Winslow Yerxa Interview

Winslow Yerxa is a harmonica player, performer, author, inventor, and teacher centered in San Francisco, California. His lifelong quest to understand the harmonica (and help others do the same) began early on, when he couldn't find a teacher and had to figure everything out the hard way. Winslow has authored the books Harmonica For Dummies and Blues Harmonica For Dummies and is a forum expert here are BluesHarmonica.com. Other notable writing activities include publishing the magazine HIP (Harmonica Information Press), transcribing John Popper's harmonica solos for publication, contributing to Howard Levy's “Out of the Box” instructional DVD and the Howard Levy Harmonica School, as well as writing a regular column for Mel Bay's online eZine HarmonicaSessions.com. As a performer, Winslow plays nearly every type of harmonica, in addition to composing, arranging and conducting. Currently he performs with the San Francisco Harmonica Ensemble, in a duo with violinist Tuula Tossavainen, and small acoustic ensembles. Winslow currently teaches at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, California and for the semi-annual gatherings of the Harmonica Collective. He has also taught at David Barrett's Harmonica Masterclass and Jon Gindick's Harmonica Jam Camp. Winslow is currently president of SPAH (the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica). This interview was held at School of the Blues in San Jose California in January of 2014.

Videos Include: Winslow’s Early Years, Part 1 - The Start; Winslow’s Early Years, Part 2 - Stylistic Approach; Winslow’s Early Years, Part 3 - SPAH; Winslow’s Early Years, Part 4 - HIP; Winslow’s Early Years, Part 5 – Discrete Comb: Bends & Overbends Defined; Winslow’s Early Years, Part 6 – Discrete Comb, XB40 and X-Reed Harmonicas; Winslow’s Approach to Tongue Blocking, Part 1; Winslow’s Approach to Tongue Blocking, Part 2; Winslow’s Approach to Bending, Part 1; Winslow’s Approach to Bending, Part 2; Winslow’s Approach to Blow Bending; Winslow’s Approach to Minor Playing, Part 1; Winslow’s Approach to Minor Playing, Part 2; Winslow’s Approach to Improvising; Importance of Music Theory to Winslow; Winslow’s Approach to Accompaniment Playing; Winslow’s Approach to 1st Position Playing; Winslow’s Approach to 3rd Position Playing; Winslow on other Styles and Positions; Winslow on the Chromatic Harmonica, Part 1: Tuning, Construction & Common Positions; Winslow on the Chromatic Harmonica, Part 2: Positions & Enharmonic Slide Usage; Winslow on the Bass Harmonica; Winslow on the Chord Harmonica and Harmonetta; Winslow on the Tremolo Harmonica; Closing to Winslow Yerxa Interview