Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

John Sebastian joins me on episode 135. John had considerable chart success in the 1960s as part of the folk rock band, The Lovin' Spoonful, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the year 2000. John was also inducted into the songwriters Hall Of Fame. Probably better known as a singer songwriter and guitar player, harmonica was John's first instrument, inspired by his father, also called John Sebastian, who was a renowned classical harmonica player. And we discuss some of his father's music and how this inspired his son to take up the harmonica.John started out playing harmonica in a jug band before his success with The Loving Spoonful, before he then enjoyed a solo career and some notable recording sessions, not least as the harmonica player on The Doors song, Roadhouse Blues.Links:John's website: https://www.johnbsebastian.com/John's children's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jbs-Harmonica-John-Sebastian/dp/0152400915Videos:John Sebastian senior live performance of Villas Lobos Harmonica Concerto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2EO0SUraGQPlaying ‘Thedy' on chromatic with the New Rhythm Blues Quartet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f9IGhcGiQQHarmonica duet with Annie Raines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmPOnRUDZAEJohn's Homespun Blues Harmonica course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIVWaVSOoLEJohn's appearance at Woodstock in 1969: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBXL7FaPod4Liam Ward interview with John and a lesson from Liam on how to play Roadhouse Blues: https://www.learntheharmonica.com/post/roadhouse-blues-harmonica-john-sebastianPodcast 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

Ronnie Schreiber joins me on episode 134. Ronnie runs The Electric Harmonica Company, producing the Harmonicaster, which is an alternative to the traditional harmonica microphone, using guitar style pick-ups to create “the first practical true electric harmonica”. Ronnie first came up with the concept some thirty years ago and has been developing it in earnest over the last ten years.Ronnie tells us the story of how he developed the idea, from the need to use steel reeds, the custom harps needed and the availability of pick-ups to use with the harmonica, and some of the harmonica players who have supported him through his journey.We discuss the advantages of using a pick-up with the harmonica, such as having a different sound to the traditional harmonica microphone, and the  feedback resistance it brings, as well as some of the challenges of using the Harmonicaster.Links:Harmonicaster website: https://rokemneedlearts.com/harmonicaster/wp/The Frank Harmonica mic developed by Ronnie: https://rokemneedlearts.com/frankmic/Harp-l post introducing the Harmonicaster: https://groups.google.com/g/harp-l/c/_ETwuJvbRRABrendan Power playing some Irish music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rx8kVBjAL4The Turbo Harp: https://turboharp.com/Dyna-mic: https://www.dyna-mic.com/Videos:Harmonicaster YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@harmonicaster8106Ronnie overview of the Harmonicaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzbYxwKLPR4Jonah Fox YouTube review of the Harmonicaster: https://rokemneedlearts.com/harmonicaster/wp/Podcast 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

Kim Field joins me on episode 133. Kim's 1994 book ‘Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People's Instrument' was the first book released on the history of the harmonica. And Kim has recently written the book: The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold, telling the story of Billy Boy in his own words.Ever on the lookout to meet and learn from the great players, Kim shares the time he spent with Deford Bailey and also when he played on stage with Walter Horton.Kim has been in several blues bands, and a country band, and has just released a new album with his latest band, The Perfect Gentleman, featuring Kim's harmonica, vocals and songwriting talents.Links:Kim's website: https://www.kimfield.com/Harmonica Northwest weekend, Oct 23-26, 2025: https://menucha.org/programs/harmonica-northwestKim's life in music: https://www.kimfield.com/my-life-in-musicHarmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People's Instrument book: https://www.kimfield.com/harmonicas-harps-and-heavy-breathersPT Gazell review of Don't Need But One album: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ModernBluesHarmonica/permalink/10162253953062225/The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold book: https://www.kimfield.com/the-blues-dream-of-billy-boy-arnoldVideos:James Cotton playing Blues In My Sleep live in 1967: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgS6FG2rtasDavid Waldman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8EArw7peMThe Slamhound Hunters band - Lawnmower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjr6YLKKmqYPodcast 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

