superchucker77
2 posts
Feb 14, 2008
6:18 PM
|
I would like to know what you consider as some of the best harmonica performances of all times.I really like Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz's mind blowing "Whammer Jammer".
P.S. Thank you Mr. Gussow for creating this forum and for all of your wonderfully usefull instructional videos.
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2008 1:18 PM
|
DocJon
6 posts
Feb 14, 2008
7:41 PM
|
I think "Whammer Jammer" is one of the yardsticks by which all harp players are judged. I haven't been at this all that long(though I've been a fan of the blues, and harp, for decades), but I imagine many harp players judge THEMSELVES by it as well. The live version is nothing less than two minutes and thirty seconds of awesome. The day I'm capable of a convincing, enjoyable performance of Whammer Jammer, I would, without hesitation, consider myself a harmonica PLAYER, and not a dabbler, or student. I know Adam has done some great lessons on this song, has met Magic Dick, and clearly holds him in high esteem as well.
That said, Wade Schuman of Hazmat Modine blows my mind. The day I can perform a very good version of "Lost Fox Train". . .well, the next day I might well try to walk on water. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxVuuwYBRI
If you check the msgs below the vid, you can see my admiration listed. Derek Walker, another helpful Youtube harmonica presence, is clearly in love with him as well.
I'd be interested to find out about other great performances. There's a world of old performances I'm not yet familiar with, though I'm working on correcting that. . .
|
phatcat213
2 posts
Feb 15, 2008
5:20 PM
|
DocJon you hit it on the head. "Whammer Jammer" is the most!!!! That song is one of the reasons I play now. Like you I think when or if I ever play it right I would go walk on water or at least play the loto that day :-)
|
DocJon
8 posts
Feb 15, 2008
9:51 PM
|
Well Superchucker mentioned it specifically in the OP, and Whammer Jammer is pretty much a slam-dunk in this category. Magic Dick is probably responsible for inspiring a large percentage of harp players to pick it up.
And actually, while Magic Dick DID (and still does) blow my mind, it was the WADE SCHUMAN performance of "Lost Fox Train" that inspired my "walk on water" comment.
The link, again (copy & paste this, no clicky-links in this forum):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxVuuwYBRI
It's just such a cool tune, and Wade is has such technical ability and precision. I assume he wrote it as well (drawing from many influences, obviously). . .if so, add that to the wow factor.
Here's one by George "Harmonica" Smith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AVEzq3wMfg
Everyone post their favs and talk about them!
Last Edited by on Feb 15, 2008 9:57 PM
|
superchucker77
6 posts
Feb 16, 2008
5:06 PM
|
I just atched Wade Schuman's performance of the "Lost Fox Chase", and I must say that it was truly mind blowing.
I have never heard such wonderfull things done with our humble instrument.
Last Edited by on Feb 17, 2008 5:25 PM
|
Chowda30
3 posts
Feb 18, 2008
8:38 AM
|
You guys probably have seen this Kim Wilson video but I saw him do this Harp intrumental live... It was 20 Mins long!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A1nELTY6I5s
PS listen to what he does at 1:40... amazing
|
DocJon
9 posts
Feb 18, 2008
2:16 PM
|
Nice link Chowda!
I saw Kim back in the mid-80's with the Fabulous Thunderbirds. He did some killer harp work and was probably instrumental in my interest in harp to this day. Bonnie Raitt was there as well as BB King and Dr John. Kim & Dr John blew my friend and I away. Bonnie (pre-"Nick of Time") was great as well, and I really don't even need to say BB was great.
The work he did around 1:40 was particularly cool, as you said. I'm still quite the beginner with the harp, but it sounded to me like it was octaves with some chord & tongue work. That's a sound that grabs me. There's a part in "Whammer Jammer" that always sounded like 2 harps to me, and I believe Adam mentioned in his 5-part (lessons 77-81) breakdown that Dick was using octaves. I might have to give those vids another view, just for fun.
Edited to add: Nope, Adam ends lesson 5 right before the part I was speaking of, around 1:42 into the live version of "Whammer Jammer", so I don't know where I got the idea that it's octaves. It might be, but I don't know where I got it from.
Last Edited by on Feb 18, 2008 3:22 PM
|
bluzlvr
4 posts
Feb 20, 2008
1:56 PM
|
I would have to go along with Whammer Jammer as one of the great harp performances and I was lucky enough to see the J. Geils band a number of times in their heyday. Now thanks to Adam Gussow's lessons on youtube I'm learning it for myself. Thanks Adam!
Another great harp performance is by Norton Buffalo in Bonnie Raitts' studio version of "Runaway". You can find a live version of in on youtube, just type in Bonnie Raitt Runaway. Shows what you had to do in the days before overblows!
|
oldwailer
8 posts
Feb 21, 2008
12:06 AM
|
Great links! One of my favorites is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2jOaYkPvug
Not as breath taking as some of these other ones, I guess, but Sonny Boy Williams is just fun to watch and hear anytime.
|
harpinholley
1 post
Feb 22, 2008
11:41 AM
|
definetly whammer jammer. i also will consider myself a harp player when i can halfway approximate md's playing.
|
superchucker77
10 posts
Feb 22, 2008
11:54 AM
|
Then all of you can call me a harp player. I have deciphered about 90 percent of the song in only one month. Truthfully it is not very hard once you get past the bent 10 hole blow and the begining tongue swish. It needs a litle more work but not much.
By the way, I have only been playing for about three years =).
You may not believe me but it is the absolute truth.
|
DocJon
11 posts
Feb 22, 2008
5:21 PM
|
Superchucker, nice going! It must've been a busy 3 years. Of course, this means we're gonna start throwing questions your way (grin).
|
superchucker77
11 posts
Feb 22, 2008
7:31 PM
|
Ask away. =)
|
DocJon
12 posts
Feb 23, 2008
1:07 AM
|
Oh, I will, SC, but for now, let's take a look at these versions of Whammer Jammer! Discuss!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8nMHuRJD3I
And how appropriate to what we've been talking about!
Last Edited by on Feb 23, 2008 1:34 AM
|
superchucker77
12 posts
Feb 23, 2008
7:01 AM
|
I have viewed this new video several times since it was uploaded. Mr Gussow Is pretty good at it, but he has several inconsistancies. I have a brought these errors to the attention of Mr. Gussow. Read my comments of the video on youtube and get back to me.
www.youtube.com/superchucker77
|
mojohar
Guest
Feb 26, 2008
10:56 AM
|
Am a real newbie. Just got Adam's Volume 1 a couple weeks ago (thanks for the autograph, Adam) and got a new Bushman Delta Frost in the mail about the same time. Had been tooting around on a $4.99 Hohner Bluesband for the past few months. Just dialed up Magic Dick's "Whammer Jammer" on You-Tube. Holy...........#%!?$#......shit !!!! Anybody wanna buy 2 slightly used harmonicas?? Think I'll just sit back and replay that thing forever and forget about learning to play. lol. Anyway, Adam this forum is a great thing....thanks a ton.
|
DocJon
13 posts
Feb 26, 2008
12:51 PM
|
Hehehah! I know what you mean. There are certain performances that either make you want to take up an instrument or put it down. I wrote about that very thing in the comments under this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxVuuwYBRI
All I can say is nothing worthwhile is easy. Try and emphasize the "Holy crap, that's AWESOME" aspect, and disregard that impulse to throw the harp in the trash. I'll likely never get to the point where I can do a convincing, or even recognizable, version of either "Whammer Jammer" or "Lost Fox Train", but the journey is worthwhile in itself, and as with any journey, you never quite know what tomorrow will bring.
|
mojohar
Guest
Feb 26, 2008
1:49 PM
|
"nothing worthwhile is easy"?? Jeez, Doc, you just ruined my whole day. thanks for your reply.
|
DocJon
14 posts
Feb 26, 2008
2:53 PM
|
Better to find it out now, my friend. This one actually took me awhile to figure out :)
|
mojohar
Guest
Feb 26, 2008
4:15 PM
|
Alright, already. I just got back from YouTube and Hazmat Modine's "Lost Fox Train". After this and the earlier "Whammer Jammer" I am now writhing on the floor, drooling all over myself, and searching for my cell phone so I can call 911. Anyone remember the major signs of stroke? I think it's happening to me. Doodness drayshess, I tant tand it !!!
|
DocJon
15 posts
Feb 26, 2008
7:38 PM
|
Yeah, I think slurred speech is one of the warning signs. . . better get to the hospital, or the woodshed.
I'm really looking forward to Adam's phone lesson with Magic Dick. . .if he's still posting vids next year, it would be great if he did the same with Wade Schuman. Even a regular interview with either of these guys would be killer, but getting some hints and tips on top of that is just about priceless. Then maybe Jason Ricci. . . :)
We probably get more info out of Adam in any given lesson than we may get out of the Magic Dick phone lesson, but the cool factor alone makes it exciting. If we really get solid info out of it as well, that's just cool squared!
|
howlin' madmart
2 posts
Feb 27, 2008
6:43 AM
|
take a listen to the Billy Gibson band.... http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=72433928 ..... & the track 'what is love'
|
superchucker77
13 posts
Feb 27, 2008
1:16 PM
|
I wish that I could, but I do not own a web cam. But you can check out my you tube channel.
www.youtube.com/superchucker77
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2008 1:18 PM
|
superchucker77
14 posts
Feb 27, 2008
5:58 PM
|
What model is the web cam? I have been considering buying one. I may not need it, because things are in the working that may allow many, many people to see me play.On television.
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2008 5:59 PM
|
tootalldan
2 posts
Feb 27, 2008
10:09 PM
|
Any good burning song by Rod Piazza, Sugar Ray Norcia, William Clarke, Paul Butterfield.
Kim Wilson On Jimmy Rogers "Ludella"
Sugar Ray on "Jimmy Rogers "Live in Bremen GE"
|
superchucker77
16 posts
Mar 02, 2008
6:47 AM
|
If it happens, and hopefully it will, It would probably be on my channel www.youtube.com/superchucker77
|
mr sog
2 posts
Mar 04, 2008
6:50 PM
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKM5LpFU1Pc
Huey Lewis doing a solo harmonica piece. Sounds pretty cool when the sax joins in too.
|
Sirsucksalot
1 post
Mar 05, 2008
8:32 AM
|
my favorite performance has to be James cottons video on youtube. slow blues. here's the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBeuco0PgJs
|
Harmonica Slim
14 posts
Mar 05, 2008
10:32 PM
|
How about Paul Jones version of the classic song Flatfoot Sam on "The Official Bootleg Album" By the Blues Band? I know it blew me away when I first heard it in the 80-ies. Cheers
|
kudzurunner
18 posts
Mar 06, 2008
7:26 AM
|
I've got a 45 minute phone interview with Magic Dick that I conducted last Sunday; I'll be posting ten minutes of it on YouTube soon, and I'll make the entire interview available as a free mp3 download on Modern Blues Harmonica. (I'll create a new page for it.) Magic Dick answers a lot of questions about exactly what he is doing in the song, but he goes far beyond that, talking a lot about the harp player's philosophical and spiritual orientation towards the instrument. He also talks about the three harp players (including Sonny Boy and Little Walter) and one jazz horn player (Coltrane) who were the main influences on "Whammer Jammer."
Y'all will NOT want to miss this.
--Adam
----------
"The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare."
--Juma Ikaanga, marathoner
Last Edited by on Mar 06, 2008 7:28 AM
|
DocJon
16 posts
Mar 06, 2008
10:03 AM
|
I think we were already of the opinion that we didn't want to miss it, Adam! I gotta tell you, I've been checking for it several times a day since about Feb 25, and I've been jonesin' real hard. It sounds like Dick was really helpful and accommodating. . .it's going to be EPIC!
The openness and giving nature of the online harp community is just astounding: Here, on Youtube, Harp-L, and another board I follow. I can't believe how ppl are just "giving it all away"!
|
superchucker77
18 posts
Mar 06, 2008
10:55 AM
|
Great, isnt it.
|
NG
2 posts
Mar 06, 2008
2:02 PM
|
I'm hyperventilating with excitement! Not even kidding, this will be THE clip!
|
bluzlvr
14 posts
Mar 07, 2008
3:17 PM
|
Awesome Kim Wilson video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6gRPRzPkl4
|
genesis
2 posts
Mar 14, 2008
10:05 PM
|
Everythings gonna be alright or Driftin and driftin are top shelf if not the best of all time.( Paul Butterfield)
Also, Jimmy Zavalas solos on Missionary man or Lets go with the Eurythmics.
|
D.C.
7 posts
Mar 15, 2008
7:10 PM
|
Down Home by Billy Gibson, he is purely electrifying.
|
shaneboylan
14 posts
Apr 14, 2008
6:15 PM
|
Christ - I knew Huey Lewis was good, but i didn't know he was THAT good! thanks for the url!
Aside from Whammer Jammer, I also like Sugar Blue's performance of Hoochie Coochie man on Utube - I think it has the right combination of feelin' and uses technical skill without rippin the arse out of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iPKBEUEnJ8
|
Patrick Barker
38 posts
Apr 14, 2008
9:02 PM
|
I have to agree with sirsucksalot on the greatness of James Cotton's slow blues. Any Jason Ricci video is great, but i like this one of Jason Ricci with a Whammer Jammer riff near the end:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0m18rLUlQGo
|
superchucker77
27 posts
Apr 14, 2008
9:25 PM
|
Check this one out http://youtube.com/watch?v=i4LJKA2O1gk
it's one of my favorite ricci videos. He is playing third position in the key of C flat on a B flat harp.
|
Noblezadaxfan
6 posts
Apr 15, 2008
8:46 PM
|
my favorite routine to play that me and my band plays is johnny be good with some whammer jammer riffs it sounds great
|
Blues_Blues
1 post
Apr 18, 2008
8:39 AM
|
I like Shugar Blue:) and when he performes Hoochi Coochi man by Muddy Waters, Its really awsome.
|
Philosofy
4 posts
Apr 18, 2008
8:09 PM
|
A harp song that blows my mind is Charlie McCoy doing Johnny Cash's Orange Blossom Special:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeEhXc-z7D4
|
Warbleman
7 posts
Apr 18, 2008
8:27 PM
|
Hey Super Chucker. I could have sworn that if you played in third position on a B flat harp then you would be in the key of C, not C flat. Because I'm fairly sure that playing in the third position puts you in a key one whole step up from the key of the harp, not a half step. C flat is the same as B natural and therefore a half step. Correct me if I'm wrong.
|
comstockkidd
2 posts
Oct 27, 2008
9:23 PM
|
Goddamn, great topic. They're so many to choose from. One that gets me tight is the one and only Paul Butterfield with the Band on the Last Waltz. Pure power and overdrive. That’s all I can say. The day I saw that at 15 on my parents vcr was the day I wanted to learn to play.
|
CarolynViolin
8 posts
Nov 07, 2008
8:03 AM
|
Well, I think I would have to say that my #1 favorite on blues harp is Eric Clapton. When I first started to learn how to improvise and do it to the blues, I began with Clapton's "Unplugged" cd. I absolute adore Clapton! He is so well-controlled and smooth and he plays with very deep emotion and with his soul. I really can't get enough of him. One of my very favorite videos in youtube is "Change the World" - the "live video version." I get into it everytime that I watch it. I also love his "Robert Johnson" cd! I also admire Toots Thielmann's playing, but he's chromatic harmonica. One of my favorite Toots videos in youtube is the one where he is playing the extended version of Bluesette with Randy Singer. Randy is also great! Carolyn
|
