Music To Listen To

Many of you may have noted lists of books that David recommends as part of his teaching. I've now read two that he likes, both by author Daniel Coyle: The Talent Code (Bantam Books 2009) and The Little Book of Talent (Bantam Books 2012). A lot of fascinating - and immediately applicable - information about how our brains work, how we learn, and how we can get the most out of practicing anything, including harmonica. Available in many public libraries, or wherever books are sold (and give your local independant bookseller a shot before going to an on-line retailer).

If you want to be amazed for four CDs worth of time: "The Original Sonny Boy Williamson, Volume 1," from JSP Records in the UK. John Lee Williamson, aka Sonny Boy No. 1. Order it from Charlie at BlueBeat Records in Santa Cruz CA. You won't be sorry!

For some one-chord boogie groove fun, compare his performance of this tune on the 1967 Vanguard album "Stand Back!: Here Comes Charley [sic] Musselwhite's South Side Band" with his performance on the 2009 Henrietta Records "Rough Dried: Live at Triple Door" CD. Love the harp solos, but also love how between age 22 and age 64 his voice actually got younger!

On recomendation from the SPAH session about Billy Boy Arnold, I picked up the Jasmine Records "Billy Boy Arnold - Come Back Baby, I Wish You Would" CD (from Charlie at Bluebeatmusic.com, of course). 21 recordings from the Cool, Checker and Vee-Jay days, 1953-57. With folks like Bo Diddley, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Henry Gray, Fred Below, Sunnyland Slim, et al. Great stuff here. Got to see Arnold as part of one of Mark Hummel's blowout shows just a couple of years ago. He'll turn 86 come Sep. 16th, and may be the last surviving Chicago great from his era.

Nothing new here, but I made a YouTube playlist with the songs included in the Hal Leonard book "Blues Harmonica Collection". which includes the transcription of 40 tunes but of course provides no audio recordings. continue reading...

I recently bought a copy of Phil Wiggins' & Frank Matheis' fascinating book, "Sweet Bitter Blues" (University Press of Mississippi 2020), and figured I'd better add some Cephas & Wiggins CDs to my collection. (Thanks, Charlie, at Bluebeat Records.) Wiggins is a great example of tasteful accompaniment playing.

Im a agreat Feetwood Mac fan so really enjoyed this redition by Jasson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mdiMGOk25o

Of late I've been listening to a lot of Big Harp George (Bisharat), out of SF. Four great CDs with wonderful chromatic work, but beyond that, crack-up topical lyrics. (And his CDs feature the cream of the crop of Bay Area musicians, including the late Charles "Little Charlie" Baty.) David directed me to his Recording lesson no. 4, sec. 2, with a multi-part interview with Bisharat, done 5-6 years ago when Bisharat was one of David's students, and had just released his first CD.

I was listening to accompany study 1 and Buddy Greene mentioned another player that influenced him. Could you give me his name i was not able to get the name?

Thanks

The Mills Brothers perform "Basin Street Blues & Up The Lazy River".

https://youtu.be/_ocsnsUabWQ