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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Anyone heard of Big Harp George??
Anyone heard of Big Harp George??
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The Iceman
2840 posts
Apr 19, 2016
6:07 PM
(from my underground Russian music site)

Big Harp George - Wash My Horse In Champagne (2016)

Label: Blues Mountain Records | Tracks: 13 | Rls.date: 2016

This release is the latest from San Francisco's Big Harp George, the first recorded blues artist to make the chromatic harmonica a full time instrument. It follows his Blues Music Award and Blues Blast Magazine award nominated debut album "Chromaticism," of which critic Thomas Joseph Cullen III commented: "I haven't been this impressed by a harmonica player's national debut since William Clarke's 1990 tour de force 'Blowin' Like Hell.'" Wash My Horse in Champagne offers George's take on 21st century West Coast blues in thirteen stunning original songs. The lyrics derive from his own life and personal experiences, including those gained living and traveling abroad in Brazil, the Middle East, and elsewhere. Musically, George builds on the legacies of George Smith, William Clarke, Paul DeLay, and extends the West Coast tradition of incorporating influences from jazz. BHG says: "While I feature the “big harp:” the chromatic harmonica minimally exploited in blues, I am a musician first for whom the harp is a means to an end. To me the song is central, and I will do what is required, to my ear, to serve the song. I vary my chromatic attack by playing amplified and acoustically, and by employing first, second, and third “positions” (harp talk for different key relationships between harp and song). But I don’t hesitate to pick up the ten-hole diatonic - or put the harp down altogether - when the music calls for it." Big Harp George's newest release is yet another indication of a 21st century Bay Area blues renaissance, of which blues and jazz audiences would be wise to take note.
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The Iceman
sydeman
164 posts
Apr 19, 2016
8:12 PM
He has been around for awhile


Big Harp George - vocal,chromatic harmonica.
Rust Zinn - guitar
Little Charlie Baty - guitar
Chris Burns - keyboards
Michael Peloquin - sax
Kid Anderson - bass
Raja Kawar - drums
Label: Mountain Records Blues
Year of release: 2014
Copyright: 2014 Big Harp George

Last Edited by sydeman on Apr 19, 2016 8:20 PM
tf10music
265 posts
Apr 19, 2016
8:22 PM
wow i'm all about this. such crisp production, too.

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Check out my music at http://bmeyerson11.bandcamp.com/
indigo
247 posts
Apr 20, 2016
12:03 AM
He has an 'all star' backing band there so he must have some history..but i have never heard of him being mentioned on any forum.
Great voice and playing...is he someone we all know working under another name?

Iceman "(from my underground Russian music site)" mmmmm,,^?

Last Edited by indigo on Apr 20, 2016 12:07 AM
kudzurunner
5952 posts
Apr 20, 2016
4:56 AM
I actually stumbled across his album a year and a half ago and started a thread here. But I'll agree: he's flying way under the radar:

Big Harp George

Last Edited by kudzurunner on Apr 20, 2016 4:57 AM
Minor Blues
19 posts
Apr 20, 2016
8:51 AM
I think that should read:

Rusty Zinn

Kid Andersen
Greg Heumann
3216 posts
Apr 20, 2016
8:59 AM
He's one of your local Bay Area guys - he has showed up at our jam a number of times. Nice guy, good harp player.
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/Greg

BlowsMeAway Productions
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