Tom Ellis joins me on episode 132 for another look into the life and career of the legendary Paul Butterfield. Butter gained access to the Chicago blues scene at a young age when his lawyer father carried out pro bono work for some of the musicians there. The black blues musicians took a paternal interest in Paul's musical development, none more so than Muddy Waters who knew Butter from around the age of sixteen. Butter later returned the favour after having made his own name. He gave something back to Muddy by recording the Fathers and Sons album with him in 1969, followed by a second album with Muddy, The Woodstock album in 1975.Tom then goes on to tell us about how Butter changed his sound during the middle part of his career with the release of the two Better Days albums in 1973, producing possibly the first Americana albums, and seeing Butter having developed into a more nuanced harmonica player.Links:Tom article on Substack platform: https://ellist.substack.com/p/down-by-the-riverArticle on the Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree concert (Father and Sons): https://bobsblog73.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/super-cosmic-joy-scout-jamboree-april-1969/Fathers and Sons album blog by David Hawkins: https://paulbutterfield.blogspot.com/2014/03/37-fathers-and-sons.htmlButter on the Woodstock album blog by David Hawkins: https://paulbutterfield.blogspot.com/2016/10/61-muddy-waters-woodstock-album.htmlVideos:Mannish Boy in Last Waltz concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGG-oBrmzbQButter on Midnight Special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZhfIOuiPe4Bonnie Raitt live with Butter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZOdeROUz2UPlaying Why Are People Like That on David Letterman show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDvdTabtRN0Podcast 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

Rick Estrin and Nathan James join me on episode 131 for a retrospective on James Harman.James ‘Icepick' Harman was born in Anniston, Alabama in 1946. After moving between various locations, including Florida, New York, New Orleans and Chicago, he settled down in Southern California in the early 1970s where he established himself in the vibrant blues scene there.Harman was a formidable song writer and had his own unique view on life which he delivered through his powerful singing voice. His harmonica playing was highly accomplished but he didn't get too bogged down in the technicalities of the instrument, just playing it to great effect.Harman released numerous albums under his own name from the 1970s to 2019, and also recorded with other artists, including three albums with ZZ Top.Links:Nathan James website: https://www.nathandjames.com/James Harman appreciation: https://bluesjunctionproductions.com/an_appreciation_of_james_harmanPlaying with ZZ Top: https://billygibbons.com/2016/10/james-harman-mystery-man-zz-top-band/Videos:James Harman Tribute Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf-z0fByTsMJames Harman interview from 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkbDA4jpB_cGrit Soup with Rick Estrin and Nathan James:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7x1BajhVfcAlbums on YouTube:Thank You Baby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_xc_lneR8cExtra Napkins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVwrq57PM-QStrictly Live in '85: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR1OEhF6Hr0&list=PLSzXohOP-AmcgBdbKmj-DNYiP6CfPTGUYBlack and White: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_0qUrM_XBwLiquor Parking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL9y1bydpCIDidn't We Have Some Fun Sometime album intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1WhxC8Q1roPodcast 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

Mikael Backman joins me on episode 130.Mikael is from Sweden where he started playing blues harmonica, recording six albums with the band Ramblin' Minds. He then joined the band John Henry. Initially a bluegrass band, they went on to play country, honky tonk and western swing. Mikael is truly a doctor of the harmonica, having conducted various academic studies with the harmonica at center stage, as part of his work at the Piteå School of Music. One of these resulted in a music thesis on how practicing the chromatic and diatonic harmonicas can improve the playing of both. Mikael has also recently completed a PhD where he wrote a doctoral thesis on country harmonica, which included an article and recording session with the legendary Charlie McCoy.Links:Website: https://harpatwork.com/John Henry band: www.johnhenry.nuMike Caldwell playing Roly Poly: https://soundcloud.com/mike-caldwell-2/roly-polyMikael's recordings on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/07qOtgwTkCHlzYgx6P8Goh?si=d7e648990fd9420bOne Lick - Two Harps: chromatic / diatonic: https://tinyurl.com/yfnh9fcvPhD thesis My Bag of Licks: https://tinyurl.com/mybagoflicksArticle on Charlie McCoy: https://www.internationalcountrymusic.org/_files/ugd/83ada7_e189b0dca9ad431dbc743cea3ffd5a88.pdfCharlie McCoy Transcriptions link: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/profile/show-exposition?exposition=1510243Neil's harmonica transcriptions: https://www.harptranscripts.co.uk/Videos:Same lick on chromatic and diatonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIcnyGTtv6AMikael talks through what he plays on Oklahoma song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJeskt_Vo1UAmazing Grace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04Q9k6eEokPodcast 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

