SBS365: an original solo piece
I improvised this piece in my kitchen, recording live into the Zoom H4 from a couple of feet away. The recording quality is surprisingly good, and the piece hangs together well enough, with a couple of themes and a little bit of development. It’s always…
Record of the Day 8 September 2011: Dean Landew with Miguel Weissman
I just heard Dean Landew’s new record “Indestructible Voices,” which features NYC-based Miguel Weissman on harmonica. Weissman is heavily featured, and this record plays like Springsteen with Magic Dick in the lineup. If you like rock harp, you’re going to eat this record up. Attaway…
RP Tip #11: It’s a very good delay and reverb box
Most people who own the Digitech RP250/255/350/355 don’t think of it as a delay and/or reverb device, but the fact is that both the delays and the reverbs in these RPs are really very good, better sounding than many dedicated devices and most amp modelers…
If You’re Not Using Natural Minor Harps Yet, Why Not?
A poster wrote to the Harp-l internet mailing list today to say that his band is doing a lot of stuff in A minor, he’s been playing these tunes in 3rd position on a G harp, and he’d like to try something else to freshen…
Video of the Day 31 August 2011: George Schroeter and Marc Breitfelder at Bluesfest Eutin 2011
Schroeter (piano) and Breitfelder (harp) lay down a very cool slow blues on this number. Breitfelder’s tone and lines are equally beautiful. So far as I can tell, he’s playing a low F harp in 3rd position. Don’t know if Breitfelder was influenced by Charlie…
Video of the Day 28 Aug 2011: Magic Dick/Whammer Jammer Live 8 Feb 2008
The classic harmonica boogie blues played to perfection by the originator. Every harmonica player has listened to this piece, and most have attempted to play at least some of it. The only version I know of that competes with this one is a jaw-dropping 18…
In Peace
“In Peace” is a simple song with a beautiful sound: two Melody Maker harmonicas overlaid via loop recording, both played through a Fireball V mic into a Digitech RP355 running my FBAROT patch, which consists of a Bassman amp model with a rotating speaker effect….
Lo Rider Solo (with Looper and 3 Digitech RPs)
I recorded this Lee Oskar song, one of my favorite jam platforms, live into my Zoom H4 at the same rehearsal where I recorded It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry. All the parts except the percussion loop are played…
Gear Review: A Tale of Two Loopers
I’ve been using the Digitech JamMan Solo looper pedal for some time now. Last week Zzounds.com offered a B-stock JamMan Stereo looper for 2/3 of the normal retail price, and I picked one up while I had the chance. This review describes some of the…
What Keeps Me Listening
I hang out on a couple of harmonica Internet mailing lists. And every once in a while someone writes in to say that some traditional recording or other represents the best that anyone could do, ever. Maybe comments like that are just an appreciation of…
