kudzurunner
4927 posts
Sep 04, 2014
5:05 PM
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Now it gets interesting! Make lists and/or nominate players for clear consideration: frontmen who blow blues harp and sing blues and do both things, considered together, better than anybody else in the world. They've got to do both thing very, very well, 50% of your vote (more or less) to each thing. Heavy-duty blues singers and heavy-duty players.
In this case, when I say "living," I'm talking about what they can do if put on a stage right NOW--which is to say, James Cotton doesn't make the list, because his voice is shot. Dennis doesn't make the list because he doesn't sing.
Here are a few who would be on my list:
Mitch Kashmar
John Nemeth
Sugar Blue
James Harman
Kim Wilson
Sugar Ray Norcia
Billy Branch
John Hammond, Jr.
Those are the only players who immediately make my list. I'd suggest that every one of these players passes the three-second test AS A SINGER: you recognize the voice the moment you hear it, assuming you're already passably familiar with the player's voice.
By that last criterion, the three-second vocals test, Rod Piazza and Rick Estrin should clearly also be on this list, and Tad Robinson, strikes me as a possible outside favorite, but I'm reserving judgment until I see who else you-all throw up for consideration.
Edited to add: I can't say I'm a huge fan of Hammond's singing, but it's slowly become apparent to me that his first-position rack-harp playing is remarkably distinctive and original, so that it passes the three-second test with flying colors. He is a powerful and unique vocal stylist. His singing was controversial when he first hit the scene in the mid-1960s--it struck some reviewers as slightly hysterical and affected--but there is no question that he can still throw down, and has been throwing down for 50 years.
What about Taj Mahal? He scores a pure 100 as a vocalist, in my book. Is his harp playing good enough to put him on this list? (Keb' Mo's harmonica playing is NOT good enough to put him on this list.)
Edited to add: I meant to include Kim Wilson in my original list. Several folks below named him; I've gone back and added him.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Sep 04, 2014 8:20 PM
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harpoon_man
76 posts
Sep 04, 2014
5:37 PM
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Good thread as singing probably connects with the average listener more than anyone else.
I would add Kim Wilson...and I'll have to think about others.
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pharpo
744 posts
Sep 04, 2014
5:42 PM
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Kim Wilson and Rod Piazza come to mind.
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Procrastinator Emeritus
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Frank
5216 posts
Sep 04, 2014
5:57 PM
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Steve Marriner
Mark Weiner
Studebaker John
Al Blake
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 04, 2014 5:59 PM
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atty1chgo
1108 posts
Sep 04, 2014
6:12 PM
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Curtis Salgado - Nobody better right now.
Sugar Blue - deceivingly good vocalist, great range
John Nemeth - range and power, strong contender for the top
Kim Wilson - great voice, distinctive phrasing
Billy Boy Arnold - classic vocalist
Sonny Boy Terry - underrated, strong vocalist
Johnny Sansone - underrated, powerful, and distinctive
Last Edited by atty1chgo on Sep 04, 2014 6:38 PM
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harpdude61
2101 posts
Sep 04, 2014
6:20 PM
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Love Johnny Sansone! Terry Bean too.
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eharp
2214 posts
Sep 04, 2014
6:34 PM
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Guy Davis
Rick Estrin
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atty1chgo
1109 posts
Sep 04, 2014
7:25 PM
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Also Charlie Sayles and Billy Branch. I hesitated with Billy because his harp skills surpass his vocals, but he is a strong singer.
Omar Coleman is a very good harp player, but his vocal skills are markedly greater than his harp playing IMHO.
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kudzurunner
4928 posts
Sep 04, 2014
8:16 PM
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Curtis Salgado: agreed.
Studebaker John: definitely worth throwing into the mix.
Billy Boy Arnold: absolutely in the running. (Has been discussed for HCH headliner next time, whenever that is......)
Terry Bean and Charlie Sayles: played the first and second HCH respectively. Love 'em both. Hard choices ahead. If we factor in "frontman charisma," Sayles easily makes the list.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Sep 04, 2014 8:18 PM
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kudzurunner
4929 posts
Sep 04, 2014
8:19 PM
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Sorry, everybody! I meant to put Kim Wilson on the list. He's absolutely there. I'm adding him in right now.
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Little roger
17 posts
Sep 04, 2014
9:35 PM
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I think RJ could appear on this list. Vocals and harp equally strong.
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Mirco
198 posts
Sep 04, 2014
10:40 PM
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Maybe because I'm a West coast guy, and I see them all the time, but Rick Estrin definitely belongs on the list and Gary Smith needs strong consideration.
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yonderwall
76 posts
Sep 05, 2014
4:27 AM
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Steve Guyger.
