Never venturing far from Milwaukee, WI, he is a legend in his home town.
The following video contains many facets of playing that answer a few of the questions we've asked here...
1. Can someone circular breathe the harmonica? 2. What do you do on stage when you are not playing the harmonica? 3. How to listen and respond...should one study scales?
Jim starts playing at around the 20 minute mark. ---------- The Iceman
Jim Liban is marvelous. Not underrated, just under a lot of folk's radar because of that never venturing far from his home base thang. HIs newest release with the Joel Patterson Trio, "I Mean What I Say", is stupendous. ---------- Ricky B http://www.bushdogblues.blogspot.com RIVER BOTTOM BLUES--crime novel for blues fans available at Amazon/B&N, iTunes, iBook THE DEVIL'S BLUES--ditto HOWLING MOUNTAIN BLUES--Ditto too, now available
Definitely nice having a great player like him here in Milwaukee. I watched him play last year at a local blues festival. While there I was attending a Joe Filisko seminar and Jim came in and sat near me. I had to do a double take. Unfortunately did not have a chance to meet him before he had to leave and get ready. Can certainly learn a lot by listening to him play.
Jim is old school and right up there with the other big names in traditional blues. An original whose pedigree goes back further than many have been playing!
But I guess that's the catch. Many respond to flash, speed, in-your-face playing - everything that Jim isn't. He's a master of knowing what to play when in the service of the song, not himself.
For me, that's a true art and overlooked by those easily impressed by speed, overblows, fancy gear etc. His recent album with JP is fantastic and well worth getting.
Although I'm in the UK I've known about Jim Liban for years but given the huge size of America there will be a few of really good cat's like him! ----------
"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Wow! So cool and so well done. And to get both Jim Liban and Rick Estrin in one dose - incredible! Kind of amazing that they could play for 29 minutes and never tire the listener out. Thanks Iceman!
Well it's nice to have a new sleep aid besides drugs and alcohol. It was kind of rude of them to lull me into a slumber only to wake me out of it in the last 5 minutes. ---------- Ridge's YouTube
I'm not trying to be completely provocotive, I do understand some of the OPs points.
1. Can someone circular breathe on the harmonica? It's a good question and this MIGHT be the best application I've heard.
2. What do you do on stage when you are not playing the harmonica? I don't think this is a particularly exemplary display of what to do. Rick is much more entertaining. Jim has a good presence and carries himself well.
3. How to listen and respond...should one study scales? There is definitely good representation of listening and responding since the video description says this was completely impromptu. To me it's a better display of cooperation between players not trying to outdo eachother. There are a few licks they latch onto and own and show the power of repitition... not so much scale practice. ---------- Ridge's YouTube
