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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Latest episodes

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Jun 23, 2023 • 60min

Jim Hughes interview 2

Jim Hughes joins me (again) on episode 88.Jim is a chromatic player who was last interviewed on the podcast in October 2020, back on episode 26. He is now at the grand age of 93 years young, and he shares the wisdom he has developed over many years of playing the chromatic harmonica.Jim has has become blind since the last interview and after being a life long sight reader has now had to learn how to play by ear. He shares how he has adapted to these new challenges and is finding new joy in playing the harmonica.Recently Jim has unearthed some recordings he made among the thousands he recorded with the BBC, and he talks us through some of the pieces and the approaches he took on the harmonica, and his life as a session musician with the BBC.Links:Previous interview with Jim:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/jim-hughes-interview/Serenade Radio:https://www.serenade-radio.com/The Archivist harmonica website, from Roger Trobridge:http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/NHL concert 1985: (or 1983)http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/jim-hughes-1983/Videos:Adam Glasser in conversation with Jim Hughes, from 2022:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU59OUY-PjE&t=464sCarol Axford playing at NHL concert 2004:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC5t-t8L4F4Podcast 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
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Jun 7, 2023 • 57min

Paul Harrington interview

Paul Harrington joins me on episode 87.Paul has a long and illustrious recording career, having had great success on the vibrant session scene in Dallas where he recorded on many commercials. He also played on the hit song Timber by rapper Pit Bull, possibly the most listened to song with harmonica in the last decade, with over one billion streams on Spotify. Paul met and performed with many great musicians on the Dallas music scene, becoming the go to harmonica player for famed record producer Phil York, appearing on the NBC Special with comedian Steve Martin, as well as sharing the stage with John Denver and Dolly Parton.Paul released an album in his own name, the Harmonica Soul Serenade, with the song Mercy Mercy Mercy picked out for special praise on Adam Gussow’s YouTube channel.Links:Paul Harrington: Seydel endorser:https://www.seydel1847.de/paulharringtonVideos:Timber hit song:https://youtu.be/hHUbLv4ThOoTexas Blues Runners, Downtown from Sweet Mama album:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8OPJyd_HRUAdam Gussow reviews Paul’s Mercy Mercy Mercy song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvSSG3eyhDcNews story by Paul’s nephew on his involvement with Timber song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_EXYVhNYrYNorton Buffalo switching between four harmonicas on ‘Runaway’:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzcZNgVfpAPodcast 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
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May 18, 2023 • 59min

Marcos Coll interview

Marcos Coll joins me on episode 86.Marcos is a Spaniard who has been living in Berlin for the last twenty years. Marcos rose to fame at a young age on the Spanish blues scene playing with the Tonky Blues Band before forming the the Los Reyes del KO band, touring the world and sharing the stage with many famous names.Moving to Berlin in 2004, Marcos became a regular on the vibrant blues scene in Germany and recorded with many great artists.In addition to playing blues, Marcos likes to mix modern beats such as hip hop into the blues, as well as playing traditional Spanish and Latin music, including cutting a Latin song with Charlie Musselwhite.Marcos has an online tuition site called Harp and Soul, has been a judge at the Trossingen World Harmonica Championship and is a regular at Seoul, and other harmonica festivals.Links:Marcos’s website:https://marcoscoll.com/Online tuition website:http://harpandsoul.info/enVideos:With Los Mighty Calacas at World Harmonica Festival 2013:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLcLlgcJHLULatin workshop at Hohner masters 2022:https://youtu.be/9Qi0nxFsJbgChan Chan song, playing chord harp (and others) also effect part way thruhttps://youtu.be/_sBZj8CoB6QMarcos rapping on basketball anthem:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yHcGFfXVTgHarp and Soul tuition introduction:https://youtu.be/ErHO7pI64HESeoul festival, playing with Antonio Serrano:https://youtu.be/ks88GMCDj_sPodcast 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
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May 3, 2023 • 60min

Ed Hopwood interview

Ed Hopwood joins me on episode 85.Ed is from the UK where he started out playing drums and he shares some tips on how to bring some rhythm into our harmonica playing. Ed loves early styles of harmonica and performs a range genres, including jug band, early blues, cajun, bluegrass and old-timey music. Ed has a one man band show where he plays harmonica, guitar, sings and a whole host of percussion instruments. He’s brought many of these skills to his main band, The Rigmarollers, a trio who play a mixture of barrelhouse blues, ragtime, jazz, swing, gospel and infectious zydeco grooves.As well as performing, Ed runs his harmonica tuition school, the Harmonica Barge, from the canal barge on which he lives in London. Links:Ed’s website:https://www.edhopwood.com/The Rigmarollers band:https://www.therigmarollers.com/Teaching website:https://www.theharmonicabarge.com/Solo recordings on Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/ed-hopwood-1Mark Harrison albums:https://www.markharrisonrootsmusic.com/music.phpSeth Shumate, old-time harmonica player:https://oldtime-central.com/seth-shumate-oldtime-harmonica/Videos:One man band act:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RShyJrXbkFURory McLeod, Love Like A Rock:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4gFDlm4oe0Solo gig at The Green Note:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7fmgikSS_AEd solo: Born In The Wrong Time:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5gsMKfEpMsPeter Madcat Ruth playing Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1UyPh3Z3LIHarmonica Barge YouTube site:https://www.youtube.com/@TheHarmonicaBargeCajun music interview with Ed:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8H8GEc2x0ICountry Blues lesson:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdfucNQwEBMCindy, Old-time tune:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDfX9m830coI Shall Not Be Moved, Gospel song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=053CKZu-WOIPodcast 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 Support the show
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Apr 19, 2023 • 60min

