HarpNinja
3869 posts
May 01, 2014
10:29 AM
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I am way late to the party, but Lee Oskar is absolutely brilliant. I didn't get it at first, and we reluctant to give a good listen, but WOW!
His use of space and dynamics is exceptional, his use of melody is stunning, and his tone is angelic.
I can understand that his music isn't for everyone, but there is no denying the fact that he is insanely talented!
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
Rock Harmonica Lessons
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DukeBerryman
363 posts
May 01, 2014
12:14 PM
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He's super friendly, too. I think this little jam captures his spirit:
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1847
1746 posts
May 01, 2014
12:54 PM
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hey duke cant find your email
the jam is tommorrow, if you are coming remind me to bring the octave pedal
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Barley Nectar
372 posts
May 01, 2014
6:37 PM
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I use mostly LO harps. Have talked to Lee on the phone a couple of times. He made me hang up so he could call me back "on his dime". We BSed for 45 minuets. He had me play for him then told me "I'm sorry but I can't help you". I was crushed. What am I doing wrong I asked. "Nothing, that is why I can't help you". Yes he is a great guy and one hell of a player. His wife told me Lee sits for hours modding harps for different tunings. I wish I had 1/10 of his talent...BN
PS...Mike, I'm still grooving to your CD. Everyone I play it for likes it. Great stuff...BN
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on May 01, 2014 6:38 PM
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DukeBerryman
364 posts
May 01, 2014
7:12 PM
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@1847 That's right - first of the month came quick. I'll send you an email - long story short, I'm getting my car's yearly registration tomorrow, so we'll see what happens...
@BarleyNectar Great story! I only met him once at a Guitar Center seminar he did, but I hope he does another one. One funny thing happened when he asked the crowd who plays amplified blues harp. I was there with my blues box full of harps, pedals, and mics. I raised my hand and I was the only one in the room of about 30 people. I was surprised and Lee seemed a little surprised, too. But it was great that he covered that topic, and he mentioned being on one of the Blues Cruises.
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1847
1749 posts
May 01, 2014
8:00 PM
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sorry i meant saturday
lee oskar is awesome by the way
i just saw a clip with flavio playing a jc 120
and a bassman together always wanted to try that myself
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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kudzurunner
4664 posts
May 02, 2014
4:45 AM
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That's a terrific clip. I shared it on Facebook. Thanks for posting it here.
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TheoBurke
624 posts
May 02, 2014
6:50 AM
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Lee Oskar is a superb harmonica player who is one of the few players who's style is instantly identifiable.What is refreshing about Oskar's style, among other things, is that his is a seamless blend of blues, funk, and jazz influences that he cross references at will. He also sees no need to rip and speed it up; his improvisations in the above video show a musician who can create sharp phrases and build a solo while getting into a solid groove. He is as solid a harmonica musician as I ever seen or met. He is, as has been said, a very nice guy.
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Ted Burke
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheoBurke?feature=mhee
http://ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.coM
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bigd
528 posts
May 02, 2014
8:18 AM
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I'll add to the applause for Lee here: Greatest moments: Listening to Lee and Sonny Jr. doing a spontaneous 3rd position dark bluesy number at one of Dave Barrett's earliest Masterclasses. Having dinner with Lee where he shared his childlike wonder and enthusiasm about harps and harp playing and music. Listening to his rendition of "Georgia" on his standards CD before it was released here in the US.....Many years ago his friend who was attending and sharing his room at Dave's Masterclass insisted I compete in a talent contest amongst dozens of attending players sponsored by the Masterclass. I was mega- nervous but his "C'mon you came all the way to Calif. from N.Y. for this - you gotta get up there" was too insistent to challenge. When I came in second (Iceman came in first) both he and Lee hugged me. That was the reason I came out of the closet and hit the stages when I returned to NYC....I love Lee's mellifluous and clean and jazzy and musical note selection...and he acted as a decent music therapist to this player!
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Facebook
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clyde
364 posts
May 02, 2014
8:26 AM
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i have always loved his tone and attack. maybe my favorite is his horn sound. i would love to know how he gets it
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atty1chgo
911 posts
May 02, 2014
8:47 AM
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Lee Oskar is on the fall Blues Cruise with The Lowrider Band, can;t wait to meet him.
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Frank
4199 posts
May 02, 2014
6:27 PM
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Lee is an American success story to be proud of :)
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wolfkristiansen
276 posts
May 02, 2014
10:59 PM
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Lee Oskar is also a Danish success story to be proud of.
From Wikipedia: "Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1948, Oskar was six years old when a family friend gave him his first harmonica. "I came from an area where every kid on the block had a harmonica", he remembers. He grew up listening to Danish radio, enjoying all types of music and cites Ray Charles as the biggest influence from that period. When he was 17, Oskar decided that the United States was where a harmonica player should make his career, so he moved to New York at the age of 18 with little more than a harmonica in his pocket."
I'm from Copenhagen, born two months before Lee, and love the sound of blues and soul influenced harmonica as he did and does.
I saw him at the Yale Hotel in Vancouver in 2007 along with Mark Hummel, Kim Wilson, James Harman and James Cotton. I got a chance to speak Danish, my first language, with him. I am not a Danish success story to be proud (or ashamed) of, but I wish to speak up for a fellow Dane.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
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Jehosaphat
731 posts
May 02, 2014
11:15 PM
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The first decent harmonica i ever owned was a Lee Oskar.
The Hohners then were crap which i struggled with and I was on the verge of giving up Harp when at a BBQ play along a guy handed me his L/O...well i am still here playing.Some L/Os(on wooden combs) and a mix of others for sure but if it hadn't been for Lee i wouldn't be here today.
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Stokes Bay Slim
45 posts
May 03, 2014
11:31 AM
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I second that @Jehosaphat. When I first started 20 years ago I too struggled with poor harps until I found the Lee Oskar brand. I still use mainly LO's still now, though other manufacturers have thankfully upped their game giving us all plenty of choice. Hohner, Suzuki, Seydel, Lee Oskars are now all good products. Lee - great Harmonica player who has made a massive contribution to the Harmonica World and to humble ol' me.
Last Edited by Stokes Bay Slim on May 03, 2014 11:32 AM
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stokeblues
84 posts
May 03, 2014
12:05 PM
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Lee Oskar is a legend, Eric Burdon and War where so good it's mind Blowing ,every band member was so top of there game but enjoying playing that it's untrue! I'd love to speak to Lee on the phone for half an hour ! You guys are so lucky! Let's face it how many players get a harp named after them.
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The Iceman
1619 posts
May 04, 2014
6:15 AM
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All of you who have posted on this thread, get thee to a copy of Live War, which has been reissued on CD.
It shows you what a groove powerhouse they were live as well as how amazing a soloist Lee can be.
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The Iceman
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Barley Nectar
382 posts
May 04, 2014
6:36 AM
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If you want to talk to Lee, call his shop, either he or possibly his wife will answer the phone. For me, It was like talking to Leo Fender...BN
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The Iceman
1621 posts
May 04, 2014
8:21 AM
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The Iceman
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