Sigmund Groven joins me on episode 127. Sigmund is a chromatic player who is a household name in his native Norway. He was inspired to take up the harmonica after hearing Tommy Reilly on the radio. After taking  some lessons with Tommy they formed a lifelong friendship, with Sigmund even becoming his manager.Sigmund has released over thirty albums in his own name through his illustrious career and has played in venues and orchestras around the world, including Carnegie Hall, throughout Europe and in Asia, where he enjoyed chart success in South Korea. He plays classical, pop, contemporary, light music and Norwegian Folk and still enjoys recording and performing regularly. Links:Sigmund’s website:https://sigmundgroven.com/Sigmund's Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/TheSigmundGrovenPageDiscography:https://sigmundgroven.com/discography/Videos:75th birthday concert on Norwegian TV:https://tv.nrk.no/serie/kork-hele-landets-orkester/sesong/2021/episode/MKKA11001721Tommy Reilly playing Colors Of My Life:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eCEv-J-kL4Playing with the pipe organ:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkvAcaoMVXYPlaying at Jersey festival in 1987, with James Moody:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7GSLCaxO8Podcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

Winslow Yerxa joins me on episode 126.Winslow is originally from Canada, now living in San Francisco. He started out playing blues harmonica before becoming interested in the traditional music of French Canada and British origins, among others. Winslow plays in harmonica ensembles and produces his own compositions using a wide variety of harmonicas, including the diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, the Pentaharp, XB40 and the recent Gamechanger harmonica.Winslow created the Harmonica Information Publication (HIP) magazine in the 1990s, with much of the publishing and writing done by himself. This led on to him writing Harmonica For Dummies and Blues Harmonica For Dummies.Winslow was also the President of SPAH from 2012 to 2015.Links:Winslow’s website:https://winslowyerxa.com/Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/WinslowYerxaHarmonica/Bandcamp:https://winslowyerxa.bandcamp.com/The HIP magazine:https://winslowyerxa.com/articles/hip-the-harmonica-information-publication/Videos:Youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@winslowyerxa8505Tommy Reilly playing Chez Helene TV theme:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da6dW7aV7D0The Rounder’s Rag:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKZmcSAanc4Spanish Changes with Tuula Tossavainen Cotter:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30BatYKOOC0JDR Trochilus / Bushman Gamechanger harmonica:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0NM1mxtzHwPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

Paul Lamb, a UK harmonica player who honed his craft under Sonny Terry's influence, joins American experts Joe Filisko, a scholar of early harmonica styles, and Adam Sikora. They dive into Sonny Terry's remarkable journey, from his captivating performance at Carnegie Hall to his legendary duo with Brownie McGhee. The discussion highlights Terry's unique rhythmic style, vocal techniques like whooping and hollering, and the impact of his music on the blues genre. Listeners gain insights into harmonica techniques and the lasting legacy of this harmonica icon.

Shima Kobayashi joins me on episode 124.Shima is a classical chromatic player originally from Japan, who has been  living in the UK since 2004.After winning the World Harmonica Championship in 1995 she was awarded a bursary by the Japanese government to study with the great Tommy Reilly over a twelve month period. Shima has two albums to her name. The first has a number of pieces composed for chromatic harmonica. Her second album, Chromatic!, contains some pieces written for Shima by Japanese composers.After taking a sabbatical for a few years Shima is now back teaching and performing in duos, harmonica ensembles and orchestras in both the UK and Japan.Links:Shima's website:https://shimaharmonica.com/Tommy Reilly In His Own Words (The Archivist):http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/tommy-reilly-in-his-own-words/Videos:Spivakovsky concerto at Harmonica UK 2018:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjtK_r0BchEPlaying Genevieve with the MSO:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QavqmWBhUPMHarmonica and Harp:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjV8iGugpjYShima practise video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkDAiAUE_Z4The Third Orchestra:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHsE8C2gGsAPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

Jerry Portnoy, Steve Guyger and Louis Erlanger join me on episode 123, for a retrospective on Paul Oscher.Paul was born in Brooklyn in 1947 and has a place in history as the first white player in a major black blues band, with Muddy Waters. Joining Muddy’s band gave Paul the best grounding in Chicago blues, he lived in Muddy’s house where he also learnt from the great Otis Spann. After leaving Muddy’s band Paul moved to New York and became a pivotal figure in the blues scene there. Paul put out a number of albums under his own name, with the first being Rough Stuff in 1993, up to Cool Cat in 2018. These included solo and band albums, showcasing his wide range of talents on the harmonica, and also the guitar, piano and vocals.Links:Website:https://www.pauloscher.com/Interview with Paul, by Margie Goldsmith:https://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/paul-oscher-interview.htmlLouis Erlanger Blues Blast Magazine interview:https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/featured-interview-louis-x-erlanger/Videos:Paul Oscher documentary by Jordan Haro:https://vimeo.com/208402633Story of Jimmy Johnson and harmonica trick:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFFPMYhLTt0Paul playing piano:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSbAahV30DoPlaying Juke on a rack:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WJgDEN4aAPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

Ross Garren joins me again on episode 122. Ross lives near Los Angeles, where he has established himself as a leading session musician for harmonica recordings on movies, including Marvel’s Logan and the new Joker film, as well  on albums with numerous pop artists, including recently on Beyonce’s album, Cowboy Carter. Initially a piano player, Ross came to love the harmonica from the age of twelve and plays a wide range of harmonicas, from diatonic to chromatic, bass, chord and other types. Ross plays in the roots meets electronica duo The Sheriffs of Schroedingham, and has just released a self-produced ambient album called Of Winds and Reeds and Very Old Trees. He also recorded the harmonica for a Bob Dylan biopic coming out soon.Links:Website:http://www.rossgarren.com/Selection of session recordings:http://www.rossgarren.com/recordings.htmlBandcamp release: Of Winds and Reeds and Very Old Trees:https://magneticvines.bandcamp.com/album/of-wind-and-reeds-and-very-old-treesHarpsmith custom harmonicas by Kinya Pollard:https://harpsmith.com/Gamechanger harmonica:https://bushmanmusic.com/shop/bushman-harmonicas/game-changer-harmonica/Simple Mics:https://simplemics.com/Videos:John & Ross Present: 'Caldonia' (feat. Nic Jackson):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTQ0QrHhcwABlue Rondo A La Turk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ceFONN_McsSous le Ciel de Paris, Pomplamoose ft. Ross Garrenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vol9dZ-t93sBass harp:https://youtu.be/WgfKEE1QPiA?si=bEmyT8VPqwnjDt30&t=112Royal Albert Hall from 2023:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cumStSUVX9w&t=134sPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

Jim Zeller joins me on episode 121.Jim is from Montreal, Canada, and first starting playing harmonica at age twelve after stealing one from a school friend. He ran away from home at age fifteen and learnt harmonica as he hitch-hiked around North America.Jim has a very distinctive energetic style of playing on both the diatonic and chromatic harmonica. He developed this style by emulating guitar riffs and the percussive elements of Indian music.He has played with and supported some famous blues names, appeared in a Bob Dylan movie and has had a stellar career in the Canadian blues scene, being nominated for Maple Blues awards and appearing at the Montreal Jazz Festival over thirty times.Links:Jim's website:https://jimzeller.wixsite.com/jimzellerYonberg harmonicas:https://www.yonberg-harmonica.com/enVideos:Fright Train:https://youtu.be/ITftta0SXRY?si=pjJyN2ChsFPCCsdsThe Man With The Harmonica:https://youtu.be/fcHhRSIMSzU?si=MJJuVgbA3Dsc6OdePlaying The Godfather live at the Montreal Jazz Festival:https://youtu.be/ajypG_32ij8Wild Life:https://youtu.be/7Dr2J2CNbak?si=e38mCvAppGPqsItpPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

Grant Dermody, Ross Garren and Pete Dammann join me on episode 120 for a retrospective on Paul DeLay.Paul is a harmonica player who may go under the radar for some but his unique approach to both the diatonic and chromatic harmonica, as well as his powerful vocals and his insightful and humorous songwriting have placed him firmly in the hearts of harmonica and music fans in the know.Paul was from Portland, Oregon in the north west United States where his first outfit was the Brown Sugar Blues band. He formed The Paul deLay Blues band in the early 1980s releasing four albums before a period of incarceration in the early 1990s saw him breakout with his highly original blues based material, all laced with harmonica playing quite unlike any other. His passing in 2007 has left a Paul deLay shaped hole which has never been filled.Links:Paul deLay website:http://www.pauldelay.com/Grant Dermody interview:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/grant-dermody-interview/Pete Dammann LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-dammann-4777b916/Videos:Brown Sugar Blues Band - I Know My Baby Been Cheating:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IdB1HuB9soBurnin’ album:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGa0DQNJ2aoFourteen Dollars In The Bank:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzqF1jNhO-YdeLay Does Chicago album:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaI0T2rhQQMOcean of Tears album:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE1u-RBPfmIPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

Yeore Kim joins me on episode 119.Yeore is from South Korea, where she first picked up the tremolo harmonica at the age of six. Her mother is a piano teacher, so she also learnt piano and other instruments, including trumpet, before focusing on the chromatic harmonica from age 18.Yeore has released two albums of duets with different pianists.She moved to France in 2018 after meeting her guitarist husband, Antoine Boyer, with whom she has released an album, Tangram. This contains a great mix of jazz, world music and interpretations of pop songs.Yeore is currently working on a duo album with her husband, due to released later in 2024, and to be followed by a tour in 2025 to promote the album.Videos:YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfFkS5hmOn6BCgU1FCO_IEQJapanese player Nobuo Tokunaga:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33t6gCajgyw7AM duet with pianist Mia:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA2INoVumc0Oasis song: Don’t Look Back In Anger:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGiQuyXSN7YHUK interview with Sam Spranger:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSKLp_di5uw&t=98sEuropean Tour blog:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaQmcObOMiUPodcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.comDonations: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_GBSpotify 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-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQPodcast 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--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the show

David Barrett, a renowned harmonica educator and founder of BluesHarmonica.com, discusses his journey from student to teacher in the blues harmonica scene. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship and the evolution of teaching methods. Barrett shares essential techniques like tongue blocking and slaps, vital for mastering the blues style. He also highlights his innovative approach in nurturing talent through jam sessions and collaborative performances, while reflecting on the impact of digital platforms on harmonica education.