play harmonica

Interviews Reviews - Shows 

Charlie Musselwhite (Part I) – Komedia, Brighton, 18th November 2008

The Good Doctor 1 Comment , , ,

What was all the fuss about?

According to the display of fading gig tickets on the Harp Surgery wall, it was July 1991 when I last saw Charlie Musselwhite live at the Town & Country 2 in Highbury, North London. Charlie’s backing band opened that night with a fabulous rendition of Little Milton’s ‘Hey, Hey, The Blues Is All Right’, while his silver harp case stood open on a table at the front of the stage – a statement of the maestro’s intent. The backing band had the house revved up and jumping. Once he took the stage however, Charlie’s performance proved uninspiring. Accepted, he had flown in from the USA only hours earlier, but amidst his clever display of positional playing and monotone vocals, I grew bored. The band soldiered on but I left early, thinking to myself, ‘what was all the fuss about?’

In the months that followed, I occasionally gave Charlie’s records a spin. More through a sense of duty than as a genuine fan. Each time I concluded this was a white guy who came from the right southern state, had entered the Chicago blues scene at the right time and mixed with the right blues luminaries, but who’s musical contribution was inconsistent, if not over-rated. It just didn’t bounce. The records went back in their sleeves and onto the pile. I still didn’t get him. (more…)

Harp Tips 

Crossing The Bridge

The Good Doctor 0 Comments , , , , ,

In cross-harp (2nd position) it is easy to limit your playing to blues patterns between holes 1 and 6. Accepted, some songs require this, focusing on the wealth of ‘low end’ bends, moods and tones. But what do we do with the ‘top end’ of the harp? It’s banjo country and it’s scary – you just don’t want to go there! This is because the tuning sequence changes in holes 7 to 10 and cross-harp patterns have to change with it. Those favoured low end formulae are rendered useless as everything seems to reverse or shift. Remember how mysterious the low end was when you first picked up the harp? Time, determination, experiment and the sense of adventure all spurred you on to greater things. Breaking into the top end is no different. So it’s back to school…

Stick with it – there’s fun and satisfaction to be had. In due course, 3rd position will have you skipping across the divide like a spring lamb, oblivious to worldly perils. For now, the first steps in linking the bottom and top ends are what we call ‘crossing the bridge’ exercises. Try out these helpful 2nd position licks:

(more…)

Reviews - Shows 

SaRon Crenshaw – Terra Blues, New York, 16th Oct 2008

The Good Doctor 9 Comments , , ,

We arrived at Terra Blues for the nightly acoustic set at about 7.30pm, not really knowing what to expect. What we discovered were two rare treasures. The first was the venue itself. We were instantly bowled over by its style and warmth. This place is charming and sophisticated, with mood lighting, a vaulted ceiling and candlelit tables. And teasing us from the stage, like a spotlit still life, was an empty chair, a red Lucille Gibson guitar signed by BB King and a silver-faced Fender Twin Reverb amplifier.

A few minutes later our second great find of the evening took the stage. SaRon Crenshaw is incredible. He has presence and rapport to match the likes of Luther Allison and Eric Bibb. His voice is the equal of any Atlantic soul singer – its richness, depth and expression is astonishing. His guitar work is comprehensively top drawer. (more…)

Harp Tab How Do They Do That? 

The Blues Band with Paul Jones – Flatfoot Sam

The Good Doctor 2 Comments , , , , , , , , ,

Flat Foot Sam bought an automobile

It was Blues at The Fort, Portsmouth 2007 and the Good Doctor was in the backstage marquee with The Elevators. Three years earlier he was playing the same gig with The Blackjacks. ‘Who else is on the bill tonight?’ he asked. ‘Eddie Martin is after us,’ came the reply, ‘and The Blues Band are headlining.’ The Good Doctor smiled at the news; an excellent evening’s harpoonery lay ahead.

Then the Good Doctor’s thoughts rolled back to 1979 and radio reports of a new blues band that was taking the country by storm, featuring Paul Jones, former front man of Manfred Mann. It was a time when Punk Rock and New Wave were peaking on the UK music scene and live music gigs were where you still went to be cool. No MTV, no internet, no DVDs. The erupting live music scene had belched forth a number of red hot R&B bands. The Blues Band, 9 Below Zero, The Inmates and The Cheaters to name a few.

 

A year later, amidst great media interest, The Blues Band took the stage at the 1980 Knebworth Festival. The Good Doctor was in the crowd with the ‘naughty botty’ gang, ready for a musical feast which also featured Lindisfarne, Elkie Brooks, Santana and The Beach Boys. It was a fabulous day compered by Richard Digence and the bands were exceptional. After the festival, one song in particular stuck in the Doctor’s mental jukebox – Flatfoot Sam by The Blues Band. It was his favourite track on their Bootleg LP and just as good performed live.

(more…)

Harp Tips 

Blow Bending… that ‘Mini-Gillespie’

The Good Doctor 0 Comments , , , ,

Ken had a very productive session this evening, learning how to blow bend. He reminded the Good Doctor the first blow bend on hole 10 is necessary to complete the upper major octave (doh-ray-me..):

7B 8D 8B 9D 9B 10D (first blow bend..) 10B’ 10B.

We read through the blow bend page from the Harp Surgery menu and put it into practice. With patience and one-to-one coaching, Ken had his first blow bend (8 hole on an A harp) nailed within ten minutes.

His feedback? Yippee! And the ‘Mini-Gillespie air cushion’ advice on the blow bend page was crucial.

Reviews - Shows 

Candy’s Blues Jam – The Cantab Lounge, Boston 9th July 2008

The Good Doctor 0 Comments , , ,

According to the logo, The Cantab Lounge was established in 1938. Don’t ask who by or what for, but do take it as read that this is Boston’s answer to Chicago’s Rosa’s Lounge. A 15 minute taxi ride from downtown Boston took the Good Doctor across the Charles River and into Cambridge, with MIT and Harvard keeping a watchful eye on his progress. Cruising up Mass Ave towards Central Square, he soon saw the Cantab lights and the billboard advertising music 7 nights a week.

Tuesday’s at The Cantab is Bluegrass nite. Judging by the literature, one sniff of harpoonery and you’d be invited to fall on your tin sandwich by the hillbilly praetorian guard. Other nights boast blues, jazz and rock (plus a poetry ‘slam’ in the bar downstairs), BUT… every Wednesday and Sunday night at 9pm is Candy’s Blues, Jazz and Rock Jam. And it’s free. Now that’s more like it.

The Good Doctor arrived on a Wednesday evening, complete with Chicago Toolkit and a pocket full of green beer tokens. He walked right in, autographed the guest list and took a seat at the bar, no messing. He asked round for Candy. Turned out Candy was a he, and was already on stage playing guitar leading the house band. A Heineken was hastily ordered. (more…)

Sign up for news and exclusive offers