tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62126083172050713242024-02-18T20:42:33.074-06:00You Missed Monday!!!For those who played hooky or weren't paying attention during Joe Filisko's weekly harmonica classes in the Old Town School's B1 blues room.The B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094758206823590276noreply@blogger.comBlogger484125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-68358907632994861692020-03-17T12:11:00.001-05:002020-03-17T12:11:25.182-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 604 #650)<b>Nothing!</b><br />
Old Town School is now closed due to the corona virus.<br />
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Joe is happy to evaluate audio or video for students during the weeks that the school is closed. <a href="mailto:michelle@filisko.com" target="_blank">Email him</a> your material. And in the meantime, be sure to be working on your train! Joe's newly updated <a href="http://www.filiskostore.com/page/493551590" target="_blank">Train Rhythm and Imitation Guidelines</a> is up on his site now. Use it and his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAFEXXJM0Ws" target="_blank">instructional train video</a> to improve your train. (Be sure to listen carefully to all the tonal and dynamics variations he demonstrates in the video too.)<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>No classes for now. Stay safe everyone and use your time at home to practice!<br /></li>
<li>YMM will likely take a break along with the school unless there's news to share. Follow our Facebook page for quick updates. </li>
</ul>
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<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-76525347308258783352020-03-10T13:09:00.000-05:002020-03-10T13:09:08.123-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 603 #649)<b>Fundamentals.</b><br />
You get the biggest return on investment practicing your harmonica train imitation.<br />
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Joe talked about the train as a crucial Fundamental and reviewed how to work at it:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>start and end with a whistle (usually 4/5 draw)</li>
<li>play 2 inhale then 2 exhale breaths</li>
<li>always include holes 1 and 2</li>
<li>play from your throat; no articulation</li>
</ul>
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If you've ever been told you have rhythm challenges, or breathing challenges, or want to be a serious player, practice your train at least 5 minutes every other day.<br />
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And remember too that while you play the train, you should be working at varying your mouth tone. Many people pick up the harp and lock into ONE mouth tone and that's all they have. Great players improvise with tone. Move the back of your tongue and reshape your mouth to vary your tone while working on your train. It gives you those authentic train variances and will make all your blues playing better!<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Thanks to all who came out to the Harlem Avenue Harp Party last week. It was a big success.<br /></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-16319324936136439852020-03-03T15:16:00.003-06:002020-03-03T15:16:57.031-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 602 #648)<b>Fundamentals.</b><br />
Fills are hard. They are an advanced accompaniment technique but one that everyone jumps right into without solid prep. It's easy to end up doing "blues lite" stuff with your fills, so Joe urges you to recognize that is accompaniment work you should not be tackling until you've mastered the other fundamental techniques.<br />
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So he started a review of those last night, filling in more detail on the first two, organ sustaining and train whistle sustaining.<br />
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Organ sustaining is low chords or splits, generally following the chord tones of the song form. You can easily play the I and IV chord and a piece of the V chord, or use a second harp to accomplish the V. And hey, the audience will be immediately impressed by your playing multiple harps! Play this chordal effect smoothly in long sustains, focusing on holes 1, 2 and maybe 3.<br />
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Train whistle sustaining are higher chords on the harp - splits, dirty notes - that are NOT chord tones. This is a technique that introduces dissonance and your chordal effect choices are shakes, tongue shakes, rapid vamping, throat tremolo, etc.<br />
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Next week - shuffle chording!<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Register now! The new session started this week - don't wait to sign up. </li>
<li>The Harlem Harp Party is tonight, March 3 at 8:00pm at the Harlem Avenue Lounge. Be there and play!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-89368938696994463372020-02-25T11:57:00.000-06:002020-02-25T11:57:02.148-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 601 #647)<b>Fundamentals</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Take a look at the twelve bar form. Count the number of one chord bars; now the four and five chord bars. Leaving aside the turnaround for a second, you find that 11/12ths of the time, you're playing over I and IV chords...the two most readily available chords on your harmonica!<br />
