Laurent Maur joins me on episode 75.

Laurent is a jazz chromatic player from France. He first started learning diatonic before moving on to the chromatic to pursue his love of jazz music. He had some lessons with the French classical chromatic player, Claude Garden, helping to advance his technique. Laurent played with a few different bands, touring and recording albums with them before releasing two albums under his own name, and two with the Youpi Quartet. Laurent teamed up with the flute player from this quartet to release his most recent album, of duets with flute. 

Laurent makes use of different harmonicas beyond the chromatic and occasional diatonic, playing the recently released Suzuki bass and chord harmonicas as well as being one of the leading exponents of the DM48 midi chromatic harmonica.

Links:

Laurent’s website:
https://www.laurentmaur.com/

JJ Milteau Method for Diatonic and Chromatic Harmonica tuition book:
https://www.melbay.com/Products/20588BCD/method-for-diatonic-and-chromatic-harmonica.aspx

Suzuki SSCH-56: Compact Chord & S-48B (Bass):
http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/products/harmonica/orchestral.html

Children’s show: The true Story of the Tchepperpou
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtZ7VOmcus

Midi controller foot pedal:
https://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/softstep/

Videos:

La Cambiada with Orlando Pole:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJEKPe64BH8&list=PL027E88A8BFFE8871

Duo with Emilie Calme in Sunside Jazz Club, Paris:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t63za4K1Kw

Tuition video on using the Dorian scale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A4_M-LNy30

Roland Mobile Cube amp:
https://www.roland.com/au/products/mobile_cube/

Children’s show teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtZ7VOmcus

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Richard Hunter joins me on episode 74.

Richard has immersed himself in harmonica ever since he first picked it up at age 15 and has been pushing the boundaries of the instrument ever since. His first release was a solo acoustic harmonica album, composing most of the songs himself and making extensive use of alternate tunings and counterpoint, followed up by a second album along the same lines.

Richard is a true innovator of using effects with harmonica and has created some great sounds using them on his later two albums, including the use of Digitech multi-effect pedals, for which he has created patch sets that are available to download from his website.

Richard is also the author of one of the first harmonica transcription books: Jazz Harp, that was released in the 1990s, becoming a staple publication on many a harmonica players’ shelves.

Links:

Richard’s website:
https://www.hunterharp.com/

Chris Turner:
https://christurnerharmonica.bandcamp.com/album/chris-turner-harmonicas

The Lucky One posts:
https://www.hunterharp.com/the-lucky-one-is-here-check-out-the-songs/

Solo acoustic harmonica tracks to buy:
https://www.hunterharp.com/all-hunters-downloads-in-one-place/#Sbuy

Tunings used on solo recordings:
https://www.hunterharp.com/harp-keys-and-tunings-for-my-recorded-solo-repertoire/

The Lucky One breakdown of each song:
https://www.hunterharp.com/the-lucky-one-is-here-check-out-the-songs/

DaBell harmonicas:
http://en.dabell.co.kr/home/bbs//board.php?bo_table=product&sca=Harmonica

Videos:
Richard’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/lightninrick

Put The Lever Down, from 1982:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnDPNyimg5o

Recent Electric work:
https://www.hunterharp.com/category/audiovideo/?fbclid=IwAR0bozS97Y4lZwKmGk230CmVEknErhY0rEuvEYQ19mOJOqCRMAi84wi3cVk

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Adam Gussow joins me on episode 73.

Adam is a native New Yorker now living in Mississippi, working as a professor at the university there.
Adam rose to stardom as part of the blues duo Satan and Adam in the late 1980s. They found their audience on the streets of Harlem, where they were briefly filmed and appeared in a U2 documentary and album. Satan & Adam enjoyed great success, playing together for 15 years, releasing three albums before disbanding in 1998, re-forming some years later and releasing another album.
With the passing of Mr Satan, Adam formed his own one-man band, then a duo which has recently added Mr Satan’s nephew: Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors.
Adam was the first person to release blues tuition videos on YouTube and has had over 20 million hits, accompanied by his website Modern Blues Harmonica.

Links:
Adam’s website:
https://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/home.html

Satan & Adam documentary:
http://satanandadamfilm.com/

Pete Farmer kick drums and harmonica holders:
https://www.footdrums.com/

Videos:

U2's Rattle and Hum clip of Satan and Adam:
https://youtu.be/x6M2aWVx0LA

Ronnie Shellist ‘Funky Blues Harmonica’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs_OchfmBc8

Gussow's classic blues harmonica videos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfYHJbTZklgZU1bEVLaZyvQ

Modern Blues Harmonica YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/kudzurunner

YouTube video teaching Sunshine of Your Love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqFnpCcvUvQ

Adam busking solo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-E3qQ59VcQ

Crossroads video:
https://youtu.be/KeMis-B7f58

Sir Rod and the Blues Doctors: What’d I Say:
https://youtu.be/retCfgoCO3M

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Paul Reddick joins me on episode 72.

