I'd like this to be an annual thread, with contributions from all who care to contribute. If I'd had the space, I would have called the thread "non-blues-harp music I'm currently listening to." The point is simply to share our musical passions. Some of this music might well be stuff that, although not blues harmonica music, inspires us and makes us want to cover it ON harmonica.
My own current passion falls into that category: Mocean Worker. I guess you'd say that he falls into the "jazz lounge / electronica / drum-bass" area--and those are three slightly different areas. He takes samples from old jazz records and throws them on top of drum/bass loops. My first musical love was old jazz records, thanks to my dad's collection, and I'm also a fan these days of somewhat repeetive, rhythm-heavy stuff. So this stuff hit me hard. It was like coming home.
I'd like to create some stuff in the Mocean Worker vein. I'm going to suggest to my guitar man that we try to do that.
"Right Now" was the track that I heard in a local Panera. I jumped out of my seat and asked the girl behind the counter whether she could tell me the name of the song.
Then I went to Pandora and created a Mocean Worker station. (Streaming is good when it allows us to discover new music this way.) This next one came up.
I immediately bought both tracks.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Feb 28, 2015 11:50 AM
I'm listening & being challenged by a lot of bluegrass music. The bluegrass scene is very alive with a young following here. Loads of opportunities for the harmonica in bluegrass. Am inspired by these vids:-
There is not enough space in this thread for me to post all the non-blues music I am currently listening too. But artists I'm currently spinning a lot include Cold War Kids (new album is killer), Lady Lamb the Beekeeper (she's awesome), Future Islands, Glass Animals, Until the Ribbon Breaks, Cubworld, Odesza, Current Swell, Borns, Portugal. the Mand, and Hanni El Khatib. ----------
I'm fascinated by minimalism...also, very slow tempos.
Portishead...check out guitar solo...
Cowboy Junkies (w/little bit of harmonica)
To play at steady slow tempos, wide open arrangements and skeletal solos is harder to do than dense sound w/lotsa notes, fast solos.
It puts the artist out there almost completely naked and walking a fine line. My idea of a good time! ---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Mar 02, 2015 2:27 PM
Brushy One-String singing/playing "Chicken in the Corn." If you haven't heard this, you will be entranced. Seven million views on YouTube. The lowest-tech Big Hit music video you've ever seen. One string, one camera, and a voice!
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Mar 02, 2015 7:12 PM
There were a few things I found interesting about the Lake Street Dive performance. They all studied music formally at the New England Conservatory, the lead guitar doubled on trumpet, his comping the vocalist with the trumpet was superb and something to take note of and learn from. He did not play a lot of notes but the tone an expression fit the piece and complemented the singing.
Last Edited by STME58 on Mar 03, 2015 5:22 PM
