Tag: Grant Dermody

Categories
Blog Recommended Artists & Recordings

Grant Dermody’s got a Chicago Blues house party going on in Seattle tonight

Even when it's fancy, it's fun

We just got notice from our friend and harmonica player extraordinaire Grant Dermody, whose standard-setting record “Sun Might Shine on Me” was reviewed on this blog not long ago, that he’s playing a Chicago Blues party tonight in Seattle. Here are the specifics, straight from Grant:
***
Hey all!
I’m doing a house concert this coming Saturday!
It’s going to be a maximum groove/minimum volume Chicago Blues blowout with
Tim Sherman-guitar
Mark Dalton-bass
Conrad Ormsby-drums
Grant Dermody-harmonica.

It’s going to be a blast!!!

Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 PM in PDT
3945 South Edmunds Street Seattle WA 98118
***

If I was in Seattle I’d be there. If you’re in Seattle, you oughta be. Tell Grant I sent you.

Categories
Blog Recommended Artists & Recordings

Grant Dermody’s “Sun Might Shine on Me” Sets the New Standard for Acoustic Roots Harmonica Records

Even when it's fancy, it's fun

grantdermody I’ve been listening to Grant Dermody’s latest release, Sun Might Shine On Me, for the last couple of days. It’s a brilliantly produced work that presents the listener with lovingly rendered performances of traditional American music and original pieces in traditional styles. For harmonica players, the record offers what amounts to a catalog of essential acoustic harmonica techniques, applied with plenty of guts and smarts to great emotional effect. In short–and there will be more details in this review, but let’s say it now–this record sets the new standard for harp-focused traditional acoustic music.

Continue reading “Grant Dermody’s “Sun Might Shine on Me” Sets the New Standard for Acoustic Roots Harmonica Records”
Categories
Blog Recommended Artists & Recordings

So many records, so little time

Even when it's fancy, it's fun

In the last couple of months, I have been privileged to acquire a huge stack of harmonica records from some of the best players in the world. Mike Stevens, the mind-boggling Canadian virtuoso, dropped a stack of 5 CDs on me that include styles ranging from bluegrass to rock to African. (Yes, I know there’s more than one style of African music, but I’m not knowledgeable enough about all those styles to name them accurately.) Peter Ruth sent me a couple of CDs; Scott Albert Johnson sent me his latest, which is truly a new, compelling take on rock harmonica. And acoustic harp monster Grant Dermody is about to drop his latest on me. Sheesh. Too many great records, not enough time to review them all at once.

So stay tuned for a batch of reviews coming soon to this site, starting with Scott Albert Johnson’s. By the way, if you like rock music and harmonica, just go out and buy Scott’s record right now. I’ve listened to it about 4 or 5 times straight through, and it’s one of the most original takes on rock harmonica that I’ve heard in years. My formal review will be more detailed than that, but that’s the advice.