great harp players

Gene Machine · January 8th, 2007, 12:44 AM

i want to get more into blues harmonica.

any suggestions on who i can start with?

i don't get to hear a lot of really great blues harp around these days. any suggestions appreciated.

thanks.

g.

durango jon-boy · January 8th, 2007, 12:47 AM

G. Love
Andy Garrigue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Waa8tXXVIyk ...Watch this

Ryan Adams
Diablo Dimes(Pretty good kazoo player too)

Johnny Cash(Orange Blossom Special)-Song
John Popper(Blues Traveler)-Band
Paul Butterfield(Butterfield Blues Band)

bluetele54 · January 8th, 2007, 12:48 AM

...Jerry McCain "Hop Stroll"...George Smith...Howlin' Wolf...Little Walter...Sonny Terry...Oscar Williams (w' Frank Frost)...Sonny Boy Williamson...Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller)...Junior Wells...James Cotton...that's a good start...

Heather Anne Peel · January 8th, 2007, 12:57 AM

Plus: Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Relf, Jack Bruce, John Mayall, Robert Plant, Chris Robinson, John Popper, Guy Forsyth, Kim Wilson.

Larry F · January 8th, 2007, 01:00 AM

I am such a classical music weenie. I looked at this and wondered why anyone in this forum would be interested in harp. Debussy fans?

bluetele54 · January 8th, 2007, 01:32 AM

...AND a classical geek as well,let's not hijack this thread...start a new one,and I'll go off,but the names I mentioned are the harp players that inspired me...the others mentioned were/are of later generations,and have some importance,but for the real deal;and I would wager their importance on most of the rock era's practitioners is the same as mine;please refer my earlier post...

teleman65 · January 8th, 2007, 02:15 AM

Jerome Godboo

http://www.jeromegodboo.ca/

TB72 · January 8th, 2007, 02:29 AM

Hey Gene, check out Windsor's own Kelly "Mista Chill" Hoppe. He fronts Mr. Chill and the Witnesses. He was also the harp man in Big Sugar for more than a decade. He's an excellent player, and an all around good guy.

Later....

Tremo · January 8th, 2007, 03:40 AM

For the *real deal* blues harp players, check out:

Kim Wilson
Rick Estrin
Rod Piazza
Little Walter
Sonny Boy Williamson #2 (Rice Miller)
RJ Mischo
Andy Santana
Mark Hummel
Gary Smith
John Nemeth
Jerry Portnoy
Howlin' Wolf
William Clarke
James Cotton
Junior Wells
Slim Harpo
Lazy Lester
Sam Myers

Skip the rock and rollers, waste of time.

E.D. Patton · January 8th, 2007, 03:44 AM

Mark DuFresne with Roomful Of Blues.

bluetele54 · January 8th, 2007, 04:14 AM

...George "Papa" Lightfoot performing "When the Saints Go Marching In"...with a driving New Orleans rhythm section backing him...Heaven...Rick Estrin turned me onto "Rhythm Willie" years ago,look for a harmonica compilation on the Wolf label,and you'll find some cool stuff...Arhoolie put out a Snooks Eaglin record (re-issued from an earlier recording) called "Possum Up a Simmon Tree",and it has Percy Randolph playing some beautiful backporch harp...

bluetele54 · January 8th, 2007, 04:17 AM

...my buddy Pierre Beaureguard is a brilliant harp player/retuner...he was in a DC area band in the '70's called "Powerhouse"...great ear,and an absolute knucklehead,just like me!!!...

bluetele54 · January 8th, 2007, 04:19 AM

...Jimmy Reed is simple,and perfectly imperfect phrasing(which means just right)

bluetele54 · January 8th, 2007, 04:30 AM

...from the Milwaukee area,there was a great harp player named Jim Liban...with his band "Short Stuff", he recorded "Talk is Cheap"...

bluetele54 · January 8th, 2007, 04:30 AM

...I say "was",but I think Liban's still around...

FraKcture · January 8th, 2007, 04:33 AM

Steven De Bruyn

He's from Belgium,

He's amazing

http://www.stevendebruyn.com/brvl_mov.html

www.stevendebruyn.com

markothefish · January 8th, 2007, 04:45 AM

Charlie Musselwaite
Kim Wilson
Sonny Boy Williamson (2)
Magic Dick (old J. Geils or recent work)

thats all I can think of this early in the morning

Jeff Mason · January 8th, 2007, 04:51 AM

Just a couple of English players to add to the list...Mark Feltham (Nine Below Zero fame) and Paul Jones (The Blues Band)
The harmonica was the instrument that got me into music, started off on a Chromatic in C, then discovered the "blues". There was no stopping me then...

