Keeping to the beat.

Adam Gussow said in his book how important it was to tap your foot as an indication of keeping to the beat. I believe he has adopted a small bass drum when he is playing out on the street.

This got me thinking, and, on a whim, I bought a small foot tambourine.

 I was loafing around Sound Attak drum centre in Colchester Essex (my son is a drummer) and I spotted this thing for just under ten quid – why not?

Website for Sound Attak, http://www.soundattak.co.uk/

Yes, I would definitely recommend this product; it’s just a natural very audible extension of what you do anyway.

Cadillac Records.

2008 Movie ‘Cadillac Records’ was an interesting experience for me – biopic, pure fiction (albeit with real characters) documentary?

Or all of the above?

The story of Leonard Chess of Chess Records (no mention of his brother Phil) and how he assembled the greatest collection of Blues musicians ever in Chicago in the 1950’s and 60’s.

The movie is memorable mostly because of Beyonce Knowles as Etta James; although Beyonce can’t hold a candle to Etta when it comes to singing ‘At Last’. The soundtrack to the movie is probably better than the dramatic content, although, to be fair it’s a story worth telling.

But, there was also another, less well known movie that also tells the Chess story. ‘Who Do You Love’ was also released in 2008, some say it did a better job though had to leave out some of the more interesting characters.

Apparently the 'very much alive' Chuck Berry refused access to some of the juicy recorded tracks the production companies wanted to use. Chuck's loss methinks.

The harp playing of Little Walter on Cadillac Records is supplied by the excellent Kim Wilson.

Butterfield Tutorial.

A few months back I discovered that Paul Butterfield had produced a harmonica tutorial book with accompanying CD. It was first published in 1997, ten years after his death at the age of 44.

Butterfield was one of the first Chicago blues harp players to cross the racial and cultural divide. He had his own style and has become an icon for blues harp players.

I decided to take a punt and order a copy of the book/CD. It was a real surprise. The CD in particular is an absolute gem!

Butterfield doesn’t really give a traditional tutorial. There’s hardly a mention of the holes to ‘suck or blow’, at one point he says, “These notes, just search around for them, they’re there”.

But it’s the tone of his approach that works for me; he’s so relaxed and mellow. Straight from the first simple riff Butterfield is operating bends , tremolo and other articulations. There is an excellent piece near the middle where he reminisces about other harp players like Little Walter, Sonny Boy, etc.

The tutorial is not for newbie players. It suits the intermediate players.

Big Walter Horton

A Photo page dedicated the the legendary harp player Big Walter (Shaky, Mumbles) Horton.

http://bobcorritore.com/photos/big-walter-horton-photos/

Troubles with an ‘A’ harp.

Ah, now I know what I’ve been doing wrong!

I have always struggled with my ‘A’ harp. I just figured that the reeds were going to be less responsive because of the lower notes. I found myself puffing hard and the sound out of the one, two and three holes far too breathy and hissing or vibrating.

I’d set aside practice time to specifically work on low notes and bends on the ‘A’ harp, but it became a chore.

Then I decided to commit to upgrading my ‘A’ harp.

I’d been working with a cheap Big River harp and so took the plunge and purchased a much more expensive Hohner Marine Band Deluxe.

Straight out of the box the difference was amazing!

All those clear notes that had eluded me started to ring out, the bends were as neat as the ones I get on my Suzuki Promaster ‘C’ harp.

Needless to say the Big River harp went straight in the bin.