I've only had a few listens so far but it's a killer album.
It's a real treat to hear the contrast between their individual styles and tone (sometimes within the same tune). The sidemen and "Greaseland" sound and production quality really give it an edge too IMO.
I think it's must have album if you're a blues harp player..
---------- 4' 4+ 3' 2~~~ -Mike Ziemba Harmonica is Life!
It certainly breaks no new ground, and I guess one could call it fairly un-adventurous: it´s one twelve bar after another the whole thing through. I for one would have like a few surprises mixed in with the lot. That being said, it´s traditional blues harp, relaxed playing -- no high velocity excersises --, at high level. Really solid, and great amplifier sounds all over. Great relaxed backing as well. So if you want more of that -- and I mean "Blues harmonica straight up" -- it´s a safe bet.
I don't have my copy yet but today I noticed on YT most all of the album has been uploaded. If like me you want to hear trad Chicago/west coast blues harp then this is great with an emphasis on the three harps imitating the horn section on some tracks. Ok it does not really kick in any new doors for modern blues harmonica but its three very good players who are also friends and mentors to each other really playing their hearts out and preserving a great style of blues harmonica!
Got my copy a couple of days ago, great stuff. Awesome playing by three tone monsters. I agree that is mostly traditional material, but as far as not breaking new ground, the “horn section” sounds pretty new and innovative to me. Can’t think of many other examples. Mark Ford and Andy Just come to mind. Any others out there?
While I was part of the Cambridge Harmonica Orchestra, where none of the harmonica was ever played thru an amp, playing like a horn section was quite common. To get this right, your time can't EVER suck, you'd HAVE to know theory, and ALL of your bends and/or overblows HAVE to be dead on accurate. It helps also if you've spent time actually gigging with horn sections and you HAVE to be listening very carefully to EVERYTHING, something many harp players are horrible at, plus you can't EVER let yourself get intimidated one bit. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