Hendrik Meurkens interview

Hendrik Meurkens joins me on episode 84.Hendrik is a German chromatic player who has been living in New York since the early 1990s. Toots Thielemans was Hendrik’s inspiration to take up the chromatic and he performed a live radio show in Germany with Toots. Hendrik is also a vibraphone player, which he studied at the Berklee College of Music. Shortly after this he spent a year in Brazil to immerse himself in the music there. This helped him form his brand of Brazilian music, Samba Jazz.Hendrik has a large album catalogue, including six albums with the prestigious jazz label Concord, and has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in Brazilian and jazz music.Links:Hendrik's website:https://hendrikmeurkens.com/Bandcamp site:https://hendrikmeurkens.bandcamp.com/Hendrik’s album catalogue:https://hendrikmeurkens.com/portfolio/Tutorial site:https://www.mymusicmasterclass.com/artist/artists/hendrik-meurkens/Videos:Hendrick playing vibes:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbIMf3iMNkQTribute To Toots concert in Uruguay:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jcUG7RTNWQPlaying with WDR Big Band:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzyE4Yv2xloPlaying at the Blue Note in New York:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuIAVFDAmqASambatropolis with WDR Big Band:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_G2RuvtyMIDolores Claiborne movie clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSMimK5uUikPodcast 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
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Apr 5, 2023 • 60min

Annie Raines interview

Annie Raines joins me on episode 83.Annie is an early pioneer as a female blues harmonica player. Hailing from the Boston area of the US, she drew on the rich source of harmonica inspiration from nearby Cambridge, regularly attending a jam there in her youth, and meeting many great players and joining the Cambridge Harmonica Orchestra. Annie then teamed-up with her long time musical partner, Paul Rishell, after also meeting him around the Boston area. They have now been performing and recording together for over 30 years, releasing seven albums, and winning a WC Handy award for one of them. Annie has also guested on albums with several other artists, including Pinetop Perkins.Annie teaches harmonica and has released an instructional video, and gives workshops at various harmonica gatherings. Links:Annie and Paul's website:https://www.paulandannie.com/John Gindick’s website:https://gindick.com/harmonica/Cambridge Harmonica Orchestra:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ReDMrEdmbAGeorge Mayweather: What I'd Say:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wp-pAk4epIBlues Harmonica Blueprint instruction:https://truefire.com/techniques-guitar-lessons/blues-harmonica-blueprint/blues-harmonica-blueprint-introduction/v5544Tomlin Harmonica School:https://www.tomlinharmonicaschool.com/Videos:Annie singing You’ve Been A Good Old Wagon:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKgydSYSC7kCharles Leighton playing In A Sentimental Mood:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsPhW6UXE00Canned Heat Blues: from Live In Woodstock DVD:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux-lQaoZewkHarmonica UK Virtual Festival 2020:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD4PzISV2FQAugusta Blues / Swing week 2013:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTXpwCMrs5cDuet with John Sebastien:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmPOnRUDZAEPodcast 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
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Mar 24, 2023 • 60min

Steve Guyger interview

Steve Guyger joins me on episode 82.Steve is from the Philadelphia area of the US and he absorbed the blues harmonica players when he first got into playing, with John Lee Williamson a big early inspiration. Steve was also great friends with the late Paul Oscher, making  three albums with him. Steve also teamed up with the legendary Jimmy Rogers, over the course of fourteen years. Steve has released five albums under his own name, with a great mix of diatonic and chromatic blues.Steve’s long-standing band is the Excellos, who   are still performing more than forty years after their formation, and Steve is due to play in a Jimmy Rogers tribute in Switzerland with Dennis Gruenling and Nick Moss sometime soon.Links:https://severnrecords.com/artist/steve-guyger/Blues Harmonica DVD on Hal Leonard:https://www.halleonard.com/product/821042/blues-harmonicaDennis Gruenling website:https://badassharmonica.com/Videos:Steve's YouTube Music channel:https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCkeHm0xNz2csT5fc4zP-84APaul Oscher playing bass harmonica on The Things I Used To Do:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIPIrMNiR3MLive concert with Excellos:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50DvEI8VUlQ&t=3576sI Can See By Your Eyes song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgJ9lFhEa00Rock This House (live at Austrian Blues festival):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THqRX2PYBdQSammy Lewis playing in 5th position:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyKLRO2x6uESnake Oil live performance (outro song):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IrQkiHJVdcPodcast 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
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Mar 9, 2023 • 60min

