I'm just back from five days at Jon Gindick's harmonica jam camp in Clarksdale. Fantastic time, as always. The coaches, along with Jon, were Jimi Lee, Cheryl Arena, Brian Purdy (the Harpgear guy), and someone new to me: RJ Harman. Jason Ricci had mentioned him in a recent conversation. He's a remarkable player. Although his website claims that he's been playing for six years, he told us he'd been playing for four. Four or six doesn't really matter to me; a little uncertainty about such things simply adds to the mystique. But there's nothing mysterious about RJ. He's a straight-up guy: very accessible. And he's certainly the best player his age I've ever heard.
L.D. Miller has more speed, I suspect. But RJ is sort of a next-generation guy: he plays chromatically on the diatonic, like Carlos del Junco (who is one of his teachers); he has much of Jason Ricci's speed and fluidity--although there's only one JR, obviously. But there's a noticeable family resemblance. He can play everything from old-school country blues (with terrific reedy tone: train songs, fox chases) to amped-up Chicago blues to jazz to swing stuff from the 1930s. Best vibrato I've heard next to Chris Michalek and Carlos. He was nice enough to sit down and show me how he gets his vibrato, and how to bend those pesky overblows up.
He's far ahead of where Jason and I were at age 20. In several key respects he's far ahead of where I am right now.
He did a neat exercise where you go root/third/fifth/octave/fifth/third...and then hit the note a half step up from where you began, so that you in essence do a series of arpeggiated chords that move up a half step each time. Lots of overblows and bends and jumps. I'm sure this is child's play to CM, Carlos, guys who play chromatically on the diatonic. But we're all quite a bit older than RJ. I don't meet a lot of 20 year olds who can nail that stuff--stuff I can't even begin to nail--AND can play great straight ahead full-tone Chicago blues, adding sweet sounding overblows at will AND play half a dozen torch songs.
This afternoon, fronting the jam camp band for a song or two, I played a shuffle blues in G, blowing cross harp on a C harp, and RJ played an F harp in third position. A regular (high) F harp. That's quite a trick. It sounded great.
He may be at SPAH this year. I told him he should go. I hope Jason puts him on the program for the harp blow off. He's definitely a player to watch.
He's Florida based. Here's his website:
http://www.rjharmanmusic.com/
Last Edited by on Mar 28, 2009 8:22 PM
RJ is definitely somebody to watch. Another kid that I think is even better than RJ is 17yr old Jay Gaunt... now that's a kid with some serious soul and serious chops. I'm not taking anything away from RJ either because he's all that too.
Jay is fine for his age, but given what I heard this weekend, there's no comparison. Of course, I haven't heard Jay since he sat in my livingroom in the summer of 2007, so I'm sure he's come a long way.
damn these people with their youth and talent and focus!! makes this slightly middle-aged, slightly overweight, slightly talentless unfocused players try harder! damn them all!!
I think it is the new age of information.+ This combinded with an instrument that (i think) still has a lot of untouched potential means a lot of change and a lot of development.
I have seen RJ's videos on youtube and I must say that he is one of the best harp players that I have heard. Jay Gaunt is only 15 years old. I have been skyping with him recently, so I know pretty much were he is technically. Its really funny, because whenever we challenge each other it always ends up in a tie.Our playing styles are so similar its crazy. He does have your vibrato though Chris. But the fact of the matter is that neither Jay nor I are anywere near RJ's skill level. Perhaps in 3 more years of practice.
By the way Chris, me and Jay are going to SPAH so I really look forwards to seeing you there.And it would be great to meet RJ. ---------- Brandon Bailey
I know he has my vibrato. I worked with him on it and he's one of the few to get it right away. He also plays a bunch of other stuff that I do. My style is not easy to play and Jay is the ONLY one I know who has picked it up correctly.
Skill doesn't matter. Howard Levy can play circles around anybody, how many of you like his music? Jay has depth and true emotion behind his playing. Now, I'm only judging from youtube vids here but I don't hear that in RJs playing. What I hear is a kid trying to sound like Carlos. That's not bad BUT with Jay, I hear a kid playing real music.
Last Edited by on Mar 29, 2009 9:37 AM
Very good point about Jay, Chris.He really is a great player, especilly for his age.
Out of curiosity, what do you hear from my playing in my youtube videos. (Be advised that I am alot better than just what is in my youtube videos. They are kind of old.
These young guys just blow me right away, including you Brandon.
I started playing harmonica ca around age 11 in the early 50's. No TV, no internet, a wind up gramophone & remember lots of parties with music and song from family & friends. I think what I tought myself on an Echo Harp without any instruction or tabs is the basis of how I play today ie by ear but with lots of ingrained bad habits. I also remember not having devoted too much time to playing harp ie an hour a week would have been the max.
I gave the harp away for 50 years only coming back 3 years ago. It was the same as riding a bike ie picked it up where I got off.
If, when young enough you get the correct grounding, ie there is a wealth of fantastic instructional material & some absolute crap on the internet, the sky is the limit.
I used to swim a mile in under 1/2 hour 3 to 4 times a week up until 10 years ago. I still swim the same distance 3 to 4 times each week but now I'm timed by a calendar. But I still do it and love it.
What these young guys have learn't in the short time they have been playing is incredible. The older you get the ability to absorb new stuff increases exponentially.
Sorry about that Buddah. These are the most current videos that I have, and I dont have a camera. I will hopefully see you at SPAH, so I can get some constructive criticism then. Thanks. ---------- Brandon Bailey
Chris, I've heard that vibrato with him on Skype with Brandon, it reminds me of something I heard William Clarke do in "Now That You're Gone." Great vibrato! I hope to see you at SPAH! I'm sure I will, I'll be coming to talk with you hopefully if you don't mind!!! Do you know if the Filisko seminar is extra money?
Wow I guess I am so new that all those guys sounded awesome but then again I am new. To be honest it would make no never mind to me if he was 15 or 17 he played great!! Of course Chris that was amazing... even I can hear the clearity difference in your playing compared to the others. I cant wait to get enough balls to take a Skype lesson from ya!!
