harmonica educator, tireless touring performer, arecording artist, winner of multiple awards, including a Grammy, and who has evenrepresented the late Paul Butterfield in a performance honoring Butterfield’sinduction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. 


Steve Watne


Past president and motivating force behind the highly successfulTwin Cities Harmonica club and as a harmonica educator for players of all ages,Steve is also an excellent classical harmonicist and, as we’ll see tonight, he shinesin a harmonica trio as well. Steve plays all the harmonicas, and is also activeas a musical arranger for harmonica groups.


Stevie Wonder


Stevie Wonder has been wowing the world with hissinging, keyboard playing, and harmonica playing with a string of hit songsgoing back nearly 50 years. But when he guests on other people’s recordings andconcerts, it’s most often as a harmonica player. He brings to the chromaticharmonica a unique and personal voice that is instantly recognizable and isknown and loved worldwide.    
 Winslow Yerxa
Producer, the Harmonica Collective
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition: ISBN 978-1-118-88076-0
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Expert, bluesharmonica.comInstructor, Jazzschool Community Music SchoolPresident emeritus, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica