I,d have to say that Magic Dick is one of the funkiest of all.The harp he blows on alot of the J.Geils material is down right Funky,with a capital F.JMO
I'm inclined to agree with Nitecrawler about Magic Dick. J.Geils Band's sound was forged in the main from old school rhythm and blues , and MD, a worthy saxophonist , fashioned his harmonica style on horn lines. His solos are compact,and superbly crafted sorties, and he has been that rare thing, a harp player who's instrument is a prime part of a band's ensemble sound. He's not a guy standing around waiting his turn at the mike; his experience as a sax player seems to have provided him with a sense of how to play along with the rhythm section, punching it up like like a r&b saxophonist would. So yes, Magic Dick, funk harmonica player. I still think this collaboration he did with guitarist Shun Ng on "Poppa's Got A Brand New Bag" is extraordinary. Acoustic and minimalist, stripped down to just guitar and harp, these two can hear the otherwise absent bass and drums and give us an interplay where the accents are felt, strongly implied. Ng is a wonderful, popping guitarist, and MD is suitably gruff and growling, the harp veering well between full blast to a raspy whisper.
I don't Know if that was a sarcastic comment or sincere, but tab's not gonna help you there, IMHO. He's just drawing a bunch on holes 1,2, 3 and 4 and bending a lot, without much discretion or attention to intonation, on 2 and 3, to my ears. He doesn't have to. It's all timing..what he's playing is very simple, but the feel and rhythm are difficult to master and that's what makes it cool.
Hey Guys,great suggestions,@Diggs Nice playing on Cool Beer.Antway,I would like to mention a couple other Funky J Geils tunes that I,ve always dug and they are Detroit Breakdown and also Flamethrower.The boys get Funky on these also and Magic Dick Blow His Face Out.I,m not hip on posting vids otherwise I would.Check them out.HAGN
