Tuesday, March 18, 2014

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 350 #394)

 Walking By Myself - Southern Comfort Version!!!

Amazing as the Jimmy Rogers version of Walking By Myself is, there is also a Walter Horton studio version. During the late 60's in London the Red Lightening label drew Horton into the studio for what seems to be an impromptu, unrehearsed record - Southern Comfort. Horton sings in a very different key here, E, and his harp playing is very different from his famous solo on the Jimmy Rogers record. Still, it is a teachable moment (transcription):
  • Horton is recording acoustically and frequently makes use of his signature, powerful bright tone (see the 2 draw on bar 6 of page one for an example)
  • He also shows extreme confidence in underplaying. Entire bars go by without any harp on them. Don't underestimate the confidence of that.
  • Though his note choices are generally very simple here, they represent very difficult sounds to emulate.
  • Page three here is certainly the biggest nod to his original solo, but without the bend on the note. Instead he goes for that bright tonal attack here.
Thanks to Highway RickEy and his mobile movie theater for sharing the James Cotton/Jimmy Rogers version of Walking By Myself and you can watch it here.

Class Notes

  • Come out to the 8pm class next week for our special guest, PT Gazell! Everyone is welcome!
- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew