This was a blues band based out of Boston in the '70s and this is an example of how harp players and horn players REALLY should be working together as a unit. The harp player is an old friend of mine and one of the FINEST harp players I've ever met named Pierre Beauregard.
The predictable le easy thing many harp players will do is pay attention to the soloing before anything else, but take some serious time to listen to how he works TOGETHER AS A UNIT WITH horns, and it takes something many harp layers sorely lack in, which is musical discipline, knowledge of basic music theory, and dynamics. I know for a fact he doesn't read sheet music but he DOES know music theory cold and he largely plays very softly on this, much as did both Walters did.
Enjoy! ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Pierre Beauregard, along with David Burgin really know how to sound good with horns. It's interesting how some 70's & 80's amplified harmonica had such electronic effect (just check Beauregard, Burgin, Jim Liban, Johnny Mars even Sugar Blue)
Thank you BarbequeBob! I had a Swing/Jazz/Blues/R&B Band for 10 years 1999-2009, we played at many Swing Dance, Ballroom, Open dance events (even had swing dancers on stage w/band at 1,100 person outdoor concert. Band was Bass, Drums, Guitar, Piano, Female Vocalist, Myself and either 1 or 2 horns with. We played Typical Jazz & Blues with just basic head and then improvised solos but, also quite a bit of Count Basie, Lavay Smith, R&B with arrangements- "Harp & Horns", people loved it. I don't read either but, just invested much time by ear learning parts and then had some great pro sax players who would help work out the nuances with me. In the 1970's I was playing full-time but it was Bluegrass and a Country Honk-Tonk band. I had hear of Pierre but, not heard this, outstanding. I hope Bob will be okay with me mentioning (in case someone does it get enough harp in first part of this record) SPOILER ALERT: at 22:30 Pierre plays one of the best renditions I have heard of LW's "Roller Coaster", lick for lick and about 2/3 through throws in a few choruses of his own- excellent!
George Leh sounds great! Is he still shouting the blues? Edit: Yes—he’s on Twitter, still singing, and he’s blind. Great band, thanks for posting.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Jun 25, 2021 9:08 PM
@Gnarly--George is still around but not as active as he once was. He does THE best Big Joe Turner vocal I've ever heard, so close to that sound you'd almost swear that he was alive thru him. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I recall hearing his name (my dad's name was George Lehmann, so it got my attention the first time) but hadn't heard him sing previous to this. The recording you posted is pretty boss.
