I had the pleasure of seeing George Winston play piano this week and was pleasantly surprised to hear him play one piece on harmonica.
It's fascinating to me how he plays it like a piano: Tongue splitting when he doesn't want chords to play a bass note on the left side and the melody on the ride side of his tongue.
George was a protege of San Diego's Sam Hinton. Sam was a very interesting man, oceanographer, educator, author, folk musicologist, leader of the SD folk music scene, namesake of the SD Folk Festival, and tongue blocking harmonica virtuoso. If you like George Winston's harmonica playing, you'll love Sam Hinton's.
Even though Sam is gone someone is still maintining his web site.
Of particular interest is his remarkable 2-CD set, "Sam Hinton: Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica." It contains 120-some folk and ethnic songs with verbal and liner note explanations, descriptions of their histories and the techniques Sam uses to play them. You will be stunned at Sam's virtuosic tongue blocking skills. They rival anyone I've ever heard. His CD-set is highly recommended if you are interested in harmonica renditions of folk music or the tongue blocking style.
Sam also posted series of Youtube videos that more or less echo the style of his CD content. In fact, they represent a subset of what's on his CDs. I have a feeling they were recorded at the same time.
George Winston give a little introduction to the videos.
I think all serious diatonic harmonica players should own and study Sam's CDs and videos. I know I am better off for having done so. It's no chore either. I had a ball, although the content is vast. $25 well-spent!
Dig it!
Michelle
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Last Edited by mlefree on Jan 27, 2017 4:13 AM