Paul is a singer, songwriter and harmonica player based in Toronto, Canada. He rose to prominence with his band: Paul Reddick and the Sidemen in the 1990s. Paul describes himself as not a typical blues harmonica player, often using his sparse notes with heavy delay, while also making the use of complex patterns to build interesting rhythms. 

Paul developed his songwriting approach using the structure of poetry, and his insightful and thoughtful blues lyrics have earned him the title of the Poet Laureate of the Blues, including winning the Maple Blues Award for songwriter of the year for his album Sugarbird in 2009.

 
Links:

Paul's website:
https://paulreddick.ca/

Lyrics:
https://paulreddick.ca/lyrics

Styrmon El Capistan delay pedal:
https://www.strymon.net/product/elcapistan/

Videos:

Blue Eventide (Official Music Video):
https://youtu.be/GpYU91lmS2Y

Mourning Dove:
https://youtu.be/eOrFt-aCbXU

Luna Moth and Butterfly:
https://youtu.be/HwrF_cd38aY

Paul Reddick & The Gamblers - One More Day:
https://youtu.be/V1QF8LMeXT4

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Juzzie Smith joins me on episode 71.

Juzzie is an Australian who has a one-man band act with the harmonica pivotal to the sound. He has had over 200 million views of his online videos, starting out when a passer-by recorded him busking at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. 

Juzzie started his one-man band after playing as the harp player in a blues band, and then teaching guitar and harmonica. This gave him a great foundation to lay down the rhythms for his self-penned laid-back bluesy folk. He plays up to six instruments at a time, including percussion juggling balls. Juzzie has been a regular at music festivals around the world and has produced his own music and video content in his home in Ocean Shore.

   
Links:
Juzzie’s website:
https://juzziesmith.com/

Percussion juggling balls;
https://www.chukachuks.com/

Press Play and Blow Away tuition course:
https://juzziesmith.com/store/67-harmonica-lessons-mp3/

Videos:
Grolsch Festival YouTube with 11 million views at time of writing:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=juzzie+smith+harmonica&sp=CAM%253D

Edinburgh Fringe Festival appearance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcrujO7lKsA

Juggling percussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opRp6Em0vXg

Keep Life Simple Beatbox harmonica:
https://youtu.be/nXhS231_iJ4

Jamming video:
https://youtu.be/dmA_zUC8__8

Juzzie’s ‘My Coolest Harmonica Solo’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmOb76IuyRc

Taking Time Out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhiXwAD_Pxc&t=19s

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Ricky Cool joins me on episode 70.

Ricky hails from the Birmingham area of the UK, and drew great inspiration asa teenager from the American folk festivals which brought some harmonica greats to the city. Under his alter ego Ricky Cool, he went on to lead several successful rhythm and blues band, with Jamaican music also brought into the set. He also played harmonica in a band with Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant! 

Ricky played harmonica and saxophone in most of these bands and this combination of instruments has led to his recent series of excellent YouTube videos called ‘Mississippi Saxophone’. In these videos he picks out some great horn lines and shows how to play them on harmonica.    

Links:

Ricky Cool and the In Crowd:
https://www.rickycoolandtheincrowd.co.uk/

Videos:

Mississippi saxophone YouTube series of tutorial videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ssuQxsIvn_NJy1A12hVyiq4Xb09ZXPj

Ricky’s YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/rickycool100

Ricky Cool and The Icebergs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX4akPiV0Wo

Playing at NHL festival in 1988:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Wf6X-erO4

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Herbert Quelle joins me on episode 69.

Herbert is a German who worked as a diplomat for 40 years. This included 10 years as the German Consul in the US, where he met several distinguished harmonica names. With a deep interest in the harmonica, Herbert has researched the instrument to great depth, using this information to litter facts into his two fictional works centred on our beloved instrument. He tells us of the huge export of harmonicas from Germany to the US, and how the early marketing often described harmonicas as toys.

Herbert regularly makes readings from his books, with some in this podcast episode. 

Links:

Herbert’s website:
https://www.harpambassador.com

Monika’s Blues book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monikas-Blues-Harmonica-African-American-Culture/dp/1880788276

Harmonica History article for Harmonica Happenings magazine:
https://jimdo-storage.global.ssl.fastly.net/file/059116cb-8889-486c-adab-ddc013dcf638/Texte%20280122.pdf

Early harmonica recordings by The Archivist (Roger Trobridge), introduced by Joe Filisko:
https://www.mixcloud.com/PodKast/rare-early-harmonica-recordings-by-vocalists-and-instrumentalists-introduced-by-joe-filisko/

Adam Gussow book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mister-Satans-Apprentice-Blues-Memoir/dp/0816667756

Pat Missin’s recordings of Arthur Turelly and Pete Hampton:
https://www.patmissin.com/78rpm/78rpm.html

Herbert playing the German National Anthem:
https://thomasguntherproductions.bandcamp.com/track/german-national-anthem-deutschland-lied

Mundharmonika Live (Seydel harmonica convention):
https://mundharmonika-live.de/

Videos:

Herbert’s YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/herbieqkeys

A German American Love Story (Harmonica exports to the US):
https://youtu.be/pGigFF1Zkn8

Herbert playing I Feel Free:
https://youtu.be/AYnRdgX77gY

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmea

Support the show

Cheryl Arena joins me on episode 68.

Cheryl is a blues player and singer from the Boston area. She integrated herself into the local music scene there by setting up a jam session near Berklee college, drawing in the great musicians from there. And then set-up another residency with guest musicians joining the house band. Her deep love for the music has taken Cheryl far and wide, and gave her the opportunity to meet and play with some of her harmonica idols, including Junior Wells. This led to her appearing in two blues documentaries: one about Maxwell Street and another about James Cotton. 

Cheryl now runs The Harmonica Experience camp twice a year in the home of the blues, Clarkesdale, Mississippi, where she uses her mouth-on (the harmonica) approach. 

Links:

Cheryl's website:
https://cherylarena.com/

Gigs:
https://cherylarena.com/gigs/

Harmonica Experience teaching camp:
https://www.theharmonicaexperience.com/

Videos:

Sonny Junior playing with Sugar Ray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rld1Q4umqp0

With Big Band:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7qUXseHLzg&list=PL2B3mUb87_ARcAhCRAUoxKSAy6CEQwI2C&index=19

The ‘Harmonica Experience’ overview, with Charlie Musselwhite:
https://youtu.be/2gBS3welRZY

Blog on ‘The Harmonica Experience’:
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2022/8/3/the-harmonica-experience

Greasy Gravy on chromatic:
https://www.facebook.com/david.m.rosen/videos/593960639065696/

Stormy Weather:
https://www.facebook.com/david.m.rosen/videos/790562382263078/

Big Road in duo  with Sonny Collie:
https://youtu.be/pbzS5jwjtps

Off The Wall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HJtvRhhbv8&list=PL2B3mUb87_ARcAhCRAUoxKSAy6CEQwI2C&index=5

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

Erik Lekholm and Jason Keene join me on episode 67.

Where we talk about the innovative DM48 midi chromatic harmonica, designed by Erik initially as a means to practise silently. He posted his creation on a harmonica forum and it soon gained interest, with people eager to purchase it. So Erik and his father started building and sold the first ones in 2017, with the updated version, the DM48X, coming out in 2022 .

Jason Keene joins me in the second half of the podcast, to provide the perspective of one of the leading players of the DM48, which he describes as a game changer for his music. Jason talks us through the set-up and the limitless possibilities that this midi chromatic harmonica  brings.

Links:
DM48 website:
https://www.lekholminstruments.com

Jason Keene website:
http://www.jasonkeeneharmonica.com/

Reviews of the DM48:
https://www.lekholminstruments.com/press.html

DM48 User forum:
https://groups.google.com/g/dm48-digital-chromatic-harmonica

Millioniser 2000:
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2011/09/23/millioniser-2000-tutorial/

Videos:
Millioniser 2000:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRPI_fD0iKQ

Erik Lekholm demos some of the capabilities of the DM48:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpUpvxRfgXM

Erik Lekholm explaining the DM48 at the NAMM show, 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKHvvudb1S0

Brendan Power compares DM48 to HM12 and gives overview of DM48 features:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCy-0DR6Ikc

HM12 midi harmonica video from Brendan Power:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbD9oRdT3O0

Jason Keene talking about the DM48 being a ‘game changer’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuLcopNVm6Q

Jason Keene demoing using the 8K Controller to combine instruments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI-GpHTKVCQ&t=3s

Laurent Maur playing the DM48 live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_rt70dZY1I

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway

Support the show

Joel Andersson joins me on episode 66.

Joel is an Irish harmonica player from Sweden, while also building one of the best reputations in the business for his harmonica customisation skills. 

Joel first fell in love with Irish music on the harmonica when he heard Rick Epping’s playing. He spent time in Ireland with Rick, learning both the music and the art of fine tuning harmonicas.

Joel went on to release a solo harmonica album: The Irish Harmonica, where he simulates the sound of a fiddle and accordion through the use of techniques such as vamping, octaves and drones.

Joel goes on to explain the different levels of service he performs on his custom harmonicas, and how he became a Hohner Affiliated customiser.

Links:
Joel’s website:
https://jaharmonicas.com/

Joel’s webshop:
https://jaharmonicas.com/webshop.html

Joel’s Irish Harmonica site:
https://www.irishharmonica.com/

Berlin Harmonica school Irish harmonica course discussed during the episode:
https://harmonica-school-berlin.com/product/irish-harmonica-complete-course/

Mikael Backman website:
http://harpatwork.com/

Sam Hinton:
http://www.samhinton.org/harmonica/

Joel's upcoming workshops and gigs:
https://www.irishharmonica.com/dates

Videos:
Hohner artist profile:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VVTq1fQwKY

Hohner Masters Workshop 2019:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBOqpP-yNiM

Doyle & Andersson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uptGmJNrns

‘Harmonica Hang’ with Jason Ricci at Harmonica Masters workshop 2022:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcb1TFcmrx8

Playing with Brendan Power:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCfHr709c8M

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show