Filisko on Levy
The essay below was published by Joe Filisko, undoubtedly the greatest diatonic harmonica maker in the world as of late 1999, on the Harp-L internet mailing list in May 1999. Written in response (in part) to my comments on the 1999 Buckeye Harmonica Festival, the…
Here’s How to Get a Chicago-Style Sound Through a PA
Members of the Harp-L List regularly ask how they can achieve a “Chicago” style sound when using the PA system as the main amplifier for harmonica. This page, with help from guest writer Dom DeStefano, offers a few solutions that have been tested and proved…
Have you played a Country-Tuned Harmonica? Why not?
NOTE: This discussion originally appeared in a slightly different form in a message posted to the Harp-L List on December 2, 1998. There’s been some recent discussion on Harp-L of the uses for the Huang Jazz Harp (which is in what Hohner calls Country Tuning,…
A Harmonica Player’s Review of James Taylor’s Hourglass
This is a harmonica player’s review, which means the ultimate focus is on the two songs on James Taylor’s latest release that contain harmonica playing (by Stevie Wonder and James Taylor respectively). The overall quality of this release is so high that I can’t help…
SPAH 1998: A Personal Review, Part 1
This is a brief summary of personal highlights from SPAH 1998. This event, the 35th anniversary convention for SPAH, was held in Detroit, MI, USA from August 26-30, 1998. There was far too much going on at this show for any individual to provide a…
Blues Traveler’s “Straight On Till Morning”: Focus on Harmonica
John Popper, as any harmonica player (and many non-harmonica players) knows, is the lead singer, main songwriter, and harmonica player for Blues Traveler, an increasingly popular rock band whose inspirations include the Grateful Dead, and whose recent credits include opening for the Rolling Stones on…
The Photo Gallery
Pictures from the sessions for “The Lucky One” at 1935 Studio, Philadelphia, PA on Sep 18 2016. (Photos by Patty Sagalyn) Musicians: Richard Hunter, harmonica and vocals Mike “SloMo” Brenner, lap steel John Cunningham, bass Mark Schreiber, drums Peter Rydberg, engineer AND here’s the record…
Jerome Harris
Jerome Harris was one year ahead of me at Harvard, and by the time I met him he was already one of the best-known student musicians on the campus. His main axe in those days was guitar, and his trademark was versatility. He was a…
Hunter at SPAH 1997
Photo Courtesy: Michael Will The SPAH (Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica) Convention is an annual gathering of hundreds of harmonica players; it typically includes more than a few of the greatest harmonica players in the world. This year’s convention, held in…
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal hasn’t played harmonica much in public in the last few years, at least not so far as I can tell. When I was in my teens, Taj featured his harmonica extensively on his recordings, and I learned a lot from those records. My…