Corky Siegel joins me on episode 129.Corky played was central in the emergence of the popularity of the blues to a white audience. His Siegel-Schwall band gained a residency at Chicago's Pepper Lounge, sharing the stage with blues giants such as Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters and Little Walter. The band were also part of San Francisco's 1967 Summer of Love, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin.Corky has a unique place in harmonica history with his blues / classical collaborations. After performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1966, he has gone on to enjoy a platinum selling classical record, composed numerous blues / classical orchestral pieces, recorded with a Chamber music ensemble and performed with orchestras around the world.Links:Website: https://www.corkymusic.com/Siegel-Schwall band: https://www.corkymusic.com/siegel-schwallChamber Blues: https://www.corkymusic.com/chamber-bluesSymphonic Blues: https://www.corkymusic.com/symphonyEcho Audiobook: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Echo-Audiobook/B00VS6N4ZICorky's lesson on dynamics: https://www.corkymusic.com/harmonica-lessonVideos:Chamber Blues: https://www.corkymusic.com/video-chamber-bluesLullaby, composition by Dr L Subramaniam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty1ri62uBuUCorky playing with Howard Levy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjnYE-jIprcPodcast 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, Rob Paparozzi and Liam Ward join me on episode 128, to discuss the harmonica playing of Bob Dylan.The early part of Dylan's career is chronicled in the current biopic, A Complete Unknown.Ross and Rob were the ‘harmonica coaches' for the movie. Ross recorded most of the harmonica used in the movie and the soundtrack, with Rob contributing one song and also providing support on the East Coast. Ross shares the painstaking process of recording for such a major music movie, how he studied Dylan's playing in great depth and the challenges that Dylan's style of harmonica presented.Liam runs the highly successful LearnTheHarmonica.com website. He was inspired to take up the harmonica from hearing Dylan, and released a series of tuition videos on some of Dylan's harmonica playing. Love him or hate him, Dylan has popularised the instrument which has been an integral part of his iconic songs since the early 1960s.Links:Spreadsheet showing all songs using harmonica on Dylan's studio albums:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10HnAQSoN2ubvq5LrNCQhaGQF5hCobQ1myc8qvj-7gzI/edit?gid=0#gid=0Harp keys used on Dylan's albums:https://dylanchords.com/content/dylans-harp-keys'Untold Dylan' article on Dylan as ‘master harpist':https://bob-dylan.org.uk/archives/9903Liam Ward ‘Learn The Harmonica' website:https://www.learntheharmonica.com/Videos:Liam Ward tutorial on Mr Tambourine Man:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwFW_oCaxU&t=47sIt's All Over Now: Newport Folk Festival 1965:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcWaHBOFkUwDylan playing harmonica in the hand (not rack):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJbddZjbDTM&t=256sDylan playing as a harmonica player only with Harry Belafonte:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YibIueuzTNMTimothee Chamalet talks about A Complete Unknown on the Graham Norton show (UK):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_g3nNcurQUPodcast 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

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, Joe Filisko and Adam Sikora join me on episode 125, for a retrospective on one of the legends of the diatonic harmonica, Sonny Terry, whose real name was Saunders Terrell.Sonny was born in 1911 (or 1912), in Greensboro, Georgia (or it could have been North Carolina). Growing up on a farm in a rural community, Sonny was left blind by two accidents in his youth. Unable to work on the farm he turned to music, with his harmonica playing father giving him his early lessons.Sonny first rose to prominence playing with Blind Boy Fuller, and then made a splash by performing at Carnegie Hall in 1938 as part of the ‘From Spirituals To Swing' concert.A few years later he formed probably the most famous blues duo ever, with Brownie McGhee. Sonny and Brownie made their name in the New York Folk scene and went on to play together for forty years, travelling the world, with many festival appearances, on Broadway, in movies and countless albums together. Sonny also played solo and with many other notable musicians besides Brownie, including an album with Johnny Winter towards the end of his life.We look into Sonny's style of playing and talk about how his rhythmical work is essential study in getting your own harmonica chops together.Links:Sonny Terry Estate items for sale:https://bluemoonharmonicas.com/collections/sonny-terry-estate-llcPaul Lamb: http://paullamb.com/Joe Filisko: https://www.filiskostore.com/Adam Sikora: https://jukejointsmokers.com/http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/rare-early-blues-harp-recordings-by-singers-and-sidemen-introduced-by-joe-filisko/Videos:American Folk Blues Festival, Hootin' The Blues:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtO7cctW1uISonny and Woody Guthrie postage stamps playing Lost John:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4ldxb0iGHcSonny and Brownie in one of their last concerts, 1980:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzDNhA5irc8Sonny and Brownie playing on The Jerk, Steve Martin movie:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeDgOUoDTsYPodcast 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