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kudzurunner
4931 posts
Sep 05, 2014
4:51 AM
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So here are 12, for consistency's sake with atty1chgo's Top-12 living blues harp players list:
Mitch Kashmar
John Nemeth
Sugar Blue
James Harman
Kim Wilson
Sugar Ray Norcia
Billy Branch
Rick Estrin
Rod Piazza
Curtis Salgado
Charlie Sayles
Watermelon Slim
I've taken Hammond off the list to make space for all five of the players at the tail end of the list.
A word about Sayles and Slim. They are both on the list for a specific reason: I believe that they, more than any other players I can name, are at the very top of the list of solo harp guys: players who can stand at a vocal mic with a harp in their hand and throw down, vocals and unamped harp.
Having seen him do this in Clarksdale, I believe that Watermelon Slim is the best in the world at this: the most dynamic and powerful solo player/singer, deep in the tradition of Peg Leg Sam, Sonny Terry, and others. Charlie Sayles is a half-step behind but is still right at the top. Both men are spellbinding in that context. Harp and vocals are in absolute synergy, and the groove is a living thing. That's why they're on this list.
This is certainly just one man's opinion, and only seven or eight of these players are sure things for me. I certainly like other players who have been mentioned, including
Billy Boy Arnold
RJ Mischo
Steve Guyger
Gary Smith
Studebaker John
Johnny Sansone
John Hammond, Jr.
Terry Bean
Mark Wenner
I prefer Keb' Mo' to Guy Davis--they're both singer/guitarists who blow a little harp--but neither of them, for me, rises to the necessary level as a harp player.
I don't know Steve Marriner's work well enough to judge. Somebody please provide clips!
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SuperBee
2186 posts
Sep 05, 2014
5:02 AM
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Estrin' s a great harp player no doubt, but I don't recall ever being impressed by his singing. Maybe I ought go back and listen some more...I think he's a great frontman, but I really can't say I've ever thought about his singing as strong.. Distinctive I guess, but that's not really the same thing in my book...
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eharp
2215 posts
Sep 05, 2014
5:04 AM
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I was giving Guy Davis bigger points for his singing than his harp playing.
You're right, Adam. If I continued with that thinking, Steven Tyler would make the list.
Watermelon Slim is a great pic.
I am finding it odd the John Popper isn't getting mentioned.
His name usually surfaces on lists when it is just harp skills being considered. And he has pretty good range as a singer, you would think this category was made for him.
And Junior Wells, too!
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SuperBee
2187 posts
Sep 05, 2014
5:14 AM
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Wells doesn't qualify in the 'living' category of course...
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SuperBee
2188 posts
Sep 05, 2014
5:15 AM
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And I dare say popper doesn't cut it for the 'blues' requirement..
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eharp
2216 posts
Sep 05, 2014
5:41 AM
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My bad on Wells.
Comes from listening to a couple of his albums this morning.
I agree Popper aint blues, but he always comes up on these types of lists.
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Goldbrick
668 posts
Sep 05, 2014
6:16 AM
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Wison
Oscher
Estrin
And in the pop/blues category
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gutbucket
9 posts
Sep 05, 2014
9:44 AM
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steve guyger absolutely top notch in both categories
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sonny3
207 posts
Sep 05, 2014
12:17 PM
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Madcat and Mooncat also Charlie Sayles and yes Taj Mahal belongs for his harp playing.
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mr_so&so
861 posts
Sep 05, 2014
12:24 PM
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Nobody's mentioned Charlie Musselwhite. He's got some good pipes too. Ok, maybe not top ten, but certainly respectable:
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Last Edited by mr_so&so on Sep 10, 2014 1:05 PM
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sean
4 posts
Sep 05, 2014
12:25 PM
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Steve West Weston
Lyndon Anderson
John Nemeth
Kim Wilson
Rod Piazza
Rick Estrin
Mitch Kashmar
Sugar Blue
Aki Kumar
James Harman
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Mirco
199 posts
Sep 05, 2014
9:25 PM
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No one's mentioned Bruce Willis yet?
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slackwater
79 posts
Sep 06, 2014
2:32 AM
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Chris Wilson...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pZ2SLTajOvc
P.S. I copied and pasted the url thingy on the pootube, I mean youtube, video but all that pasted was , the url.
Anyway, anyone who's interested can look for themselves. Just search Chris Wilson.
Last Edited by slackwater on Sep 06, 2014 2:36 AM
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SuperBee
2189 posts
Sep 06, 2014
3:26 AM
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chris wilson is fantastic. last saw him opening for john mayall in 2010. i preferred his set to mayall's, by a long chalk...especially as a singing harp player.
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kudzurunner
4934 posts
Sep 06, 2014
6:00 AM
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Steve Marriner is a great suggestion. I've gone looking for videos. Powerful player and singer.
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kudzurunner
4935 posts
Sep 06, 2014
6:03 AM
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Here's the Chris Wilson video. Technically he's not quite as good as Steve Marriner, either singing or playing. (He's strictly a lip-purser, and he doesn't always nail the blues pitches.) But I think he's a more original vocal stylist.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Sep 06, 2014 6:05 AM
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slackwater
80 posts
Sep 07, 2014
7:38 PM
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Taste is a funny thing kudzurunner.
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MN
339 posts
Sep 08, 2014
4:36 AM
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I'd nominate a couple other guys from Texas: Randy McAllister and Delbert McClinton.
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SuperBee
2190 posts
Sep 08, 2014
6:19 AM
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i wonder how close ian collard is:
Last Edited by SuperBee on Sep 08, 2014 6:26 AM
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The Iceman
2026 posts
Sep 08, 2014
6:24 AM
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Cleveland based Mr. Downchild and Dave Morrison.
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The Iceman
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Philosofy
598 posts
Sep 08, 2014
6:42 AM
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Out of Rhode Island, Dave Howard (he did a stint with Roomfull of Blues.)
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kudzurunner
4939 posts
Sep 08, 2014
7:56 AM
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I wasn't familiar with Dave Howard. Beautiful singer! Not a strong enough harp player, though, to make this list.
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kudzurunner
4940 posts
Sep 08, 2014
7:59 AM
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Now Ian Collard: he is definitely in this conversation. Where have these players been hiding? Thanks for posting those videos. It's the Little Walter cover that impresses me. He's a better singer than Little Walter.
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HawkeyeKane
2602 posts
Sep 08, 2014
10:21 AM
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I know he's not classified in the blues genre, but he IS more than capable of it. Huey Lewis is a damn fine blues harp player, and still to this day has a voice all his own, full of smoky soul. It's no wonder they had him narrate PFOS.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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gmacleod15
238 posts
Sep 08, 2014
5:40 PM
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I think Guy Davis must stay in the list. He sings, plays guitar and harp on a rack that sounds big and full on the low end and precise on the high end. I have only ever seen him play solo...he will hold your attention.
Not to mention the multiple albums and movie work.
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MBH member since 2009-03-24
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BronzeWailer
1437 posts
Sep 09, 2014
3:10 AM
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@SuperBee. You may be interested to know that Jim Conway shares your opinion of Ian Collard. At least he reckons he is the cream of the current Aussie harp players.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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SuperBee
2191 posts
Sep 09, 2014
5:45 AM
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Jim is no slouch either! Not so sure about his vocals though...
(Jim was my 2nd ever harp tutor, over the phone. 1 lesson. Sent me back to bending school)
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groyster1
2670 posts
Sep 09, 2014
8:12 AM
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it seems with all the great harp players out there today that it would be very difficult to be making out all these lists...I have my own top 10 of all time....they set the pole vault bar very high and said top it if you can....maybe some have but its very arguable....I am very much in support of young players like alex paclin or Brandon bailey who are out there keeping the ball rollin`...just sayin`
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Frank
5241 posts
Sep 09, 2014
8:12 AM
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Johnny Hewitt...he has a pretty large you tube presence of some great ear opening work along with his duo partner Tommy Allen.
Wes Weston was mentioned earlier and he too can deliver a massive supply of fine brewed vocal and harp blues :)
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 09, 2014 8:15 AM
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barbequebob
2696 posts
Sep 09, 2014
9:58 AM
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Surprised that no one has mentioned Darrell Nulisch here, who fronted Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets before Sam Myers did.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Kingley
3693 posts
Sep 09, 2014
10:32 AM
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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Billy Gibson either.
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BronzeWailer
1439 posts
Sep 09, 2014
4:15 PM
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@SuperBee. Jim was dissed by fellow band members when he first tried singing all those years ago (by his account). He hasn't been game to do it since, expect for backing vocals on some songs. (His voice, singing and humming, is always dead on pitch, so there's no reason he couldn't have done it.) He also said that he thought vocals were the weakness in a lot of Aussie blues bands-which prompted me to (a) keep trying to sing and (b) take singing lessons.
I am getting off topic so will leave it there...
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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bigd
545 posts
Sep 09, 2014
6:37 PM
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I 2nd Billy G. as way up there - energy, unique playing, dancing vocals, and audience engagement - affable too!
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Frank
5253 posts
Sep 10, 2014
3:38 AM
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Billy's ( mic/amp set up) in that "one more time" video was ON FIRE...You can hear how HOT that combo is - he breathes 3 inches from it and it sounds like a lion roaring. You have to be a great player to tame that tone like he did... that is a powerful sound he got going there - top shelf player for sure - he's his own man and got style to spare ..GREAT!
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Frank
5255 posts
Sep 10, 2014
6:14 AM
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Big Pete can get the job done right :)
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GamblersHand
526 posts
Sep 10, 2014
12:23 PM
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Ben Henandez is a good singer. Maybe a little affected, but soulful. Harp-playing isn't from the top drawer so probably doesn't make the cut
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Frank
5294 posts
Sep 12, 2014
8:22 AM
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