Music To Listen To

Check out this original composition written by me with a little help from my friends. 

Lead VOX and Harmonica (of course): Kinya Pollard

Guitar and Backup VOX: Tom Landry (I've know this dude for over 60 years!)

Bass: Colby Pollard (my Baby Bro)

Drums: Terry Carleton (we were in the same HS rock band)

Producer: Bobby Bradley (nephew of Nashville legend, Owen Bradley)

LINK:

https://harpsmith.com/soundcloud

A short time ago David sent me a transcription he'd done back in 2005, of a chromaic tune recorded by Lee McBee (1951-2014), entitled "Twelve Hours From You."

Geat number, but I knew nothing about McBee. So I checked him out. He's catagorized as "regional," having spent most of his career based his home state of Missouri, but he also spent time in Los Angeles (where he recorded with Bonnie Raitt), and more importantly in Dallas TX, where he sang and played with Mike Morgan and the Crawl. continue reading...

Any question whether or not Marion "Little Walter" Jacobs still resonates today? Lately I've been replaying two great CDs: Mark Hummel's 2013 Blind Pig recording, "Remembering Little Walter" and Dennis Gruenling's 2008 BackBender CD "I Just Keep Lovin' Him." A who's-who of contemporary blues harp players on each. Marvelous stuff!

Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/6Sp6f4dI7Y0

I just saw Gary at the Sierra Valley Grange Cowboy Poetry Show. 

He played solo guitar and sang with a harmonica rack. If you're interested in this style check him out.

 Here's Gary playing "Every Silver Lining"

https://youtu.be/Sqx_bfS8xZg

"Big Harp George" Bisharat has a new CD out, Cut My Spirit Loose. Fabulous stuff, recorded at Greaseland, and featuring some of your favorite musicians, including June Core, D'Mar Martin, Kid Andersen, Michael Peloquin, etc.

As many of you know, while he started on blues harp at a young age, at one point not that many years ago George took lessons from David, and then took off like a rocket.

George is a master of the chromatic, playing blues in various keys and positions on the C chromatic. He's also an insightful songwriter. continue reading...

Who here has favorite holiday-themed blues tunes?

Among mine: "Back Door Santa" and "Merry Christmas Baby." The former first recorded by Clarance Carter and the latter by Amos Milburn, but I was inspired by BB King's version of each to sing and play harp on each as a guest at a band's show this past Saturday, and at a blues jam on Sunday.

Other favorites include another BB King hit, "Blue Decorations," and one that was playing on an office lobby Muzak playlist yesterday, Chuck Berry's "Run Run Rudolf!" Maybe I'll work those up for next year.

How about your favorites? continue reading...

Not sure if I am in the right Forum. Can anyone recommend a good website/ App for Backing Tracks?

Thanks

Recently released: James Harman Band, "Sparks Flying: Live in 1992." Harman live in Tamines, Belgium. 30 years ago! Wonderfully done by JSP Records of the UK. With excellent liner notes written by Mark Hummel shortly after Harmon passed away last year. Well worth a listen. (And available from our good friend of the blues, Charlie Lange, at www.bluebeatmusic.com.)

Here's a cut from The Dig 3's new album featuring Ronnie Shellist.

https://youtu.be/lRGez5QcZ3M