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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > "Dirty Memory" Jason Ricci & JJ Appleton
"Dirty Memory" Jason Ricci & JJ Appleton
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Moon Cat
500 posts
May 26, 2015
11:23 PM
Hey everyone: Thank you all for the continued support! Some of you have seen a few videos of JJ Appleton and I and the entire record is finally out now on iTunes! Almost all 11 tunes are original save one, I only sing on two but when you hear JJ you'll know why! This is my 1st full length album involving/featuring myself since 2009: Dirty Memory is an acoustic collaboration with JJ Appleton featuring bassist Tim Lefebvre (Derek Trucks/SNL) and Neil Heidler (Eddie Harris). This is simply my favorite project I've ever done! So very proud of this one! Great engineers, great players and stripped down, bare bones playing... All live recording... All acoustic! JJ and I all be performing at Spah with Bassist Todd Edmonds of New Blood fame this coming August. Physical copies will be in stores and on tour dates with JJ and I or the Bad Kind! Thank you and check it out now on iTunes! Sincere Meow Meows Jason! A link to iTunes is provided on my website under "updates" or on my Facebook page or by searching JJ Appleton on iTunes.
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www.mooncat.org

Last Edited by Moon Cat on May 26, 2015 11:28 PM
Danny Starwars
189 posts
May 26, 2015
11:37 PM
Dude I had a listen to each track and will buy the hell out of it; a while back we had a discussion here about 'where is the perfect mix of the traditional and the modern in Blues harp'. It's you, right there on that album <3


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http://tinyurl.com/muchtcc


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Stevelegh
1017 posts
May 27, 2015
3:47 AM
Purchased.

Now I don't know if it would be an overstatement to use the word authentic, but the album very much embodies the Modern Blues Harmonica ethos. It sounds modern, but also very real, like a proper blues record.

Apologies if I'm sounding overly sentimental and gushy. I just really like the record.

Only thing I would say is that I miss liner notes and credits on real albums, but such is life in this new digital world.

I also feel that all harp players should be ordered by law to release notes on the song key, harp key, position and equipment used for all recordings. ;)

Last Edited by Stevelegh on May 27, 2015 4:24 AM
root
41 posts
May 27, 2015
7:36 AM
Jason- Will you have it for sale at your Ram'sHead tavern gig with Damon Fowler? I miss the liner notes when I get stuff off of itunes.-Greg
isaacullah
3014 posts
May 27, 2015
11:01 AM
Alas, I cannot hear the prview, nor buy the album. I'm on Linux, and cannot run the Quicktime player on the preview site. And I don't use iTunes either (Android phone), so have no way to purchase it. Will it be available via other outlets? (CD Baby, Google Play Store, Amazon, etc...)? I want to hear it!! :)
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Danny Starwars
190 posts
May 27, 2015
12:07 PM
@isaacullah here's a couple of tracks that will give you a taste for it:








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My YouTube Channel - Any Likes or Comments appreciated. :)

http://tinyurl.com/muchtcc


 photo me_zpst77cpzjm.jpg

Last Edited by Danny Starwars on May 27, 2015 12:12 PM
Stevelegh
1018 posts
May 27, 2015
12:10 PM
@DannyStarWars:

I've been listening to that one all day, in the car, in the house, singing and jumping from resonator to harp. Love it!!!
Danny Starwars
191 posts
May 27, 2015
12:13 PM
@Stevelegh - crazy awesome stuff eh??


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My YouTube Channel - Any Likes or Comments appreciated. :)

http://tinyurl.com/muchtcc


 photo me_zpst77cpzjm.jpg
Stevelegh
1019 posts
May 27, 2015
12:28 PM
I'm all tingly. Reminds me of the first time I heard Trimmed And Burnin' by Glen Kaiser and Darrell Mansfield.

isaacullah
3015 posts
May 27, 2015
12:33 PM
Thanks Danny! Really dig that first one! Hot damn!
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Super Awesome!
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Moon Cat
501 posts
May 27, 2015
3:00 PM
Thanks a lot for the reviews guys! I could post all the positions and such here if you want? The only really hard one to figure is: "Just Enough"... I start in 3rd and on the same harp (not switching) I kinda move/"treat" the chords between 3rd to 2nd to 3rd to 2nd to 5th to 3rd etc….The bassist Tim actually helped me to figure out that I could get all the notes I needed on that harp...and I had a chord chart on the floor which I kinda looked at sometimes during the vocals.

The CD was a BLAST to make! All 1st takes except two the solo harmonica tune took four takes and I ended up going with #2 (still not perfect) and "Demon Lover" was a take two. All done live in one room in two days.

Yes, we will have physical copies really soon and hopefully some cool liners, and also "yes": CD Baby, Amazon etc… popping up soon and also most likely in time for the Damon gig btw! In the mean time see you June at the 25th Hill Country Harmonica One Day Teach off with John Nemeth, Ada, Brandon and I! Thank you MBH forum and everyone for the love!!!
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www.mooncat.org

Last Edited by Moon Cat on Jun 03, 2015 10:55 PM
tf10music
242 posts
May 27, 2015
4:41 PM
Bought the album, and I'm glad I did.

There were a few songs that I really responded to, which is great. I was pleasantly surprised by the lyrics in "Demon Lover." I think that when you do sing on this album, you're in fine voice, paying close attention to hitting the notes, with a really nice delivery. It might be the best I've heard you sing. Obviously, your playing speaks for yourself. I actually listened to the solo piece first, because I was eager to see what you had in store for us. I wasn't disappointed. I caught a couple of the imperfections that you were talking about, but I honestly felt like they added to the performance. It created the feeling that the personality of your playing was overpowering your desire to be technically perfect, which, to me, made for a very powerful listening experience. Never once did I doubt that you meant it.

I'll be returning to this one. I always learn a thing or two from your playing each time I listen, which is important, since I'm working to finish my next group of songs as well, and I haven't recorded all of the harmonica parts yet. Some of them aren't even written.


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Check out my music at http://bmeyerson11.bandcamp.com/
Moon Cat
504 posts
May 27, 2015
10:04 PM
Thank you TF for that thoughtful review! Thanks for taking the time to write that. JJ and Nick Moss (upcoming album) did a lot of vocal coaching with me for just those two tunes and it paid in spades for everything, also vaping over smoking has helped tremendously. Yeah on the solo cut: I decided to leave the errors in rather than "fix" them with overdubs,splicing or even another take for precisely the reasons you indicated and it's very gratifying to have you reiterate them here without prompting…Thank you! It's always nice when a few can tell what your thinking/mean. Additionally, I didn't want to fudge the integrity of an entire album with no overdubs, auto tunes or effects because of a few notes on ONE song! Thanks again all of you for posting reviews and listening were already #6 on the iTunes charts n less than 24 hours thanks to likes of you! Muchas, Muchas GRACIAS! Jason
www.mooncat.org

Last Edited by Moon Cat on May 28, 2015 12:43 AM
Moon Cat
505 posts
May 28, 2015
12:40 AM
Here's a couple of previews from the 11 songs:
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www.mooncat.org
tf10music
243 posts
May 28, 2015
6:34 AM
Hey, no problem. it was my pleasure.

The smoking thing is real, man. I stopped smoking weed a few years back, and my timbre on the high end is so much better now.

I personally don't have a problem with fixing takes, but I'm also nowhere near your level as a player -- every instrumental take I record requires a bit of tweaking before I'm satisfied. I feel like it's different with someone at your technical level -- the value judgments shift, because the execution is in less doubt. I just want the songs that I write to sound as good as possible, and everything is in service of that. You are definitely going to sound good anyways, so the decisions become more about ideals and less about 'shit, this guitar lick is way ahead of the beat, I'm going to need to do another take and combine both of them.' At least, that's the way I see it. That's why I found your comment about integrity so interesting.

Have you been more inclined to fix up takes in the past?

Glad to hear you're climbing the charts already!

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Check out my music at http://bmeyerson11.bandcamp.com/
srussell
42 posts
May 28, 2015
8:28 AM
Jason,

Bought it - and I really love this album. Everyone's playing is outstanding. I especially love the tracks "At the Wheel Again" and "Black Limousine." and of course "Nobody's Fault but Mine." I agree with the sentiments above - your singing is definitely improved, and the best I've heard from you, on this album. Between JJ's slide playing and your harmonica - this is one of the few albums that I want to take apart and learn close to note for note. This is the first modern album that really has me wanting to do that. Really impressed, especially for a "one take", with how everyone makes space for each other and everybody cohesively communicates. Really, really enjoying this one.

Stephen
Stevelegh
1020 posts
May 28, 2015
12:22 PM
Hey Jason,

I was making a joke about the key and positions thing, but hey, if you could, that would be amazing.


Just a thought: If you could also extend congratulations and thanks to JJ for creating such a great collaboration with you as well. I'm playing this album to death.

Last Edited by Stevelegh on May 29, 2015 12:06 AM
Harp Study
90 posts
May 28, 2015
5:40 PM
Dang that sounds awesome. Can't wait for it to come out on something besides itunes so I can listen to the entire thing. I am not much of an itunes person.

I don't want to be a trouble, but I would love the positions and such. I still won't be able to figure out how to play it all though, but it might help me get more of it. Either way thanks!
Moon Cat
506 posts
May 29, 2015
10:40 PM
Here's the position chart and some other thoughts on the basic mechanics of the harp on this CD Thanks for everything guys!

1) "Leaning Blues" (Key of E, A harp in 2nd position)

2.) "Nobody's Fault" (Key of G, C harp in 2nd position)

3.) "Can't Believe it's this Good" (Key of A, D harp in 2nd position)

4.) "I'm a New Man" (Key F with a Bb harmonica in 2nd position for the intro solo, all fills and the second solo, then I go to 12th position for the fills and out solo.)

