Tuesday, April 17, 2018

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 526 #570)

Blues With A Feeling

Joe circled back to Blues With a Feeling, this time sharing his transcription which led to talking about the strength of the solo. It is killer and worth your time. It starts on a slightly unusual head shake over the 5/6 draw, which is a jazzy choice as it's the flat 7 and 9th scale degrees. Note that his four chord shake then is a split four shake to fatten up his sound on that D harp. The remainder of the solo is straight ahead blues scale with some impeccable phrasing.

We've talked about how to use the hook as a sideman. Note from the transcription that it originates in his repetition of it in the intro verse, which curiously starts on bar 2. If you're playing this with an unrehearsed band, be prepared to add a bar 1 and straighten this thing out to avoid any trouble.

This tune is a blues standard that should be in any harp player's repertoire.

Class Notes

  • Harlem Avenue Lounge Harp Party was better than ever last week - thanks to all who came out. 
  • The Chicago History Museum has an amplified blues exhibit running now. It features exhibit artwork from B1's own interior finishes artist Paul Minnihan and Billy Branch is playing there this week, so be sure to check it out. 


- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew