This new video came across my desk this morning and seemed worth sharing here. Milteau is a legend, of course, but even legends have a choice of what to do with their talents as they move into later phases of their careers. I don't know his playing well--I couldn't name, for example, the songs he's best known for--but I saw him live once back in the late 1980s, over in Paris, and remember him as a speedster with not quite as much blues in his playing as I'd hoped to see.
[Edited to add: If you're a fan of Milteau's and can enlighten me/us about the specifics of his career-long achievement, including his most important/memorable records, please use this thread to do that.]
He seems to have mellowed as he's aged, and I'm impressed by his willingness to mix it up with the youngsters--very much like Charlie Musselwhite with Ben Harper. I'm also impressed by his restraint here. His current aesthetic is NOT a speedster's aesthetic. It's more about leaving space between phrases, letting the music demand "More harp now, please!", then supplying something unexpected. It's not heavy blues, but it's very musical, thoughtful, spontaneous. Three or four songs are excerpted in this video, as best I can tell, and they show his range:
Last Edited by kudzurunner on May 11, 2013 4:46 AM
Hope you get a little more reponse than I did when recently posting this vid :) Nice though rather subdued playing from JJ here, I enjoyed it though. I am a big fan of his work which encompasses a variety of styles and is now heavily melodically based and not so much raw blues. I know there are some big JJ long term fans on the forum who would be more able to provide detailed info. ---------- My MBH Profile
I like JJ Milteau and have listened to a fair amount of his stuff over the years. My personal favourites are his double Live CD and Memphis. Like Grey Owl says he "encompasses a variety of styles and is now heavily melodically based". He probably won't be to a lot of peoples taste as he's not rooted in the Chicago/West Coast sound. Whilst many "modernists" might not like him as he isn't a jazz effected overblow player. What I imagine though is that someone like JJ Milteau would probably appeal to a far wider audience than many blues harmonica players would.
I can't that I'm overly impressed by the 24pesos band he's recording with here though. Their sound seems quite generic blues rock to my ear. Obviously they are good at what they do, but I don't hear anything particularly "modern" or original in their sound.
It's a common myth that all pro harp players struggle to make a living and are poor. JJ has recorded soundtracks for movies and TV shows as well as being a session player, gigging and teaching. Then of course there are CD sales as well. It all adds up.
Last Edited by Kingley on May 11, 2013 7:43 AM
I'm a huge JJ Milteau fan. Sometimes finding his albums in the US is a problem, but he has lots of great albums depending on what style of music you are after.
Blues Harp and Blues Live 1 and 2 - originals, covers, and tribute songs
Blue 3rd - probably my favorite, blues but with a bit more jazzy feel and some experimental stuff (harmonica and tuba duet) Reminds me a bit of some Lyle Lovett stuff, probably because of the singer.
Harmonicas is the name of a 2 disc set that is a great introduction to his range.
Another fun on is called American Heritage with Maneul Galvin which is almost like a American Roots/blues study album. 34 tracks with JJ on 20 of them.
Most recently, they're rereleasing two albums with a third album of harmonica influences under the name Blowin' in the Past. Don't have this one...yet.
Here's the list of other players on his handpicked CD. From his website:
"To make things more tasty I added one CD with 27 harp players who build the history of our modest and wonderful instrument all along the XX century. Maybe you missed some of them?"
Slim Harpo
Howlin' Wolf
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Little Walter
Junior Wells
Doctor Ross
Harmonica Frank Floyd
Wayne Raney
Forest City Joe
Snooky Pryor
Buster Brown
Frank Edwards
Robert Lee McCoy
Rhythm Willie
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Lost John
Sonny Terry
Daddy Stovepipe
Buddy Moss
Will Shade
Alfred Lewis
Blues Birdhead
Vernon Dalhart
Eddie Mapp
DeFord Bailey
Noah Lewis
The Five Harmaniacs
Last Edited by AW on May 11, 2013 7:35 AM
Milteau is very melodic player now. He is very popular and influential player in Ukraine and Russia. I think that's because he plays in variety of styles : blues, soul, irish,country, various folk music. My favourite his albums are : - "blues harp" - stuff from 80s - "blue third" - very cool recording with Gil Scott Heron on vocals - "Bastille Blues" - all instrumental album with book of transcriptions and backing tracks. He covered here a lot of styles where harp can be used. - "Routes" very famous album with cool tunes and genres mix. - "Memphis" - soul blues with Little Milton, Mighty Sam Mclain etc - "Fragile" - in a style of "ROutes" but this is late work of Milteau
I think the most popular his tunes in Russia and Ukraine are: Marcelle & Marcel, Sailor and the maid, Hook, Boogie Mix ( a la James Cotton) ---------- my music
Last Edited by wheel on May 11, 2013 9:02 AM
People like what they like, but I wouldn´t recommend "Blues harp" as representative of JJM´s playing. He´s moved way beyond that very hard, un-swinging rock-blues idiom -- but of course, the harp plying per se is, as always, excellent.
"Routes" can be a bit hard to get but it´s a very fine and versatile demonstration of what the diatonica harmonica can do. Still, 18 years later, his greatest record. (I own his entire output.)
@harmonicanick: We´ll just have to agree to disagree on the value of "Blues harp" -- but I´d say that he shows that kind of dexterity on "Routes" as well, and in a much nicer framing.
The "now" aspect is certainly not covered by "Routes",from -94 or -95, he´s much more laid back these days. Perhaps a bit too much.
@harmonicanick: And I´m sorry to say now that I checked that the cd appears to (still!) be out of print -- and not on Spotify either. Some of the tracks from it are on "Harmonicas" but it´s a pity his best record isn´t widely available.
I recall that Ben Felten (don´t know if he´s on this list?) told me several years ago that "Routes" was something of a commercial failure, so that´s the un-surprising reason. (So much for public opinion!)
Hey Grey Owl....That JJ sound link was Soulful. How can I get that particular recording? And also how do you embed a song like that: quite elegant! d ---------- Facebook
JJ Milteau is one of those masters who make me want to pick up and try new things. Howard Levy is , by general consensus, the Big Dog for command of technique and speed, but Milteau rivals him in many respects. In many respects, I prefer him over Levy. His tone is warmer, his runs are cleaner, and his use of overblows seems quite a bit more sweeter. He doesn't squawk or squeak as Levy sometimes does. He also has a superb rhythmic sense; on the beat, before the beat, after the beat, he knows how to create interesting in his phrases, even at accelerated tempos. I wasn't blown away by the session with 24 Pesos, though. They are a better than average blues band, great live , I suppose, who didn't seem to have much for Milteau to do. His tone was a sharp and thin to my ears and what he did play seemed cursory rather than full contributions. I've heard him play blues that would break a miser's heart; this wasn't one of those times. Fantastic musician, though. ---------- Ted Burke http://www.youtube.com/user/TheoBurke?feature=mhee