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 joins me on episode 118.David is based in San Jose, California, where he took   lessons from Gary Smith from age 16, in addition to learning from great harmonica recordings. He started teaching harmonica himself from age 18 and has become one of the foremost harmonica educators around, with his BluesHarmonica.com website an invaluable resource. He ran the School of Blues for twenty years and has written over seventy instructional books, DVDs and CDs.David has four albums to his name, including two albums where he has collaborated with other harmonica players. These albums showcase his dedication to playing blues harmonica, where he has crafted harmonica parts from his lifelong study and love of the art form.Links:Website:https://www.bluesharmonica.com/School of Blues:https://www.schooloftheblues.com/Hohner profile page:https://www.hohner.de/en/david-barrettDavid's tuition books:https://www.melbay.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=david+barrettVideos:David's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@bluesharmonicateacherPodcast 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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the Show.

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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the Show.

Andre Godoy Coelho (and Brendan Power) join me on episode 113.Andre is a Brazilian who relocated to Portugal in 2018, performing and recording two albums with the Rio Grande band in Sao Paulo, before recording a recent album in a duo in Portugal. Andre quickly became interested in harmonica customisation when his first harmonica didn't quite perform as he wanted. This has turned into a full time business for Andre, who has now teamed up with Brendan Power on his x-reed harmonica range. The partnership has just released the Morbendz, a diatonic with a slide which increases the number of available bends from 8 to 14, providing the missing notes from a standard diatonic, while playing just the same.Links:Website:https://linktr.ee/agcoelho Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/andre.coelho.1694059/Order the Morbendz and other x-reed harmonicas:https://x-reed.com/products.phpHarmonetta information:https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1306551Videos:Andre's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@agc_custom_harpsLittle Lady Hip Hop track:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx05yBNybXwLapa & Godoy duo: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB0l7d8Zq0HLoVfSIdapXoOEvKox4JCjn&si=dOzFb8z6lC7MmGfkAndre and Brendan playing together:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KPaUDT9RbMBrendan introduction video to Morbendz diatonic:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z3WLTRymYUAndre playing on the Morbendz:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwYRXqgwTv8Podcast 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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the Show.

Harmonica group Svang join me on episode 112.Svang are a harmonica quartet from Finland, who have been performing and recording for over twenty years now. They first formed in 2003 when Jouko was teaching at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and suggested forming a harmonica group with two of his students.The group doesn't play the typical harmonicas of a harmonica group, with a harmonetta used instead of a chord, and bluesy diatonics used as part of the sound alongside chromatic.Their repertoire includes folk music from Finland and the rest of the world, but is equally influenced by classical music or Finnish tango. They have released ten albums to date, with the latest, Svang Nuevo coming out in 2024 to celebrate their 20 year anniversary. Links:Website: https://www.svang.fi/Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/svangharmonicaConcerts:https://www.svang.fi/concertsGalileo Music: (to buy their albums)https://www.galileomusic.de/katalogsuche.aspxVideos:YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SvangHarmonicaQuartetAppearance on Jools Holland BBC TV show:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwEkbFHpLTcPodcast 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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the Show.

Episode 111 is part 2 of the ten minute question, from the remaining podcast guests up until this point.As per the last episode, I'll say the name of each guest before they respond to the question: “if you had 10 minutes to practise, what would you spend that ten minutes doing”.Podcast 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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the Show.

Something a little different for episode 110 (and also episode 111 so I can keep the length around the one hour mark).The next two episodes are a compilation of all the ten minute question answers from the series so far, in this, the 110th episode (get it?)Not every episode had a ten minute question, such as the retrospectives, but most did, 96 in fact.So I hope you enjoy listening back to this collection and apply some of the tips and tricks offered by the great players who have been on the podcast so far. I'll say the name of each person before they respond to the question: “if you had 10 minutes to practise, what would you spend that ten minutes doing”.Podcast 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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the Show.

