I'm a big fan of the bluesy end of jazz and the jazzy end of blues. One of my favourite players in this style is Dennis Moriarty. As many of you will know he is a member of this forum. For those of you that don't know of him, I highly recommend everyone to check out his playing. He has a superb tone and is one of the most tasteful players around.
Are there any other "under the radar" guys like this playing diatonic harmonica in this fashion that I should be aware of?
Funny you should ask. I just came across a video with only 4 views by a player--Dutch, I assume?--named Tim Welvaars. He's playing bluesy stuff on a chromatic and calling it jazz. Nice sound:
Here's his website:
http://www.timwelvaars.nl/
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2013 5:25 AM
Now here you go! 1200 likes and precisely 1 dislike (Wicked Witch of the East, I presume, just before Dorothy's house fell on her.) This is fine stuff--the definition of relaxed swing:
Thank you for those Adam. They are great and I've just subscribed to Tim Welvaars YouTube channel. You're right he is indeed Dutch. The chromatic jazz blues thing is very nice and I like it a lot. Ideally though I'd like to find more diatonic players doing this stuff that are under the radar
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2013 5:22 AM
Here's one more from a German player named Alfred Hirsch. The guy only has two videos. Somebody to watch. He did the Alex Paclin thing and played both guitar and harmonica:
Here's his website:
http://www.alfredhirsch.de/index.php?id=58&L=1
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2013 5:42 AM
Great topic Kingley! And really great videos too. I've been exploring this territory myself lately, and have really been enjoying delving into 1920's Chicago Jazz, and listening to how the horns are in those tunes (especially listening to trumpet players like Bix Bidebecke and early Louis Armstrong)... Cool stuff for sure!
Here's a tune I'm working on that I'm calling "New Year Swing" (guess when I started composing it? ;) )
It's definitely in the jazzy end of blues rather than the bluesy end of jazz (like most of the above clips), and I'd love to hear what you think of it!
Isaac - Thanks man. Yeah cool stuff indeed! I have always had a deep love of certain styles of jazz. Billie Holiday's music especially and so of course Lester Young as well. I really like a lot of the classic Blue Note stuff as well. That track you posted certainly has lots of potential. It'd be nice to hear it with a tasty rhythm section behind it.
Thanks Kingley! I appreciate it! Yeah, it'd be great to work it up with a band... But for the time-being, I'm a solo act! I might try to do some "band in a box" back-track building to play over though... ----------
@ Ted - I wouldn't say it's without merit at all. In fact I might say it was pretty groovy, except I can't really hear the background groove under your volume. Might you try it again at a different mix of levels? Of course then, you'd be soloing over the guitar soloing. Hmm. Anyway, I think you've got something there in terms of improvisation.
A big part of the jazzier approach is to not have a constantly pentatonic approach most players tend to have and there's much greater use of major 3rds, majoor 7ths, 6ths and 9ths, and even 2nds as well and you really have to listen to more horns to the point that musically, you're basically thinking like a horn. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Here's an offering of me playing one thing that I consider to be a jazzy kind of (minor) blues. Not perfect, of course, etc. Just a sample of what appeals to me in this 3rd position vein.
OT - isaacullah, you posted the soundcloud clip incorrectly and now I get asked to save or open the file when the thread is opened was that your intention?
edit: not your fault, you used the same embed code they gave you it just doesn't work. If I have time to look at it I'll update.
I believe you are asking for more of a feeling to the playing than a literal marriage of jazz and blues if my tired perceptions are right. Thus I thought of the obvious (Lee Oscar) and the less obvious (Michael Pickett). The first video I found (spooky!) of M. Pickett also had Lee Oscar on it. I haven't even listened to it fully and it is "out of doors rough" but Michael's electric stuff often had a jazzy undertone to it to my ears. d ---------- Facebook
After listening to the above I realize I should have gone to bed instead of responding. Michael's CD "Conversation with the Blues" does have some examples of what I think you're asking which do not shine on the video! My best. d ---------- Facebook
To approach jazz, you have to learn to play the harmonica rather than have the harmonica play you.
In other words, you really have to learn where all the notes live and be able to pick and choose them without leaning on the layout of the notes on the harmonica.
Best to start listening to trumpet players like Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis or Chet Baker - grab a melodic line from them (at your present level of expertise) and transcribe it to the harmonica. It will help break you of falling into patterns or ideas as laid out on the harmonica.
In other words, don't play the harmonica "Harmonicky". ---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2013 7:20 AM
Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Sevens are often considered THE textbook for learning improvisation in jazz. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
"I believe you are asking for more of a feeling to the playing than a literal marriage of jazz and blues if my tired perceptions are right."
bigd - Dennis your tired perceptions were absolutely correct. Songs like "Ain't You Trouble" by Gary Primich come to my mind. It's still pretty conventional diatonic blues but has a strong "jazz feel" to it. That is the kind of thing I often hear in your playing.
droffilcal, harp-er, thank you so much! For blues with flavour of jazz I strongly recommend Steve Cohen especially his album "Mixed Feelings". http://www.stevecohenblues.com/Gigs.html He played "All blues" too :)) Magic Dick's album "Little Car Blues" also has a big flavour of jazz! ---------- http://www.youtube.com/user/wheelharp
Indeed K...."Ain't you Trouble" makes me want to hug the speakers! I love minor, vodoo-ish, jazzy stuff. I think my favorite song to play though (which is funky with a latin beat to my ears) is "The Ghetto" by Donny Hathaway. We'll probably open up with that or "Coming home Baby" tonight...Some guys I like because of their unexpected (to me) hits on the harp are deLay and Primich. It feels really musical! d ---------- Facebook
Oh yeah Dennis, Primich and deLay were superb at getting that jazz vibe. Paul especially so. Two of my favourite players that aren't straight ahead blues guys.
Well son of a b....I got asked to do some subbing with a sorta jam-grass band. The first two covers on the list were All Blues and Take Five. Flight of the Cosmic Hippo was on there too, but that doesn't have any harmonica, lol.