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This leads to the first fundamental - organ sustaining. This is an accompaniment technique Joe's been teaching for a while now and is just comping or padding by playing a sustained chord quietly under the other musicians. The key is that you have to make the chord changes with the band. This teaches you to "play the right chord (or part of a chord) at the right time". And mastering this has two benefits. One, you're able to accompany tastefully and two, you are learning to internalize, count and hear the song form and changes. This is a critical skill that Fundamental #1, Organ Sustaining, will get you.<br />
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Fundamental #2 is the train whistle sustain - similar, but it adds a blues dissonance to your accompaniment. The 4/5 headshake is the most common example.<br />
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And Fundamental #3 is hard shuffle chording. This is very similar to Walter Horton's accompaniment on <i>If It Ain't Me</i> and it adds a rhythmic element to your accompaniment playing.<br />
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Know and master your Fundamentals!<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Register now! New session starts next week - don't wait to sign up. </li>
<li>The Harlem Harp Party is next week, March 3 at 8:00pm at the Harlem Avenue Lounge. Be there and play!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-47934896381789214392020-02-18T14:08:00.001-06:002020-02-18T14:08:15.853-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 600 #646)Joe's back and we dug into a review of the difference tone last night. Practice adjusting the resonance of your mouth while playing dirty notes until you hear it.<br />
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Joe also dedicated some time to the practical matters of setting up a vocal mic stand correctly. Having it droop during your musical masterpiece is not what you want to have happening and the responsibility for preventing that is all yours. Learn how a mic stand and boom mic stand works and take the time to set it up to support you, not embarrass you!<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Harmonica Hoedown 2020 is TONIGHT! Looks like there are still <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/485745668735532/" target="_blank">tickets available</a>! The show is at Martyr's featuring Joe Filisko & Friends, James Conway, Bob Kessler & Graham Nelson Trio, and the Lucky Ducks. </li>
<li>Register now! Next week is the last class of the session so be sure to get signed up now. </li>
<li>The next Harlem Avenue Harp Party is March 3. Hold the date and be there!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-46801959806495340642020-02-11T16:54:00.003-06:002020-02-11T16:55:12.701-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 599 #645)Joe was away at a workshop this week, so Grant filled in. He taught his "Anatomy of the 12 Bar Blues" in the Level III classes and Performance class was, well, a lot of great performances!<br />
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Joe's back next week and all classes and private lessons run as normal.<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Harmonica Hoedown 2020 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/485745668735532/" target="_blank">tickets now available</a>! The show is Feb 18 at Martyr's featuring Joe Filisko & Friends, James Conway, Bob Kessler & Graham Nelson Trio, and the Lucky Ducks. </li>
</ul>
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<br />
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-21787836473873182232020-02-04T13:22:00.002-06:002020-02-04T13:22:56.933-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 598 #644)<b>Difference Tone!</b><br />
Call and response began this week with a focus on the throat tremolo, and then turned to a dive into the elusive difference tone.<br />
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When you play a note like the four draw and let in a little of the five draw, you get lowdown blues, of course, but what else is going on there? When you combine just the right small amount of that "dirt" of the upper note with your melody note, you hear a third tone rumbling underneath both. This acoustic phenomenon is called a "difference tone". When you nail it, especially amplified, you effectively "enshroud the melody note with a smoky fuzz of dirt and difference tone".<br />
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Joe also points out that adjusting your embouchure can amplify and enhance that difference tone...or squash it if you have your mouth tone wrong. So spend some quality time listening for this and adjusting your mouth tone to get the best difference tone you can. Then play through your amp and hear that deep, bluesy rumble!<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Harmonica Hoedown 2020 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/485745668735532/" target="_blank">tickets now available</a>! The show is Feb 18 at Martyr's featuring Joe Filisko & Friends, James Conway, Bob Kessler & Graham Nelson Trio, and the Lucky Ducks. </li>