Clint Hoover joins me on episode 109.Clint is originally from Minneapolis and has spent a life immersed in music and the harmonica. He's reached great heights on both the chromatic and the diatonic. Early on he also studied guitar and saxophone and attended a jazz course in New York City where he also took chromatic lessons from Robert Bonfiglio. His eclectic mix of interests has led him to recording albums in genres from pre-war blues to modern jazz, to rock, pop and World Music. His first recorded album was with a mainstream band called The Fontanas back in 1989, with the album release being delayed for thirty four years, coming out in 2023. In-between he's released jazz albums, jug band music, rock and more, really showcasing his extraordinary talents on both the diatonic and chromatic harmonicas.Links:Website:https://clinthoover.com/Clint article: ‘My Harmonica Journey':https://clinthoover.com/a-harmonica-journey/Richard Hunter interview with Clint:https://www.hunterharp.com/hoover1/The Fontanas album: https://blackberrywayrecords.com/album/2566074/the-fontanasVideos:Clint's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7io6uwgGzsOBpanupYdBgLes Thompson performing live:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlLGjO8MzpUGet Up Off That Jazzophone:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23VJPJeakJISister Sadie:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQG1sHJedgYPodcast 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--------------------------------The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com--------------------------------Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.comSupport the Show.Support the Show.

Roly Platt joins me on episode 108.Roly is a Canadian player who has recorded countless sessions over his 45 year career. He started out playing in a country band which set the scene for him playing a diverse range of genres throughout that time. Roly has recorded 1700 individual session cuts, with the numerous bands he has played in, and also various film, tv and commercial jingles.Roly ecorded his own album in 2017, Inside Out, where he showcased his versatility by including a range of different types of song.Roly produced and sells the great Harp Wah harmonica mute and later this year he will be releasing a book about his life with the harmonica.Links:Roly's main website:https://www.harmonicamute.comOther website:https://rolyplatt.com/The Book - pre-order:https://www.harmonicamute.com/product/i-play-harmonica-book-preorder/Roly's harmonica workshops:https://www.harmonicamute.com/2-hour-harmonica-workshops-prerecorded/Roly's gear reviews:https://www.harmonicamute.com/gear-reviews/Ross Garden interview with Jimmie Fadden:http://www.rossgarren.com/jimmie-fadden.htmlVideos:With Matt Minglewood:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbXuNtkxTSYInside Out album interview:https://rolyplatt.com/canadian-harmonica-player-roly-platt-talks-debut-cd-inside.htmlIt Ain't Right:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx0NOq5ma5QToronto Blue Jays theme song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTGDF0dc5T0New Orleans Funk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPljRQKt59oPodcast 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 HARMONICASANDThe Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.comSupport the show

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 HARMONICASANDThe Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.comSupport 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 HARMONICASANDThe Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.comSupport 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 HARMONICASand Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/Support 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 HARMONICASANDThe Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'. Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.comSupport 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 HARMONICASANDThe Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'. Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.comSupport the show

Christian Marsh joins me on episode 102.Christian is an Australian who plays both the diatonic and chromatic harmonica. Starting out playing diatonic, Christian drew inspiration from players such as Norton Buffalo and Charlie McCoy, absorbing as much harmonica as he could lay his hands on  . He picked the chromatic up a few years later after hearing Toots Thielemans play, and even went on to maintain Larry Adler's harmonicas while he was touring Australia.Christian is a mainstay on the Australian music scene, having 60 album credits sessions to his name, as well as a number of albums with Dr Goodvibe, and several under his own name, with a new release coming out in January 2024. Christian has also performed a concerto written for harmonica, as well as performing at the Sydney Opera House.Links:Christian Marsh website:https://christianmarsh.com.au/Recording credits:https://christianmarsh.com.au/credits/Online tracks:https://www.reverbnation.com/christianmarsh/song/27991199-sven-libaeks-harmonica-concertoVideos:Nun In The Back Seat, with Dr Goodvibe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cov-WjwvCp4&t=200sRoxanne, live with Dr Goodvibe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh136n8OQHYLive with Paul Robert Burton trio:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBMiFbRZYSkPodcast 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

