I am going to embarrass a fellow MBH member by inviting you to listen to him. This, without his knowledge or permission.
Here is what he says on his YouTube channel:
"Late summer 2009: I fell in love with the sound of the harmonica and rediscovered the Blues. I immediateIy set out to buy my first official harmonica (Marine Band Key of C what else?). I have not been able to put it down ever since. This channel is all about my journey, my insights and my questions as I learn to play this bizarre little instrument some like to call the Blues Harp"
A day ago, I idly clicked on Heart2Harp's YouTube channel. I listened to the most recent audio/video he had uploaded. He was singing and playing the old Sonny Boy Williamson chestnut, "Good Morning Little School Girl" with a guitar playing friend; both playing acoustically. I listened with open ears, as I always do. I didn't wince, as I sometimes do-- when listening to whites singing the blues. (Don't get sidetracked, this post is not about "Can Blue Men Sing the Whites?")
Heart2Harp plays and sings with feeling. Both his harp and singing show a natural empathy for the blues. He is French-Canadian (going by his posted hometown of Gatineau, Quebec, and by his slight accent as he sings)-- demonstrating, once again, that blues is a universal language. You don't have to be American or even English speaking to love it.
To get musically technical for a moment-- the rhythm in Heart2Heart's playing and singing is never rushed. The subtle variations in his harp and vocals, verse to verse, show an instinctive feeling for the the classic form. His sense of pitch, harmonica-ly and vocally, is finely tuned. It finds those subtle shades in the cracks between the white and black keys on the piano, whether he recognizes he's doing this or not. His singing is bluesy, whether's he's aiming for this or not.
I haven't learned how to post YouTube Videos. So, here's the soundtracK for your listening pleasure:
If that caught your ear, you can see and hear the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/Heart2Harp
If anyone feels obliged to comment about Heart2Harp's playing/singing, or even criticize, please keep it constructive, because (a) he did not choose to post this song, I did, and (b) he's bound to read whatever's posted in response to this message. If you feel compelled to criticize me, have at it. I'm old and thick skinned.
Aside to Heart2Harp-- have you really been playing harp only since late summer 2009? That's scary. Can't wait to see how you progress.
thanks very much for the nice comments and for bringing the forum's attention back to this video. I have to say that Simon, the guitar player, had never heard this song before. It was basically his first time playing it. He just caught on to the little timing and rythm nuances that make this song so cool to play. With a guitarist like that, you can't go wrong.
I have, over the last few month, become aware of my rapid development as a harp player. I thought I was ''normal'' until I started going out to jams and people got all excited about the level at which I played. I don't mean to sound cocky but I think it comes with some natural predisposition for music, a lot of time to practice, and a sort of obsession (I'm very much of a one track mind individual). Of course, their are not a lot of jamming harp players in Ottawa/Gatineau so you automatically stand out.
What's your story? You sound like a very knowledgeable individual in terms of music. ---------- Heart2Harp
just right click the vid you want and a box appears.
scroll down the box and left click 'copy embeded html'.
done? okay don't worry if you've saved it. you have. now go to the forum and start your MBH post.
now hit ctrl and v on your keyboard.
you will see all this computer code-stuff, that is good.
now enter your spam code, et viola!--------- MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Nov 15, 2010 9:08 AM
Great singing and playing. I am very excited for him and look forward to more. Sounds like it comes easy for him.
The only thing I can say is that if you grew up in Canada, Europe, Asia, or even in the U.S. outside of the South...its hard to get the vocals that are born to this music. Even some of the great ones on this forum that play killer harp can't lose their accent for the vocals.
I think it's a great video and version of the song and it's also great to hear someone playing in the SBWII style - a cool style to play acoustically and a good change from Chicago stuff (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Im a BIG SBWII fan,and am trying to learn his music all the tyme. Ive even posted about gettin some help on playin the solo from Help me. BTW..I just figured out his whawah :) (theres a draw/bend to his whawha) WOOT ! Im excited... Thats gonna help me a lot. And great job Heart2Harp. I enjoyed it.
