Book Review – ‘Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers; the Evolution of the People’s Instrument’. Kim Field.

A hefty and detailed piece of history, Kim Field’s book methodically and almost obsessively catalogues the genres and influences of all the famous harmonica players.

So many anecdotes, suppositions and conclusions, I found myself highlighting text and note writing all over this book. Field throws so many ideas and observations into the text that the book deserves more than one reading. 

To give one example; Field expands on the idea of how the slurred chordal deliberate ‘mistakes’ made by the blues harmonica players relates to west African music where such qualities are admired; the perfect smooth notes are thought of as too sterile, lacking in expression. It’s a good point – to me it ranks alongside something I read recently about Little Walter’s harmonica style being close to a kind of Deep South New Orleans Cajun, Zydeco accordion playing - interesting.

I’m afraid I just couldn't warm towards Larry Adler or any of the ‘popularisers’ of the harmonica, it doesn't get me reaching for a chromatic harmonica in any kind of hurry. The novelty acts and harmonica troupes of the 1940’s and 50’s also made me feel slightly queasy, something a touch too desperate about these acts, earnestly wanting to be accepted as serious musicians, forever the poor relation. 

I had a certain sympathy with the Jazz harmonica players.  Won’t say they were welcomed with open arms by the Jazz fraternity but they were allowed to make their mark.

In all a book worth reading (and re-reading).

The Red Devils – King King.

I am so grateful to Fritz for putting me on to the Red Devils. Just when I was beginning to give up on any hope of finding inspiring blues music post 1969 I was introduced to the Red Devils (active between 1988 and 1994). This very short six year lifespan only produced one album ‘King King’, a totally live album recorded over three nights at the King King club in LA. The Red Devils were the house band at King King and their reputation as live performers spread far and wide attracting the attention of the likes of Brian May and Mick Jagger. Also Bruce Willis (as a harp player) and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers joined in jam sessions with the band. The release of the album in 1992 unleashed this modern take on the blues.

Photo of the last performance the Red Devils did at King King.

Front man Lester Butler produced a unique Chicago style harp sound and added a raw edge to some classics with a gutsy vocal style. Their origin compositions have great flair and give a hint of what may have been to come. However, the age-old story was played out and front man Butler imploded through drug abuse and the band split. Butler was to eventually die of an overdose at the age of 38. Interestingly Butler seems not to have administered the lethal cocktail of heroin and cocaine to himself; his family thus claim it was murder and not death by misadventure. But whatever it was the passing of Lester Butler was a huge loss to the world of music.

Lester Butler.

Here’s a neat Youtube vid of Lester Butler talking ever so briefly about Little Walter; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpjZFgbqPPo

The Red Devils also cut tracks with Mick Jagger on vocals, here’s ‘Checkin’ up on my baby’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3skWNeNrXE

Howlin’ Wolf, the London Sessions.

Wolf did a session in London in the 1960’s. I have no doubt that he acted as a magnet for all those Brit musicians who were heavily influenced by the Chicago bluesmen. So here we have Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, even Ringo Star having a go! Hubert Sumlin, regular Chess label guitarist was given special dispensation to fly over to help out; but really this was Wolf and the Brits together.

It comes out okay, but there is definitely something missing. Is it over-produced? Is there too much ‘cleverness’ going on? Particularly with Clapton – sometimes less is more.

Almost a side note to this album is 19 year old American harmonica prodigy Jeffery Carp. He was given the green light by the Chess production team to cross the pond to give some 'Chess style' harp playing. Jeffrey Carp is somewhat of a mystery, even his death remains a puzzle (he is said to have drowned jumping off a boat in the Gulf of Mexico and his body was never found).

The recording is well worth having. I particularly like the Wolf doing ‘Sittin’ on top of the world’, in fact more than the original 1958 single version. The ’58 version has Wolf on a ‘Bb’ harp, on the London version I believe it’s Carp on the harp playing on an ‘A’; it’s a little more elaborated in the key riffs; adding more bounce than the more doleful ’58 version.