Tom Ellis interviews Neil Warren on episode 101.Neil started out playing blues harmonica in his hometown of Blackburn (with it's 4000 holes). He progressed into learning jazz, taking jazz chromatic lessons for several years, and then folk music. Neil currently plays in two bands around his local area, an acoustic act playing blues and folk, and an electric band playing different genres, such as ska and funk and blues, including use of the DM48 midi chromatic.He has won three categories of competitions at the UK National Harmonica League festival and helped organise the Chromatic Weekend festival for them for several years. The discussion then turns to focus on the Happy Hour Harmonica podcast, how it got started, how he sources the people to interview, what the podcast tries to do and some of his own favourite moments from the first 100 episodes.Links:Podcast website:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/Contact podcast:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/contact/Transcription website:https://www.harptranscripts.co.uk/Harp Keys: showing key of harmonica used on over 1000 songs:https://www.harptranscripts.co.uk/harpkeys.htmlRev John and the Revelations:https://revjohnh490546051.wordpress.com/Greg Mayston band:https://www.folkbluesandamericana.com/Harmonica UK (was National Harmonica League):https://www.harmonica.uk/Videos:Roseanne soundtrack:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSE51IAUZ3MDark Eyes at UK Chromatic Weekend:https://youtu.be/fh664YnZcFc?si=mowTd5gPtJJdBvNcBlair Athol (Scottish folk song): https://youtu.be/eZ-FT48q05QBlowing The Family Jewels:https://youtu.be/fnOZrIr7AE4Podcast 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

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:https://badassharmonica.com/collections/saturday-q-a-webinarsGear 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

Vitor Lopes joins me on episode 97.He is a Brazilian chromatic player who specialises in Choro music.Vitor tells us about the history of the harmonica in Brazil, starting out when Hohner opened a factory there in 1923, which later became the Hering factory. The availability of harmonicas in Brazil made the instrument very popular and spawned some tremendous players.In 2008 Vitor was awarded the APCA prize for the best Brazilian musician of the year. He has recorded several Choro albums with his bands, has toured in Europe several times and appears on numerous albums with other musicians. If you want to learn some Choro, Vitor has an online course available so you can play some of this wonderful music on the chromatic harmonica.Links:Chorando as Pitangas band website:https://chorandoaspitangas.comSoundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/vitor-lopes-harm/tracksVitor's Choro harmonica course:https://hotmart.com/en/marketplace/products/choro-harmonica-with-vitor-lopes/U51984467A?sck=HOTMART_SITEVideos:History of harmonica in Brazil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIF4-7Em_awEdu da Gaita playing Paganini's Moto Perpetuo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w8j_gfIEiUVitor's series of videos on Brazilian Choro music on harmonica:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb7Pnj0vhWE3TcArNwNkjO4P9IQVCAbxA&si=Ai7wIhxP7LTXzrV-Concert with Chorando as Pitangas:https://youtu.be/Wbe2Dr0oi9s?si=IyiLCCHoiwHevJ2f With Ana Fridman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuxUvAEIPCMDuo with Pablo Fagundes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s87mSjNEGJ8Vitor playing diatonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-RtOdozKdwSuzuki condenser mic  overview from Joe Powers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQKs3yFRIncPodcast 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 Support the show

Paddy Wells joins me on episode 96.Paddy is based in the north of England, where he started out as a singer playing a little harp before hearing amplified harmonica, which really turned him on to the instrument.Paddy is also a freelance music journalist, having written regular articles for several music magazines in the UK, including Blues in Britain. He also wrote an article, Blowin' Off The Dust, for the SPAH magazine. Paddy has also spent some time travelling the US, including sitting in with Jason Ricci, and writing two magazine articles on him.Paddy has played in various bands in the north of England, appearing at festivals and supporting some notable names. His current band is called Dust Radio.Links:Paddy's website:https://www.paddywells.com/Dust Radio music:https://dustradio1.bandcamp.com/musicMusic:https://www.paddywells.com/musicPaddy's article: Blowing Off the Dust:  Modern Masters of the Blues Harp:https://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/modern-blues-harp-masters.htmlVideos:Lyndon Anderson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26yIoZVYuVAInterview with Paddy on the Tim Green Blues show:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yTEBIuKJGkI'd Rather Go Blind with Poorboy:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNH0Qs8GEeMProblem and The Remedy video:https://dustradio1.bandcamp.com/track/problem-remedy-2Podcast 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 Support the show