<li>Joe's away next Monday - Grant is covering his group classes. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-35530851711518645082020-01-28T15:04:00.000-06:002020-01-28T15:04:16.166-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 597 #643)For the first time in forever Joe went home under the weather yesterday afternoon, so Grant filled in on the later classes. We did call and response in Level III plus a little practice at getting the tempo right in your head before you count off. And the Performance class was, well, performances! Good chance for people to pull out second songs and we had a good night.<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Harmonica Hoedown 2020 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/485745668735532/" target="_blank">tickets now available</a>! The show is Feb 18 at Martyr's featuring Joe Filisko & Friends, James Conway, Bob Kessler & Graham Nelson Trio, and the Lucky Ducks. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-2027759307081343872020-01-21T13:28:00.002-06:002020-01-21T13:28:51.590-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 596 #642)This week was about continuing to strengthen use of the fills Joe talked about last week: the root (2 draw), the full 2 draw bend (b7 and even flatter) and the dirty half step draw on the 3 (b3) and the short phrasing choices that connect them.<br />
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Why are these powerful? Because often when we hear something "bluesy", it's not the note so much as the <i>sound</i>, and these have it. Remember, keep that b3 a little on the sharp side for dissonance. And you're reinforcing poor bending habits of you're telegraphing the bends with unnecessary movement of your face, jaw and eyebrows! Stay relaxed and bend in your mouth.<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Harmonica Hoedown 2020 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/485745668735532/" target="_blank">tickets now available</a>! The show is Feb 18 at Martyr's featuring Joe Filisko & Friends, James Conway, Bob Kessler & Graham Nelson Trio, and the Lucky Ducks. </li>
</ul>
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<b>Talkin' Blues Podcast: Shoji Naito Interview</b><br />
The Talkin' Blues Podcast's Mako Funasaka has a great interview with Shoji Naito. Find out how he goes from kids' melodies in Toyoto, Japan, to three blues cassettes to being a member of the Eddy Clearwater Band in Chicago: <a href="https://talkinblues.podbean.com/e/talkin-blues-podcast-episode-194-shoji-naito/" target="_blank">podcast</a>.<br />
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"There's something about playing live music. When you see somebody playing that same music live, somehow it's more powerful than listening on Spotify or YouTube."<i> - Shoji Naito</i><br />
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<br />
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-47357820915616244322020-01-14T13:38:00.001-06:002020-01-14T13:38:31.539-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 595 #641)Hearing the need in class to strengthen peoples' fills game, Joe spent some quality exercise time last night building that foundation. He urged people to start with some rudiments we've been hearing in call and response - the root (2 draw), the full 2 draw bend (b7) and the dirty half step draw on the 3 (b3).<br />
<br />
With the exception of over the V chord, you should be proficient using these three notes to build powerful fills behind a singer.<br />
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A couple notes on the b3 note. For one, if you are going to err, do so to the sharp side. A slightly sharp half step bend is arguably more dissonant and bluesy than the correct pitch. And secondly, remember that it's powerful too to add that dirt on the b3. It's a full, rich, bluesy sound you need to master and milk in your fills.<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Harmonica Hoedown 2020 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/485745668735532/" target="_blank">tickets now available</a>! The show is Feb 18 at Martyr's featuring Joe Filisko & Friends, James Conway, Bob Kessler & Graham Nelson Trio, and the Lucky Ducks. </li>
</ul>
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<b>Westmont to Chicago: Tribute to Eddy Clearwater</b><br />
Shoji Naito's new CD is out now in tribute to the late Eddy Clearwater. This disc features Eddy himself and members of his band, along with B1 member Ginny Morin and our good friend Lee Kanehira and more! And of course, great harp playing by Shoji.<br />
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<br />
Available at <a href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/shojinaito2" target="_blank">CD Baby</a> now (and in the Old Town School's Different Strummer store if you want to pick up a hard copy so you can enjoy the graphic design work of our own Grant Kessler!)<br />
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<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-44669274245484508952020-01-07T17:09:00.001-06:002020-01-07T17:09:12.133-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 594, #640)2020 in B1 kicked off with a dynamics tweak to call and response as well as a new commitment from Joe to address the "Foundation" harp players need.<br />
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You'll notice dynamics in Joe's playing as he dishes up call and response phrases to you. Play back to mimic his notes, phrasing, timing and now also volume. (Hint: you shouldn't be blowing hard anyway and this will just get you that much closer to the 9 second inhale target!)<br />
