Comping on the harp is my favorite thing to do and to listen to. I like it best when the singer and harp player are not the same because you can't sing and do the kind of comping I love best.
In another topic there is a discussion of who is the greatest blues comping artist. I don't have an answer for that. But here is my question. What are some of your favorite comping examples?
(i'll list some of my faves in a response to the topic.)
Darn! "Comping" is all new to me. For a start I didn't know that it actually meant "accompanying". As far as I was concerned, a tune had harp or it didn't and I really don't know of any examples of comping. I'll be pleased to check out any comping suggestions on YouTube if anyone throws them in the mix.
Note to myself. Another thing I need to understand is when someone says "My bad". What's that all about?
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2010 2:45 PM
Here's a YouTube example of Jimmy Rogers and Kim Wilson
Here are some songs that I can't find videos for
Whisper Dennis Gruenling with Doug Deming Pinetop's Boogie Woggie CD with Kim Wilson on harp Louisiana Blues Little Walter with Muddy Waters After Awhile James Cotton with Otis Spann The Blues Never Die James Cotton with Otis Spann
It doesn't get any better than Alan Wilson on the Hooker and Heat album. There are about 5 or 6 really good harp songs on the one cd where Alan comps behind John Lee Hooker.
One of my favorites is Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee on the song "Down by the Riverside." I know, maybe Sonny is a little heavy--but the comping just moves me around. . . ----------
Pretty well anything with Jerry Portnoy (with Muddy, Legendary Blues Band, Clapton, "Soul Searching" w/Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters), Paul Lamb, Little George Sueref with Big Joe Louis & the Blues Kings ("Stars in the Sky", "Big 16"), Martin Lang w/Rockin' Johnny Band & various other Delmark acts (Jimmy Burns, Taildragger) when they were effectively Delmark's house band.
/In another topic there is a discussion of who is the greatest blues comping artist. I don't have an answer for that. But here is my question./
I hear you! I share your inability (and reluctance) to name a "best." So... At risk of (EDIT what do I mean, "at list" it *is* shameless) double-posting, here's my contribution to the "greatest comper" thread:
**QUOTE**
EDIT: I don't think in a "greatest ever" kind of way (don't think that would do music justice), but here are some players I like listening to.
Grant Dermody seems to be able to play a lot and not get in the way:
I like the way he can accompany with only a harmonica:
I really like Kim Wilson's playing Big Jack Johnson (don't know whether there are any vids available).
Big Joe Williams and John Lee Williamson seem to have something pretty special going on:
**UNQUOTE**
I think "self-comping" (one-man (or indeed one-woman!) solo pieces with singing, stmoping, finger-clicking, space and illusion) may deserve a mention in the art of comping?
(OK it's not blues and it's not modern, but I LOVE it!)
(Rory McLeod)
and this:
@Ray:
/Big Jack Johnson and Kim Wilson on the Memphis Bar-B-Q Session cd. Just the two of them/
I know I mention it in the quote above, but that album is AMAZING. One of my favourites at the moment.
"I think "self-comping" (one-man (or indeed one-woman!) solo pieces with singing, stmoping, finger-clicking, space and illusion) may deserve a mention in the art of comping?" CaptainBliss
I've found nothing makes my harmonica playing sound better than my own voice, at least by comparison.
Loved them all but the Bibb at Telluride clip offered by the captain...really just grabbed me. Was listening to it with my morning coffee, which for me makes this, Blues Before Breakfast....hey sounds like a CD or song title....I'm sure somebody's already used it.
I re-read the definition of comping in heart2harps thread and it's much more narrow than what I think we are working with, so in that spirit, I offer this clip. The harp player is mostly just playing fills, maybe not technically comping, if I've understood it right, I'm not sure.
But I love the song and his tone. It's a Canadian band. Our great white north bluesmen(women) will know the harp players name. They've told me before, but I forgot. Shame on me.
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2010 6:15 AM