Michael Rubin joins me on episode 95.Michael moved to Austin as a young man, initially as a blues player. He found that by diversifying the genres he played on harmonica he became much more in demand in the vibrant music scene in Austin. He added to t his versatility by playing different types of harmonica, including plenty of chromatic in addition to the diatonic being his main axe. Michael has also recorded on bass harmonica and the harmonetta.Michael has gigged and recorded with numerous outfits, with styles ranging from blues to pop, African music, reggae and old time country gospel. Michael released his first solo album in 2022, I'll Worry If I Wanna. On here he demonstrates his full range of harmonica mastery, including a solo playing in all twelve positions. Links:Michael's website:https://michaelrubinharmonica.com/I'll Worry If I Wanna album:https://michaelrubin.hearnow.com/SPAH tribute to Bob Herndon (great Harmonetta player):https://www.spah.org/content.asp?contentid=62Mike Caldwell:https://www.countrythangdaily.com/mike-caldwell-unleashed/Album with Christopher Cody Meacham:https://christophercodymeacham.bandcamp.com/album/ol-time-waddies-blues-2019-lpVideos:YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@michaelrubinharmonicList of YouTube harmonica lessons:https://michaelrubinharmonica.com/pageVideoArchive.htmlPeg O My Heart on Harmonetta:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xfqJNhLoTASophisticated Lady on DM48:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaSKBZqijnUPodcast 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 Support the showSupport the show

The interview with Jason Ricci continues on episode 94, part 2.Jason shares how he has matured into his music, including on his 2021 album, City Country City, playing jazz, funk and blues with New Orleans musician Joe Krown. Jason goes on to share what he considers to be his best work on harmonica, and the elements that make up a great performance.He's recorded two albums with JJ Appleton, and Bad Kind is Jason's current band, having released two albums so far, and a new album coming out with Bad Kind at the end of the month: Behind The Veil.Jason has a big social media presence, with Patreon the place to go for his teaching material, with over 600 harmonica related videos available.And Jason has just released a signature harmonica in partnership with Blue Moon harmonicas.Links:Jason's social media links::https://mooncat.org/https://www.instagram.com/jasonricci93/https://twitter.com/jasonricci93Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/jasonricciTip Jason:PayPal.me/jasonricciBandcamp:https://jasonricci.bandcamp.com/Harp Gear amplification:http://harpgear.com/Videos:Paul Butterfield induction into the rock 'n roll Hall of Fame:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zix79vpAjG02023 SPAH concert:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPuDDJz66MPedal Board (2019):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8CeSabvTy0Hip-Hug Her with Bad Kind:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMlB_rL8REUPodcast 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 Support the show

Jason Ricci joins me on episode 93 (and on episode 94)In part one: Jason tells us how he started out in a punk band, with his bandmates suggesting he take up the harmonica. Of course, he took to it quickly, to become quite possibly the leading diatonic harmonica player of his generation. After initially developing his blues playing via the classic players, Jason moved to Memphis and developed his signature fast licks under the guidance of Pat Ramsey. Then, after getting into jazz and a brief flirtation with the saxophone, he started playing overblows, inspired by Howard Levy and the more blues based approach of Adam Gussow. Jason moved from Memphis for stints in various places, including Florida and jail, before settling in Nashville where he really made his presence known with his band Jason Ricci and New Blood.To be continued...Links:Jason's social media links::https://mooncat.org/https://www.instagram.com/jasonricci93/https://twitter.com/jasonricci93Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/jasonricciTip Jason:PayPal.me/jasonricciBandcamp:https://jasonricci.bandcamp.com/Videos:Jason's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/jasonricciBaby Scratch My Back with the Nick Moss band:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSGrzkcdiM0Podcast 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

Erland Westerstrom joins me on episode 92.Erland is from Sweden, where he studied Swedish folk music on the harmonica at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, with Filip Jers as one of his teachers there.Erland released a solo harmonica album in 2020, Andas! (Swedish for breathe), where he makes use of drones, polyphonic rhythms, tongue spilts and other techniques to create self-accompaniment to the melodies of the traditional tunes he plays.Erland's latest band is with the trio Västanvinden. This sees the harmonica combining with great effect with the clarinet and cittern, with the harmonica used as much for chordal accompaniment as for melody.A big part of Erland's music is playing for dancers, who are part of the show in Sweden.Erland also does some harmonica maintenance work as well as teaching in Stockholm and online. He is touring with the Västanvinden trio in Europe later in 2023.Links:Erland's website:http://www.folkmunspel.se/englishContact:erland.westerstrom@icloud.comBlog:http://www.folkmunspel.se/bloggCustom harmonicas for sale:http://www.folkmunspel.se/till-saluGreat resource for traditional Swedish tunes:folkwiki.seAudio-Technica ATM350 mic:https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb/atm350Videos:From Andas! Album:https://youtu.be/6E3jK0Hj71IWith Bjorn Gardner:https://youtu.be/6E3jK0Hj71IWith Vastanvinden trio:https://youtu.be/eNDmadf1k0MTremolo playing:https://youtu.be/7CXqJ4-v1wUGraduation concert:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKKNMHmeR6oPodcast 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 showSupport the show