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And as you build upward in your playing, adding things, it's important to keep fundamentals in mind to have a firm base that holds it all up. This foundation work is something Joe's going to be working with us on this year. More soon!<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Register now for the new session!</li>
<li>Harmonic Hoedown 2020 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/485745668735532/" target="_blank">tickets now available</a>! The show is Feb 18 at Martyr's featuring Joe Filisko & Friends, James Conway, Bob Kessler & Graham Nelson Trio, and the Lucky Ducks. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-14908674344135567782019-12-17T12:45:00.002-06:002019-12-17T12:45:14.388-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 593 #639)We had a full house and a great night of performances this week - thanks to all who brought their A game! Joe reminds folks that you need to let him know if there's something in particular you need or want feedback on. Let him know what you're working on so he knows what to listen for.<br />
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Reviewing the call for having someone accompany you, Joe points out that 90% of the time you're on the bandstand, you're not soloing. You need to learn to play accompaniment so that you contribute to the songs and accompaniment time in class is the opportunity for all to learn that skill.<br />
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And a thought about the long inhale practice within our call and response exercises - the first three seconds and the last three seconds of those are the hardest for your body. Work at trying to sound even throughout your long hold notes and chords, even if your body feels otherwise. And for extra credit once you're comfortable with that, work at adding a crescendo toward the end. Your breath will want to trail off, but musically, you want to end strong.<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>HAPPY HOLIDAYS! We're on break now until we resume on Jan 6. (Practice your Christmas songs - melodies with bends are a great way to strengthen your command of bent notes...and your family will love them.)</li>
<li>Register now for the next session. Signing up early helps Joe and the school ensure the classes can happen. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-47829438022078655092019-12-10T13:12:00.003-06:002019-12-10T13:12:58.271-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 592 #638)Lamont Harris stopped by to chat and play a couple tunes - great to have you, Lamont!<br />
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He shared gigging stories and has been performing as part of the band at Black Ensemble Theater pieces recently. Catch him in the next show, <i>The Legends of Music</i>, starting in January. <br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Next week is the last class of the session. Holiday break after that until we resume on Jan 6.</li>
<li>Register now for the next session - there's a $15 discount on offer now; ask for it when you register.</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-76727179601533489822019-12-03T15:50:00.000-06:002019-12-03T15:50:18.916-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 591 #637)Call and repeat worked its way up to the 6 draw this week and Bob remarked that's the "blusiest of the non-blue notes". Joe picked up on that and noted that it is definitely a note to use over the V chord, the climax of the blues form. And there are two ways to make it blusier - play it a little dirty and work in an ornamental bend. <br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>See you tonight! Harlem Avenue Harp Party - Tuesday, December 3, 8pm at the Harlem Avenue Lounge. Come on out and play a few songs!</li>
<li>Register now for the next session - there's a $15 discount on offer now; ask for it when you register.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-27579490095691385002019-11-26T15:17:00.000-06:002019-11-26T15:17:00.271-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 590 #636)We had a great time welcoming Dave Przewlocki to B1 last week and in addition to great performances this week, Joe did a little debrief of our guest's time with us. Joe notes he's a studied player with an intense interest in the recordings of the greats.<br />
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<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Happy Turkey Day!</li>
<li>Harlem Avenue Harp Party - next Tuesday, December 3, 8pm at the Harlem Avenue Lounge. Come on out and play a few songs!</li>
<li>B1 student Cliff Weber passed away October 26 - our best to his family and RIP, Cliff. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-59993598699375130522019-11-19T16:28:00.001-06:002019-11-19T16:28:52.197-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 589 #635)We had a great time welcoming Dave Przewlocki to B1 last night. Visiting from Arizona, Dave connected with RickEy at a jam in town who encouraged him to bring his singing and powerful traditional harp playing to class. Influenced a lot by Little Walter, Dave says, "I want to catch his fire, not the notes."<br />
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Thanks for coming by Dave and stop in anytime you're in town!<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Joe's back! And now's the time to re-register for your private lessons. </li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<b>Grant Dermody Launches Album Campaign</b><br />