5.) "Jason's Solo" (All 2nd position Key of D on a G harmonica)

6.) "Just Enough" (Song is actually in the Key of A 'mostly', I play 3rd position then the tune sort of modulates or maybe really alternates between A and D so I play 2nd position on the same harp and go back and forth from 3rd to 2nd for each chord, treating it like a key change…Then it definitely modulates to G for the bridge where I play in 5th position for the length of that change, then repeat this madness, all on a G harp…)

7.) "At the Wheel Again" (Key of E A harmonica 2nd position)

8.) "Black Limousine" (Key of G, C harp in 2nd position)

9.) "Demon Lover" (Key of Em Starts on a LOW D in 3rd I play some single hole 5th splits so it kinda sounds lie a chromatic but it's not, the solo is on an A harmonica in 2nd position)

10.) "Ain't No Use" (Key of A, A harp in 1st position played into a glass. Bridge could be interpreted as 12th but I never thought about it like that…)

11.) " Come on Come over" (13th position)

Thanks for listening, the albums now on Amazon as well and already number 6 on the iTunes blues charts below 4 BB records and a Joe Bonamassa... CD Baby coming any day now... Hoping to have physical copies for Adams awesome event if not sooner! Thanks again Jason.
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www.mooncat.org
CarlA
785 posts
May 30, 2015
7:11 AM
Just downloaded album this morning. Everyone should buy this! It's that good!
RyanMortos
1496 posts
May 30, 2015
9:28 AM
Preview sounds good. Will buy when there's a hard copy. Hopefully available at SPAH with autograph :) .

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RyanMortosHarmonica

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Harp Study
92 posts
May 30, 2015
11:42 AM
Got the album this morning and absolutely love it. No exaggeration; it is for sure in my top 3 list for all the albums I owe (and like most of us I have a lot of music). The entire thing real is fantastic.

Moon Cat: Thanks for posting the positions/keys for the album. I find that super helpful and very generous. That 13th position is one I need to work on more..;-)
garry
576 posts
May 31, 2015
7:37 AM
@isaaculla: you can buy it from amazon, and their site works fine with linux. i bought it, then used the download links to grab it on my computer. for some odd reason, you can only download 6 tracks at a time, which is ridiculous*, but not a big deal.

* as a lifelong software guy, stupid software really grates on me.


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Barley Nectar
815 posts
May 31, 2015
8:54 AM
Hi Moon Cat, Goose here. Remember we talked about The Quaker Stake and Lube and potato soup, over the phone. LOL I listened to a couple of the cuts. I must say that I prefer this acoustic style to the electric, highly processed stuff that you have done. Don't get me wrong, you are at the forefront of the harmonica world whatever you do. I just like the natural sound of the instrument being played well. Really, Really nice stuff you have there. Best of luck to you in your journeys. Be safe and Harp on Brother...Goose

Last Edited by Barley Nectar on May 31, 2015 9:08 AM
Moon Cat
509 posts
May 31, 2015
12:55 PM
Thanks Goose and company! Yeah this ones my fave too now! No offense could possibly be taken! Love!
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www.mooncat.org

Last Edited by Moon Cat on Jun 03, 2015 10:59 PM
STME58
1311 posts
Jun 03, 2015
12:22 AM
Bought the album and have had a chance to listen to it. I love the variety of expression.

I have always thought violin and harp sound good together, but I really like the way the bowed bass and harp harmonize and converse on "Demon Lover"
The Iceman
2474 posts
Jun 03, 2015
4:57 AM
Good examples of harmonica player in service of the song rather than the song being in service of the harmonica player.

I like it.
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The Iceman
STME58
1313 posts
Jun 03, 2015
1:57 PM
All of the musicians are in service to the song on this. That is what makes is so enjoyable to listen to. The music flows between them like a good conversation between knowledgeable people with respect for each other. The whole is much greater than the sum of the parts. I really like the wide range of topics they cover in these 11 songs.

Last Edited by STME58 on Jun 03, 2015 2:08 PM
Rubes
945 posts
Jun 03, 2015
10:21 PM
Yeeeeeew!! This is great! Ditto all the above .......its on rotation now! Good tip on the vapor... All the best Jason you ROCK! Rubes
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Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Dads in Space at Reverbnation

Last Edited by
Rubes on Jun 03, 2015 10:22 PM
Moon Cat
527 posts
Jun 19, 2015
2:22 PM
Hey Y'all: Hard copies/physical copies of the new JJ Appleton/Jason Ricci collaboration are now available at all my live shows (The Bad Kind) as well as educational appearances (Hill Country etc..) and I will have them at SPAH too where I will be appearing with JJ! The next week should have the hard copies available at Cdbaby... till then the CD is still available anytime for download on iTunes and amazon! Meows! See you at Hill Country on the 25th with my old college buddy John Nemeth, Brandon Bailey and the great Mr. Gussow.-Jason
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www.mooncat.org

Last Edited by Moon Cat on Jun 19, 2015 2:25 PM
LSB
153 posts
Jun 20, 2015
11:13 AM
Downloaded it today, totally digging it man!


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