Tom Halchak joins me on episode 91.Tom tells us how he grew his successful company, Blue Moon Harmonicas, started in 2009. Tom started out selling custom combs, and then covers in different materials and colours. Tom went on to develop his customisation skills to offer fully fledged custom harmonicas using his Blue Moon product lines. Tom also started offering pre-war Marine Band harmonicas for sale. These hand-crafted harps have stood the test of time and with some improvements by Tom, provide a playing experience which conjures the spirit of the players of the past. As a result of his pre-war harmonicas trading, Tom now acts on behalf of the estate of Sonny Terry, offering Sonny's actual harmonicas for sale, complete with the DNA of the great man himself, as well as a range of other memorabilia, such as concert posters and contracts. Tom also prides himself in providing great service.Links:Blue Moon harmonicas:https://bluemoonharmonicas.com/Blue Moon Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/BlueMoonHarmonicasSonny Terry harmonica collection:https://bluemoonharmonicas.com/collections/sonny-terry-estate-llcVideos:Blue Moon instrumental by Whitt Smith:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NGES1uduekRange of harps available at Blue Moon:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXlrOo9qQKECNC Milling GM wood comb:https://youtu.be/lhVFoRTDMjsJason Ricci video on Blue Moon products he uses:https://youtu.be/PWrKgdGnhZEJason Ricci playing ‘Feel Good Funk':https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSAvtxrTbccCustom combs for Big River:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcgQktZ8gDsAdam Gussow appraisal of 150 of Sonny Terry's harmonicas:https://youtu.be/EDT4Xt70OmgSonny Terry tribute concert at SPAH 2016:https://youtu.be/7ycKmefNKfgPodcast 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

Tom Ellis joins me (again) on episode 90.This is part two of the Paul Butterfield retrospective where Tom takes us even deeper into Paul's career and talks us through more of his incredible output.About how Butter, while paying his due respect to the greats before him, took the blues in a new direction, with his experimentation and innovation.Butter's music and bands evolved as he developed, with the best musicians joining him to provide a bedrock to some of the greatest harmonica ever recorded. Tom Ellis puts forward a compelling case for Paul Butterfield as the most influential harmonica player ever, with his cultural and societal impact overshadowing even the classic players of the 1950s.Paul Butterfield retrospective, part 1:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/paul-butterfield-retrospective-with-tom-ellis/Was Butter a u-blocker?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-73mhQn4Pkc Podcast 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 Stevens joins me on episode 89.Mike is a Canadian who made his name playing Bluegrass harmonica, performing with some of the biggest names in Bluegrass and playing at The Grand Old Opry over 300 times. Mike toured with Bluegrass legends, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, and recently played two songs on harmonica at Jesse's funeral. Mike won the Canadian Bluegrass artist of the year for five consecutive years, and released a Bluegrass book with Hal Leonard.But Bluegrass isn't his only genre, also playing Americana, Blues, solo looping, soundscapes and even ballet and West African music.Mike also tells us about synesthesia, a condition which means he sees music in colours and shapes, and how this has impacted his music. On top of all this, Mike has been a leading figure in bringing music to indigenous communities in Canada, distributing some fifty thousands harmonicas to young people.  Links:Mike's website:www.mikestevensmusic.comArtscan Circle:www.artscancircle.ca  A Walk In My Dream documentary:https://mikestevensmusic.com/walk-in-my-dreamVideos:Playing at the Grand Old Opry with Jim & Jesse:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YIpFQccOUoPlaying at Jesse McReynold's funeral:https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY4NzgyMTYwMjI1ODU0MyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==Playing with Matt Andersen:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6iCgQoaViMTED talk on Artscan Circle: bringing music to indigenous communities:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-4uQoNq4M4Blue Sky music festival presentation:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7s-x9tMn6QPodcast 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

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.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 HARMONICAS

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 HARMONICAS

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 HARMONICAS

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 www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS