Yotam Ben-Or joins me on episode 107.Yotam is a chromatic player who attended the Tel-Aviv Music Conservatory, making a name for himself on the Israeli music scene before winning a scholarship to study at The New School for Jazz in New York, age 21.Although predominately a jazz player, Yotam is keen to emphasise the diverse range of genres this encapsulates, including world music and South American influences on his music. Yotam has  previously released two albums under his own name, with a third coming out in 2025. Many of the songs on these albums are composed by Yotam as he helps to push the chromatic in new and exciting directions.Links:Yotam's website:https://www.yotambo.com/Videos:Yotam Ben-Or Quartet live at Festival da Jazz St. Moritz:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GI9HM6NqCYSatla song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv6zOhUKa6oMiLiM song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tGBXF0nHw4Live at Carnegie Hall:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wmKRaXdW9ALive in Switzerland:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GI9HM6NqCYPodcast 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 HARMONICASSupport the show

Eddie Martin joins me on episode 106.Eddie has been described as the ambassador of British Blues, having released seventeen albums over his near fifty year career, with many of the songs self-penned by Eddie. He started out as a one-man band, but also performs as part of his own bands too. In either format Eddie makes extensive use of rack harmonica, and is one of the leading players of using a rack, while also playing some hand-held harmonica as well. Eddie gives us some great tips on playing on the rack. Eddie also had a two year spell in the US where he regularly played on Beale St, Memphis and Clarksdale, Mississippi, as well as time playing in Italy. And he regularly teaches at workshops in the UK and Europe.Links:Eddie’s website:http://eddiemartin.comBig Red Radio:https://soundcloud.com/eddie-martin/sets/eddie-martins-big-red-radioHarmonica Master’s Workshop:https://www.harmonica-masters.de/en/workshops-2024/master-workshops-diatonic/eddie-martin.htmlEuroBlues week:https://www.euroblues.co.uk/blues-week-2024/Son of Dave interview:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/son-of-dave-interview/Videos:One Man Band video from Thirst album:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK6Qr9nSugw&t=18sBirdcage Sessions video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU87CViwfJAHarpin’ By The Sea 2024: Breakeven Blues:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S83O-scnX_IHarpin’ By The Sea 2024: Early In The Morning:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fuwgMcaJ4QNHL festival 2006: Queen of Spades:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW-Y9JplJ4wPodcast 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 HARMONICASSupport the show

Paul Barry joins me again on episode 105, for another look at the life and career of the great William Clarke.Paul has now released his biography: Blowin’ Like Hell: The William Clarke Story, writing it from insights he gained from Bill’s wife Jeanette, and Bill's children, and the musicians who played with him, as well as many others.Bill dedicated his life from the age of sixteen to become the bluesman he dreamed he could be, and he worked extremely hard at it. He honed his craft from woodshedding at home, attending the blues clubs of LA, becoming the protege of George Smith, and pushing himself hard to create his unique voice both vocally and especially on the diatonic and chromatic harmonica. All this despite his personal demons, to become one of the leading players of his generation. Links:Paul’s website:https://www.paulbarryblues.com/Where to buy the biography:https://www.paulbarryblues.com/william-clarke.htmlBlues Blast magazine review of the William Clarke book:https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-18-7-february-15-2024/?fbclid=IwAR3lctX2K7JrotYoAczEp_JE_rIktqg6QejnVrSMR52OYIvKiEM-GeyJS9QWilliam Clarke Remembered Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/171827912850208/The first William Clarke retrospective with Paul:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/william-clarke-retrospective-with-paul-barry/Videos:Bill playing Lollipop Mama at the San Fran Blues Festival in 1991:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrXrsmUWAGMInterview with Bill, and concert footage from Byron Bay festival in Australia:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgWsyKvC3oPodcast 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 HARMONICASSupport the show

Mike Turk joins me on episode 104.Mike is a Boston-based player who started out playing blues harmonica, inspired by the great Paul Butterfield, before becoming interested in playing jazz on the chromatic. He recorded some session work in New York and recorded through the 1970s with various artists, with many of those tracks available on anthology albums Mike has put out. He released his first solo album, Harmonica Salad, in 1991. Mike went on to record several more albums, with a letter from Toots Thielemans included in the liner notes for Turk’s Works. He also toured Europe and recorded some albums with the Italian band he was working with while in Europe. Links:Mike’s website:https://www.tinsandwichmusic.com/Toots Thielmans testimonial on Mike’s website:https://www.tinsandwichmusic.com/?page_id=265Polyphonia harmonica:https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1306456Great interview with Mike:https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/harmonica-virtuoso-mike-turk-talks-about-jazz-blues-lowel-fulsomVideos:Don Brooks session recordings:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDGSb5NxtJY&list=PLGbKWi5veb_nwSHBWYjEgDPtHfYbFFufY&index=4Honeydripper film opening credits:https://youtu.be/BO5eP6XsF9MDouglas Tate playing at the NHL Festival in 1988 (not on a Renaissance):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1PbXWfoY8Mike trio gig from March 2022:https://www.facebook.com/themadmonkfish/videos/1593252841059782Podcast 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_GBor sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/supportSpotify 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 HARMONICASSupport the show

Konstantin Reinfeld joins me on episode 103.Konstantin is a German who comes from the overblow school of harmonica, studying music at a conservatory and taking lessons from Howard Levy as part of his early development. He released a jazz album at age 18, with two more albums to follow before releasing a classical album played on the diatonic harmonica, for which he won a German Grammy award for classical music. On top of this Konstantin is a music producer, including producing his own recordings bringing the harmonica into a contemporary pop setting. He has a very active online presence and hosts harmonica interviews for the Hohner Live X series of YouTube videos.Links:Konstantin’s website: https://www.konstantinreinfeld.comPatreon page:https://www.patreon.com/konstantinreinfeldCompositions for harmonica and piano:https://www.doerken-stiftung.de/foerderung/kompositionen-fuer-mundharmonika-als-gratisdownload/downloads-kompositionen-fuer-mundharmonika-und-klavierVideos:YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@KonstantinReinfeldBody Heat with Benjamin Nuss:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KEJzFcZgqg&list=TLGGMrKWZLRF3CoyMjAxMjAyNA&t=2sCinema Paradiso - Love Theme:https://youtu.be/ULj-GjL4nFA?si=D6G11zXwOCd32kvvInterview on Hohner channel with the 14 year old Konstantin:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIPCFRTIJDUHohner Live X interview with Howard Levy:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_DDBgcEViwCountry Harmonica Challenge:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glvupq6gpf8Don Toliver harmonica cover:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2BVsMa5QiMPodcast 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_GBor sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/supportSpotify 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 HARMONICASSupport the show

Christian Marsh, an Australian harmonica player, discusses his journey into playing the diatonic and chromatic harmonica, his musical influences, and his impressive achievements, including performing at the Sydney Opera House. He also shares his experience playing with Howard Levy and participating in harmonica competitions. Additionally, the chapter explores his collaboration on albums and his future plans in recording and playing shows with jazz musicians.

Neil Warren, a musician who started out playing blues harmonica, discusses his progression into jazz and folk music. He currently plays in two bands, one acoustic and one electric. The conversation focuses on the origins and goals of the Happy Hour Harmonica podcast, favorite moments from the first 100 episodes, and the interviewee's efforts to document harmonica players. They also discuss playing in multiple bands, the fascination with a skilled one man band, different harmonica tunings, and future plans for the podcast.