Grant is kicking off a new album, <i>My Dony</i>, and you can help him with it:<br />
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"I am so excited to tell you that I am finished with the work on my fourth album, <i>My Dony</i>. It’s the best recording I’ve done. Powerful, deep, and joyful, it tells the truth. I am launching this <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-grant-dermody-with-his-career-album-my-dony#/" target="_blank">IndieGoGo campaign</a> so that you can help me get <i>My Dony</i> out into the world despite the post production costs for manufacturing, promotion, and distribution.<br />
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You can stream it <a href="http://bit.ly/stream_my_dony" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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My Dony is an electric blues album, though it didn’t start out that way. We set out to make a record and figured it would span a wide range of styles, much like my other projects. Part way through the first day of recording it became obvious, in listening back to what we had done, that the electric blues tunes were just too strong, and the acoustic instruments and tunes wouldn’t fit the vibe that was pushing its way in. The most powerful tune was “My Dony,” a way deep down electric blues tune that Dirk wrote, so off we went, chasing that feel. The recording told us what it wanted to be; we listened.<br />
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It’s old school blues, not by stated intent, but because that’s how we hear the music. It’s who we are as musicians. I wrote three of the tunes, Dirk wrote three, and two we wrote together along with help from the band. I play harmonica and sing lead. Dirk plays guitar, piano and sings harmony. Jason Sypher on bass, and Jamie Dick on drums round out the core band, and special guest Rhiannon Giddens."<br />
<br />
Support Grant and get your own advance copy <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-grant-dermody-with-his-career-album-my-dony#/" target="_blank">here</a>!<br />
<br />
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-87214838639429968302019-11-12T15:22:00.002-06:002019-11-12T15:22:33.149-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 588 #634)You want to see a great harmonica performance?<br />
<br />
Check this one out: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=525320321353762" target="_blank">World War II veteran plays national anthem on harmonica</a>. Here's hoping we're all such players at 96!<br />
<br />
Get your performances ready for Joe next week...<br />
<br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Joe returns next week! </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-53550135086751142792019-11-05T18:06:00.001-06:002019-11-05T18:06:23.799-06:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 587 #633)B1 is rocking with performances and we're happy to welcome back our "winter" bass player Al Taylor. When fishing slows he joins us to hold down the bottom!<br />
<br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Joe returns soon! Grant is covering all group classes through November 11, then Joe will be back. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-60096463462871659902019-10-29T16:36:00.001-05:002019-10-29T16:36:35.370-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 586 #632)We kicked off a new session yesterday with good energy in all the classes! If you're not registered, fix that now.<br />
<br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Heads up that Joe is touring Europe this fall. Grant is covering all group classes through November 11. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-18745674621787405292019-10-22T16:17:00.000-05:002019-10-22T16:17:07.325-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 585 #631)We're carrying on well with Joe away, but of course he's missed!<br />
<br />
Grant led breathing practice and call & response in the Level III classes. He might be sneaking in a different phrase or two from Joe's arsenal, so get registered for class to join in!<br />
<br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Congrats to our own Richard P. Bennett who's been named a Hohner H.A.R.P. Artist!</li>
<li>It's time to be sure you're signed up to improve your harp playing. Register now for the next session which starts next week!</li>
<li>Heads up that Joe is touring Europe this fall. Grant is covering all group classes through November 11. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-84185243452410743902019-10-15T15:39:00.002-05:002019-10-15T15:39:26.242-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 584 #630)We had great performances in the Performance Class along with some workshopping of song details.<br />
<br />
Good to see our friend Tom Gilmore back in town!<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It's time to be sure you're signed up to improve your harp playing. Register now for the next session!</li>
<li>Heads up that Joe will be touring Europe this fall. Grant will be covering all group classes starting Oct 14. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-86387222298291148142019-10-08T16:01:00.003-05:002019-10-08T16:01:50.884-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 583 #629)Mr. G gave us a recap of his time at the Great Lakes Harmonica Retreat put on by Steve August. It sounds like it was a great time with great instructors, so be sure to get yourself registered to participate next fall. <a href="http://www.greatlakesharmonica.com/" target="_blank">Details here</a>.<br />
<br />
Following up on Joe's remarks last week about the power of the call and response learning, he stressed that yes, these are blues scale phrases, but more than that, they are about sounds. The phrases you're learning in this work are playing to the strength of the instrument and its ability to make low down blues scale SOUNDS.<br />
<br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>EXTENDED THROUGH WEDNESDAY: $15 Off Adult Group Classes with Code GROOVYGHOSTS19. Register now.</li>
<li>Heads up that Joe will be touring Europe this fall. Grant will be covering all group classes starting Oct 14. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-20620785453048063282019-10-01T12:39:00.003-05:002019-10-01T12:39:51.096-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 582 #628)We're cranking on the call and response work. Joe emphasized last night that this breathing exercise is also teaching you the blues scale and its strength on the harmonica. It's one thing to know the notes of the blues scale which often leads to just that, non-bluesy single-note playing. Harmonica blues is tied to the correct notes, yes, but it is so much more and these techniques and phrases we're playing are ingraining that for you as a player.<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>See you TONIGHT at the Harlem Harp Party (8pm)!</li>
<li>Register now for the next session and save $15. Use promo code GROOVYGHOSTS19.</li>
<li>Heads up that Joe will be touring Europe this fall. Grant will be covering all group classes starting Oct 14. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Band Seeks Harp Player</b><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ-_ztHdXpg&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3dJVl5VHHC8PCnLng0FQWzysKv7MlGzfEaK_MhWFnZr4BdLmd0IYgQ-Rg" target="_blank">This band</a>, located in the Jefferson Park area of Chicago, is looking for a harp player. For info call Tim Wilsye (630) 649-2647.<br />
<br />
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i>B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-82358210267850004752019-09-24T12:41:00.000-05:002019-09-24T12:41:00.944-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 581 #627)<b>Dov Hammer!</b><br />
It was great to have <a href="http://www.dovhammer.com/" target="_blank">Dov Hammer</a> in B1 last night! In town from Israel where he lives and gigs, Dov played a lot of killer blues and talked about his influences and the Israeli blues scene.<br />
<br />
When young, he of course wanted to play guitar but all his friends played guitar so in order to find a place in bands, he picked up the bass. When drafted he missed making music and found his way to the harp because it is small, portable and it appeared on Muddy Waters records.<br />
<br />
He had no instructor so the records were his teacher and he started as a pucker player. Now he's learned the importance of tongue-blocking but admits there are things like blow bends he reverts to puckering for.<br />
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Being in Israel meant less access to the pros but some did come through and Paul DeLay was one he talked a lot about as being a big influence on him. Hearing Paul play helped Dov think out of the box.<br />
<br />
Here are a few choice comments:<br />
<br />
"You gotta be careful writing blues songs so you don't sound like you're imitating anyone." In his own tunes, Dov tries not to do standard 12-bar shuffles and not to imitate others' phrases too carefully.<br />
<br />
He admitted to not being a big gear head. "I like the gear working for me, not to be working for the gear." Lately he finds himself preferring the vocal mic and sometimes running an SM57 straight into the board to be heard and in all the speakers.<br />
<br />
He loves one-chord tunes (and played a great example for us) because blues is a feel- and groove-based music.<br />
<br />
How does he approach solos? With a lot of rhythm, first off. He also thinks of them as an extension of the vocals. Look at how people speak - with pauses, breaks and space. He likes to phrase that way when soloing too. Also, keep it short and to the point. Need an example? Notice that is exactly what all the Little Walter solos are - short and killer!<br />
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Here's a key message that ties in to the breathing work Joe's been working with us on lately. Dov tells his students that "it's not supposed to be hard; you should be breathing easily through the instrument. If you're blowing hard, you're doing it wrong."<br />
<br />
If you missed Dov, don't let it happen again! And head over to his website to pick up a copy of his new release, <a href="http://www.dovhammer.com/albums/item/139-bluesoul-2019.html" target="_blank">BlueSoul</a>. Thanks Dov, and thanks to David Kachalon for making this happen.<br /><br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>See you next Tuesday, Oct 1 at the Harlem Harp Party (8pm)!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212608317205071324.post-28611159153580477272019-09-17T14:09:00.001-05:002019-09-17T14:09:27.261-05:00What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 580 #626)We're back in business with call and response and breathing practice in B1! