I've just put Tom Ball on the honorable mention list and am embarrassed that it's taken me this long.
The immediate pretext for this was somebody sending me a cut, available on iTunes, called "Perfect Woman." It's an uptempo blues in C, but the solo is a ball-buster. Either he's switching harps mid-solo, several times, or he's playing in a position other than cross harp. Or maybe I'm wrong about that. But it definitely has the WTF factor going on, and I'd appreciate help from the enlightened masters here--particularly Buddha. Please download the cut and weigh in! It's a great cut, even without the harp.
And a VERY toneful lip-purser. And his Little Walter/Big Walter instructional book is one of the best out there. Great classic intro licks, turnarounds and ending examples used by these two giants.
Tom Ball is a killer harmonica player. He is also a great songwriter. His lyrics are always full of humour and relate to life in such a great way. My favourite song has to be "All Talk and no Action" The lyrics of which are just fantastically humourous.
I should modify that: Ball is a lip purser AND tongue blocker. He plays more less the way I do: he lips purses the great majority of his single notes (or all?) but he throws in TB octaves (14 draw, 25 draw & blow, 36 blow) when he needs them.
Perhaps because he's a primarily acoustic player, his aesthetic is all about light, quick, darting. It's not about "tone"--or, rather, it's about a conception of tone that stands at the opposite extreme from the one Dennis G. put forward here during an extended discussion in another thread. He used words like thick, rich, full, etc. I agree that they're good words, and they're not a bad way to go when you're talking about amplified harmonica tone. But they're not the only way to go. To the extent that players (including the brilliant and innovative DG) try to argue that, I believe they're mistaken. In fact, I think that one of the things that harmonica-lovers around the world love about the harmonica is, in fact, the sort of playful, puckish "thin" sound that Tom Ball exhibits here.
Yes Tom is primarily an acoustic player. Although on most albums he'll play one or two cuts amplified.
He is also an author with about five books to his name. Tom also plays guitar very well, mainly acoustic again I believe. He has also appeared on the soundtracks for numerous movies and television shows.
Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan tour all over the world with their duo act. They have been on the scene for a long time.
One of my favorite things about the forum, finding out about players/musicians I otherwise might not, like this guy. These guys are a fun group to experience.
---------- ~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