Ben Bouman interview

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.nlWebshop to buy Ben Bouman custom harmonicas:https://www.benboumanharmonicas.nl/rapidcartpro/index.php?catalog/all/-/date/1Marble amplifiers:https://www.marble-amps.com/Viola Barends:https://www.violaharmonica.com/Seydel festival and harmonica competition:https://mundharmonika-live.dehttps://www.seydel1847.de/seydelopen-registrationHohner CBH chromatic: https://chromhistory.blog/2019/05/22/cbh-2012-2016/Videos:Paul deLay Harmonica Party:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWepAFBqsN4Marble Tones band videos:https://www.youtube.com/@BluesMoose/search?query=marbletonesBen's Tone in a cup:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063463839653Viola Barends harmonica orchestra:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ7sNeZUAAIBen playing Watermelon Man:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnEbikuq7sIBen playing blues chromatic:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNSa7VdKFXwBen gear demo recording, including Pignose amp:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWFrUNKpMx8The Monkey Speaks His Mind with The Marble Tones:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d4HbjTn4EIPodcast 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 atSupport the show
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Feb 22, 2023 • 60min

Todd Parrott interview

Todd Parrot joins me on episode 80.Todd is a gospel harmonica player who was inspired to play harmonica after first hearing it in church. He went on to join the church band and has gone on to develop a heavenly tone on the instrument. Todd listened to a lot of country harmonica and was influenced from several players from that genre, including Terry McMillan. Todd released a self-produced solo album, Songs From The Harp, where he learned to play several instruments to accompany his harmonica playing, as well as using other musicians. He is also a sought after session musician, appearing on albums from numerous recording artists.Todd has run the Carolina HarpFest harmonica camp and is a regular at the annual SPAH event. He makes use of alternative tunings, makes his own combs and is an overblow player.Links:Todd’s website:http://www.toddparrott.com/Carolina Harp Fest:http://www.toddparrott.com/carolina-harp-fest.htmlJoe Spiers Custom harmonicas:https://spiersharmonicas.com/Hohner Golden Melody live launch stream (23/02/23):https://www.hohner.de/en/community/news/news-details/product-launch-event-livestreamVideos:Playing with Buddy Green at SPAH:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvN9XsOEdWAPlaying Amazing Grace at SPAH:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ2kom7jv6gTodd reviews Joe Spiers custom harps:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzrEg97RzLITodd playing a Golden Melody:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZj5hCsx8voReviewing Brendan Power’s Slip Slider harmonica:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7vZCgf8Zc4Demonstrates harmonica with 7 draw tuned down:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hUCd03PDAMPodcast 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
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Feb 10, 2023 • 60min

Rocky Lok interview

Rocky Lok joins me on episode 79.Rocky lives in Hong Kong, where there is a vibrant harmonica scene. Harmonica is taught in many schools there, which is how Rocky got started playing himself almost 50 years ago. He went on to become part of the King's Harmonica Quintet which has played many prestigious concerts, including in front of an audience of twenty thousand, as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch procession and winning the group competition at the World Harmonica Championship in Trossingen. Rocky is a former president of the Hong Kong Harmonica Association where he was involved in setting-up the Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival and is regular judge in the competitions. He also helped organise the current Guinness world record of the most harmonicas playing together, officially 6131 people in Hong Kong.Links:King’s Harmonica Quintet:www.KHQ.HK  Hong Kong Harmonica Association: www.hkharmonica.orgThe first Hong Kong International Chromatic Harmonica Competition, 2022: www.ICHC.hkharmonica.orgThe first Hong Kong International Composition Competition for Chromatic Harmonica 2021: https://iccch.hkharmonica.org/Details on the different chromatics Rocky plays:https://www.myharmonicastudio.com/rocky-lok-incredible-harmonica-collection/The 13th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2022:http://hxharmonica.com/en/index.aspUpcoming King’s Harmonica Quintet show:https://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/programme/kings_harmonica_quintetVideos:King's Harmonica Quintet playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1NSxVDARfeZu9bfK9iviZlnBZGCMU2nMRocky playing solo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEiWkVf_Fbs&list=PL1NSxVDARfeYAmUSmjwMlGpCVpdgW_ZxGRocky interview with Hohner from 2012:https://www.hohner.de/en/rocky-lokThe 13th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2022 concert:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wJyOhzjBa0&list=PL1NSxVDARfealNufMH0jw_sum_cYRbM2qPodcast 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 HARMONICASand Blows Me Away Productions: Support the show

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