Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

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.

Yvonnick Prene joins me on episode 117.Yvonnick was born in France and has been resident in New York for seventeen years after first moving to the city to study at the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music.He started out playing blues and jazz on the diatonic and took lessons with some of the great French players, before focusing his attention playing jazz on the chromatic.Yvonnick is a bandleader and has released seven albums under his own name as well as numerous sessions as a sideman.He also runs the New Harmonica School in New York and the excellent online tutorial website My Harmonica Studio, as well as numerous tutorial books.Yvonnick is also the face of Hohner’s new Xpression chromatic harmonica.Links:Website:https://www.yvonnickprene.com/Tuition website:https://www.myharmonicastudio.com/Henriksen amplifiers:https://www.henriksenamplifiers.com/Videos:Yvonnick’s YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCRked2IhFUqTf92SHisizQYvonnick Prene & Manual Rocheman:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O-y3YLahwYSlim Shady song:https://youtu.be/y6mgIJH6_EYNew York Harmonica School:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcwEprk6rJ8Triste from Jobim’s World album:https://youtu.be/nlztkwCXeKUPodcast 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

Isabella Krapf joins me on episode 116.Isabella is from Vienna, Austria, where she started teaching and performing concerts in her late teens and has had a career in the harmonica ever since.Isabella is a collector of harmonicas and puts on exhibitions. She played a part in keeping the Seydel factory in business when it was looking for new investors in the early 2000s, by ordering 1000 ‘boomerang’ harmonicas.In 2011 Isabella was asked to visit North Korea to teach groups of music students there to play harmonica. A group later visited Austria and performed some concerts in Europe under her guidance.Isabella also got to know Jerry Adler towards the end of his life and compiled an album for him and played in a concert with him and Howard Levy in 2006.Links:Website: https://www.isabellakrapf.com/Videos:Boomerang harmonica:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n7hfbd9BQ0North Korean ensemble at Trossingen in 2013:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCoL33Y0-24North Korean group playing at Bristol in 2012:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dI7k5s0uVwThe Bossa Nova Company:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uujLkY_iCfoPablo Fegundas:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=792673521775393HUK virtual workshop:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1LjuOwqaicHistorical diatonic video:https://www.facebook.com/denise.uthoff.3/videos/1020566385917951Podcast 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

Pat Missin joins me on episode 115.Pat’s knowledge about the harmonica is unsurpassed, with his website at patmissin.com, a definitive source of information for over twenty years. He gives us an insight into some of this knowledge, starting with how free reed instruments were the predecessor of the harmonica and the questionable history of who actually invented the harmonica as we know it today. We also discuss various harmonica recording firsts, such as the first blues harmonica song recorded, the first second and third position and chromatic recording. Pat was also one of the earlier leading exponents on exploring harmonica tuning schemes and has released some song books for harmonica as well as some on other free reed instruments.Links:Website: https://patmissin.com/Free reed instrument history:https://patmissin.com/history/history.htmlHarmonica collection:https://patmissin.com/gallery/gallery.htmlTunings:https://patmissin.com/tunings/tunings.htmlVintage harmonica recordings:https://www.patmissin.com/78rpm/78rpm.htmlHarmonica reviews:https://patmissin.com/index1.htmlMagazine articles:https://www.patmissin.com/articles/articles.htmlRoger Trobridge’s Harmonica Archivist site:http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/Videos:Pat playing at the NHL festival in 1999:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKOBtWLuV7EPodcast 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

Seth Shumate joins me on episode 114.Seth is an Old Timey and pre-war harmonica player originally from Arkansas, now living in Tennessee. Seth has deeply researched the early history of the harmonica and has written an Old Time Harmonica Handbook which contains lots of great information, as well as techniques on how to play authentic Old Timey harmonica using various tongue blocking techniques to add percussive rhythm and to provide self-accompaniment while also playing the melody of the tune. Seth likes to play acoustically, making use of an Edison phonograph cylinder for amplification, and accompanying himself using bones and other instruments, and he’s recently acquired the Masterharp USA tuning table company.Seth plays with The Ozark Highballers band and releases regular videos to his YouTube channel of his playing.Links:Contact Seth: seth.shumate@googlemail.comSoundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/seth-shumateFacebook group: Harmonica Country, Bluegrass, Rock & CelticVideos:YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhgSeth playing Turkey In The Straw with Edison Horn:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s9obWRYkEITupelo Blues played with bones:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhgDave Rice Old Timey album:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9g13kPvKhaMrGaHI8RdBYWvmWOHzeV75Seth YouTube Interview and playing:https://youtu.be/1As3CbgL9ugPodcast 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