Diggs posted a video from this instructional video from some years back, but for some reason there's no way to add a comment to the thread, so I'm re-starting it here.
My connection to this product is that Howard got the publisher to hire me to transcribe what he played to notation (and probably tab; it's been awhile). Pretty interesting work.
The video uses only a C harp, and has one piece in each of the twelve keys, composed by Howard for the project. So you get to learn something in all 12 positions.
Each tune exploits what works well and sounds cool in that position, and lies relatively well (I say relatively because what's a piece of cake for Howard can be pretty daunting for the rest of us).
And, if you can momentarily let go of that harmonica player's voice inside your head saying, "Oh crap, no way I could play that!", the tunes are fun listening as well. =========== Winslow
I just got this DVD, and am enjoying it alongside some other jazz materials - when I have the mental energy, anyway. I think it's a good follow up to his first instructional, and kind of assumes you've worked on the stuff in that tape, in my opinion... Definitely advanced stuff to me, so it quickly let's you know where you need to work on your intonation!!
I do wish the DVD was formatted in a more friendly way... But the materials themselves are solid.
As far as I've seen tho, there's no word of a release date for the other DVD (vol 2)...
Haven't posted for a while. I got in trouble for dissing overblows/overdraws shortly after I joined this forum. Should I, again?...
I listened to this video with open ears. I wanted to like it. I really did.
Howard Levy is the best at this. But here is what I hear-- many notes subtly off in pitch. Off enough that I came close to grimacing. The music also has a coldness about it; perhaps because of the pitch problems.
So... I've said my piece. Don't want to stir up trouble. Those of you who enjoy this music, keep enjoying it. There's lots to enjoy-- fantastic speed in the playing, tons of imagination, great sense of rhythm, lots of improvisation, tremendous musicality.
But the pitch problems and the lack of warmth are a barrier that will always prevent me from listening very long to overblow/overdraw-heavy harmonica playing.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
Last Edited by wolfkristiansen on Feb 18, 2015 10:59 PM
Answering to the Diggs question in original post (I can't add a comment in this post too). A year or so ago I've tried a "Rumba Flamenca" from this dvd. It's far from Howard's sound, approach etc. His skills are untouchable, but I've tried! :)
BTW, thank you Winslow for music sheets I've learned this tune from them. ---------- Konstantin Kolesnichenko(Ukraine) my music
If you can find some early Howard - he did a nice children's music project as well as session work on other artist's CD's (Holly Cole earlier recordings for instance or Peter Kater's Pursuit of Happiness CD), you may find more warmth in his playing.
---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Feb 19, 2015 5:09 AM
I have the DVD. The pieces are very interesting. As someone above noted, it assumes you've already done quite a bit of work in multiple keys, getting all the notes cleanly, etc. It is pretty advanced stuff and you can learn some of Howard's approach and expressiveness by copying the tunes.
I had a one-on-one lesson with Howard a couple of weeks ago and I didn't hear any timbre problems, let me tell ya! Having said that, the last time I went back to this DVD, I was trying the pieces on chromatic, which is my preferred approach now.
Hey Winslow, I didn't know you transcribed that. Well done.
Martin, blingty , thank you so much! Personally I don't hear timbre problems in Howard playing too. He uses every "scratchy" note very musically and I think this is his personal style. ---------- Konstantin Kolesnichenko(Ukraine) my music
