Ben Bouman joins me on episode 81.
Ben is a Dutch blues player who always strives for originality in his playing, partly inspired by his admiration for the playing of Paul deLay. Ben’s current band is The Marble Tones, who took their name from the amplifier company, with Ben helping develop their range of harmonica amps.
Ben also helped Seydel prototype their steel reeds before they released them some fifteen years ago, and he tells us all about polishing and profiling steel reeds, his own business selling customised Seydel harmonicas, and how he helped persuade Seydel in moving over to Compromised Just Tuning.
The Harpgame Is On! is the name of Ben’s self-produced album and he regularly posts YouTube videos, including his recent tuition videos on different harmonica themes.
Links:
Ben’s website:
https://www.benboumanharmonicas.nl
Webshop to buy Ben Bouman custom harmonicas:
https://www.benboumanharmonicas.nl/rapidcartpro/index.php?catalog/all/-/date/1
Marble amplifiers:
https://www.marble-amps.com/
Viola Barends:
https://www.violaharmonica.com/
Seydel festival and harmonica competition:
https://mundharmonika-live.de
https://www.seydel1847.de/seydelopen-registration
Hohner CBH chromatic:
https://chromhistory.blog/2019/05/22/cbh-2012-2016/
Videos:
Paul deLay Harmonica Party:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWepAFBqsN4
Marble Tones band videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@BluesMoose/search?query=marbletones
Ben's Tone in a cup:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063463839653
Viola Barends harmonica orchestra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ7sNeZUAAI
Ben playing Watermelon Man:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnEbikuq7sI
Ben playing blues chromatic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNSa7VdKFXw
Ben gear demo recording, including Pignose amp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWFrUNKpMx8
The Monkey Speaks His Mind with The Marble Tones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d4HbjTn4EI
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