Episode 100 is a retrospective on the greatest ever blues harmonica player, Marion Walter Jacobs, aka Little Walter.Little Walter was born in 1930, probably, and started playing harmonica age 8. He was busking on the streets of New Orleans by age 12, spent some time in Helena, before heading north to Chicago to make his indelible mark on blues and the harmonica. Little Walter teamed up with Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers and cut some classic blues recordings before he went out under his own name after he was launched into superstardom with his instrumental Juke, in 1952. He was riding high in the charts and touring for the next few years, including another number one with My Babe, while still also recording with Muddy Waters.The arrival of rhythm and blues started to replace the blues as the popular music of the day, which saw Little Walter start to go down slow, but he still made some great recordings and completed two tours of Europe.He was then taken far too young, at the age of 37, as a result of an injury sustained in a street fight. But he left behind numerous masterpieces in the blues harmonica genre, that have influenced pretty much every player since. Links:The Little Walter Foundation:https://littlewalterfoundation.org/Billy Boy Arnold interview:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/billy-boy-arnold-interview/Kim Field website:https://www.kimfield.com/Bob Corritore Little Walter photo tribute page:https://bobcorritore.com/photos/little-walter-photo-tribute/Videos:Lonnie Glosson and Wayne Raney:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfXb7OEjVzUOra Nelle Blues, first recording:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E7z56E0DwIPlaying Walter's Jump with Hound Dog Taylor in 1967:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8GWEvIkzGETrailer of Blue Midnight Little Walter biography:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZDbiCEfnMShe’s 19 Years Old bootleg recording with Sam Lay from 1967:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9-pYoSCcHcLittle Walter’s induction into Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyYk_PlnnUoPodcast 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_GBor sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/supportSpotify Playlist: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 InstagramSupport the show

Dennis Gruenling joins me on episode 99.Dennis is originally from the New York area, where he  began his love affair with record collecting, listening to a wide range of music, from country to rhythm and blues and beyond before it all came together when he heard his first harmonica on the great Harp Attack album. Dennis cut his teeth with the support of local harp players before releasing his first album, Jump Time, featuring the jump swing style of his early output. On this, and subsequent albums, Dennis was a trailblazer in making extensive use of amplified low tuned harmonicas. Dennis has gone on to make some great albums across the jump and Chicago blues genres, and currently plays with the Nick Moss band.From an early age Dennis has been renovating vintage microphones, and is now one of the leading providers of vintage mics and amps in the world, via his BadAssHarmonicas website, as well as a huge collection of webinars on all things harmonica.Links:Dennis Gruenling websites:https://badassharmonica.com/https://www.dennisgruenling.coNick Moss band:https://badassharmonica.com/pages/nick-moss-bandWebinars / Membership:https://badassharmonica.com/collections/membershipsGear used by Dennis:https://www.dennisgruenling.com/gearBands In Town page:https://www.bandsintown.com/a/14484438-dennis-gruenling-badass-harmonicaTip Dennis:https://badassharmonica.com/collections/tips-thank-youVideos:YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@DennisGruenlingPlaying Rocker with the Nick Moss band:https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=29&v=2EswyXuWwzPodcast 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_GBor sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/supportSpotify 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 InstagramSupport the show

Michael Pettersen And James Waldron join me on episode 98.In this episode we talk about the iconic Green Bullet microphone, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024. Michael is the Director of Corporate History at Shure microphones , and he tells us about the early design of the mic, what it was used for and about how it took years before Shure became aware that it was such an important mic for harmonica players. James runs SimpleMics.com, where he rebuilds vintage harmonica microphones, including for some illustrious customers. James provides a harmonica-centric perspective on the Green Bullet and some detail on what is under the hood of the mic.Both Michael and James help debunk some of the myths about the Green Bullet, as well as sharing their deep knowledge of its element, shell and other inner workings of this most legendary of harmonica microphones.LinksGreen Bullet mics website:https://greenbulletmics.net/James’ Simple Mics website:https://www.simplemics.com/Versions of the Green Bullet:https://service.shure.com/s/article/what-are-the-different-versions-of-the-green-bullet?language=en_UShttps://service.shure.com/s/article/history-of-the-model-520-green-bullet?language=en_USConvert Green Bullet to use with XLR cable (low impedance):https://service.shure.com/s/article/putting-an-xlr-on-the-green-bullet?language=en_USAdd a volume control and on/off switch: https://service.shure.com/s/article/adding-a-volume-control-to-a-520d-green-bullet?language=en_USShure 520DX model:https://www.shure.com/en-GB/products/microphones/520dx?variant=520DXVideos:Shure video on how the Green Bullet became the sound of blues harmonica:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlLniCG0lCwPodcast 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_GBor sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/supportSpotify 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 InstagramSupport the show