Ryan · January 8th, 2007, 05:01 AM

Not necessarily strictly a blues player, but Greg "Fingers" Taylor is a great player.

Disastercaster · January 8th, 2007, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry F

I am such a classical music weenie. I looked at this and wondered why anyone in this forum would be interested in harp. Debussy fans?

Totally! But that's for another thread..

My favourite harp player is Howlin' Wolf I'd say. Or maybe Sonny Boy.

CharlieO · January 8th, 2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluetele54

...I say "was",but I think Liban's still around...

Yes, Jim is still around. He's a triple threat - great harp player, vocalist and songwriter, and highly-respected by other great harmonica players from around the world. See my post in the thread about unknown bands.

zombywoof · January 8th, 2007, 12:14 PM

Without a doubt:
James Cotton
Paul Butterfield
Little Walter
Sonny Boy Williamson
Charlie Musselwhite
Howlin' Wolf

Some others not already listed:
Sugar Blue
Carey Bell
Juke Logan
Slim Harpo
Paul deLay

Durtdog · January 8th, 2007, 12:25 PM

Not technically blues, but Howard Levy is the most amazing I've heard. I think lots of harp players would agree.

Gene Machine · January 8th, 2007, 01:14 PM

thanks for all the replies. I'm going to make a short list and start downloading. (all legal of course).

i have been tinkering with harmonica for a couple of years, finally decided to hit it hard.

Thanks again.

G.

zombywoof · January 8th, 2007, 02:49 PM

Delbert McClinton. Not so much these days but there was a time when he really wailed on the harp.

Heather Anne Peel · January 8th, 2007, 03:12 PM

I really stress you check out Guy Forsyth. Live he's even better, and he wails his Blues harp through a Shure Green Bullet. He's a great songwriter, singer and guitarist, as well as a really cool guy. Definitely one of my fave local musicians, I catch him whenever he plays here at the Saxon Pub. Great band, too.

teleman65 · January 8th, 2007, 04:07 PM

Jerome Godboo recently played in Peterborough with Jack DeKeyser and gets out that way often enough. You really should check him out. You can download some mp3s from his site.

Jim W · January 9th, 2007, 07:44 AM

Toots Thielman; John Sebastian (his dad was a classical harmonica player). I agree don't use the rock guys as good harp players (especially Jack Bruce-great bassist, singer, writer, but sorry loose the harp).

January 8th, 2007, 12:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
Gene Machine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trenton, Ontario Posts: 338	great harp players i want to get more into blues harmonica. any suggestions on who i can start with? i don't get to hear a lot of really great blues harp around these days. any suggestions appreciated. thanks. g. __________________ * I AM CANADIAN *

January 8th, 2007, 12:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,558	...my faves... ...Jerry McCain "Hop Stroll"...George Smith...Howlin' Wolf...Little Walter...Sonny Terry...Oscar Williams (w' Frank Frost)...Sonny Boy Williamson...Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller)...Junior Wells...James Cotton...that's a good start...

January 8th, 2007, 01:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 56 Posts: 2,667	I am such a classical music weenie. I looked at this and wondered why anyone in this forum would be interested in harp. Debussy fans? __________________ larry

January 8th, 2007, 01:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,558	...well,being a harp player,AND a Tele player... ...AND a classical geek as well,let's not hijack this thread...start a new one,and I'll go off,but the names I mentioned are the harp players that inspired me...the others mentioned were/are of later generations,and have some importance,but for the real deal;and I would wager their importance on most of the rock era's practitioners is the same as mine;please refer my earlier post...

January 8th, 2007, 02:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
TB72 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ottawa Canada Posts: 491	Since you're from Canada... Hey Gene, check out Windsor's own Kelly "Mista Chill" Hoppe. He fronts Mr. Chill and the Witnesses. He was also the harp man in Big Sugar for more than a decade. He's an excellent player, and an all around good guy. Later.... __________________ Why is easy-listening music so hard to listen to?

January 8th, 2007, 12:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
durango jon-boy Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Greatest state of Arizona Posts: 624	G. Love Andy Garrigue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Waa8tXXVIyk ...Watch this Ryan Adams Diablo Dimes(Pretty good kazoo player too) Johnny Cash(Orange Blossom Special)-Song John Popper(Blues Traveler)-Band Paul Butterfield(Butterfield Blues Band)

January 8th, 2007, 12:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	Plus: Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Relf, Jack Bruce, John Mayall, Robert Plant, Chris Robinson, John Popper, Guy Forsyth, Kim Wilson.

January 8th, 2007, 03:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	For the real deal blues harp players, check out: Kim Wilson Rick Estrin Rod Piazza Little Walter Sonny Boy Williamson #2 (Rice Miller) RJ Mischo Andy Santana Mark Hummel Gary Smith John Nemeth Jerry Portnoy Howlin' Wolf William Clarke James Cotton Junior Wells Slim Harpo Lazy Lester Sam Myers Skip the rock and rollers, waste of time.

January 8th, 2007, 03:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
E.D. Patton Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 942	Mark DuFresne with Roomful Of Blues.

January 8th, 2007, 04:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,558	...I forgot this... ...George "Papa" Lightfoot performing "When the Saints Go Marching In"...with a driving New Orleans rhythm section backing him...Heaven...Rick Estrin turned me onto "Rhythm Willie" years ago,look for a harmonica compilation on the Wolf label,and you'll find some cool stuff...Arhoolie put out a Snooks Eaglin record (re-issued from an earlier recording) called "Possum Up a Simmon Tree",and it has Percy Randolph playing some beautiful backporch harp...

January 8th, 2007, 04:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,558	...my buddy Pierre Beaureguard is a brilliant harp player/retuner...he was in a DC area band in the '70's called "Powerhouse"...great ear,and an absolute knucklehead,just like me!!!...

January 8th, 2007, 04:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,558	...Jimmy Reed is simple,and perfectly imperfect phrasing(which means just right)

January 8th, 2007, 04:30 AM	#14 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,558	...from the Milwaukee area,there was a great harp player named Jim Liban...with his band "Short Stuff", he recorded "Talk is Cheap"...

January 8th, 2007, 04:30 AM	#15 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,558	...I say "was",but I think Liban's still around...

January 8th, 2007, 04:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
FraKcture TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brugge, Belgium Posts: 94 11 Photos	Steven De Bruyn He's from Belgium, He's amazing http://www.stevendebruyn.com/brvl_mov.html www.stevendebruyn.com

January 8th, 2007, 04:45 AM	#17 (permalink)
markothefish Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Greenville, Rhode Island Age: 42 Posts: 2,116 7 Photos	Charlie Musselwaite Kim Wilson Sonny Boy Williamson (2) Magic Dick (old J. Geils or recent work) thats all I can think of this early in the morning __________________ Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted. Groucho Marx

January 8th, 2007, 04:51 AM	#18 (permalink)
Jeff Mason Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheltenham. UK Posts: 308 20 Photos	Just a couple of English players to add to the list...Mark Feltham (Nine Below Zero fame) and Paul Jones (The Blues Band) The harmonica was the instrument that got me into music, started off on a Chromatic in C, then discovered the "blues". There was no stopping me then...

January 8th, 2007, 05:01 AM	#19 (permalink)
Ryan Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Age: 21 Posts: 113	Not necessarily strictly a blues player, but Greg "Fingers" Taylor is a great player. __________________ "I don't get my generation, that old school beat was my salvation."

January 8th, 2007, 12:14 PM	#22 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,924 17 Photos	Without a doubt: James Cotton Paul Butterfield Little Walter Sonny Boy Williamson Charlie Musselwhite Howlin' Wolf Some others not already listed: Sugar Blue Carey Bell Juke Logan Slim Harpo Paul deLay __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

January 8th, 2007, 12:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
Durtdog Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,678	Not technically blues, but Howard Levy is the most amazing I've heard. I think lots of harp players would agree.

January 8th, 2007, 01:14 PM	#24 (permalink)
Gene Machine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trenton, Ontario Posts: 338	Holy moly thanks for all the replies. I'm going to make a short list and start downloading. (all legal of course). i have been tinkering with harmonica for a couple of years, finally decided to hit it hard. Thanks again. G. __________________ * I AM CANADIAN *

January 8th, 2007, 02:49 PM	#25 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,924 17 Photos	Ya Know Who We All Forgot? Delbert McClinton. Not so much these days but there was a time when he really wailed on the harp. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

January 8th, 2007, 03:12 PM	#26 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 45 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	I really stress you check out Guy Forsyth. Live he's even better, and he wails his Blues harp through a Shure Green Bullet. He's a great songwriter, singer and guitarist, as well as a really cool guy. Definitely one of my fave local musicians, I catch him whenever he plays here at the Saxon Pub. Great band, too.

January 9th, 2007, 07:44 AM	#28 (permalink)
Jim W Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 461	Toots Thielman; John Sebastian (his dad was a classical harmonica player). I agree don't use the rock guys as good harp players (especially Jack Bruce-great bassist, singer, writer, but sorry loose the harp).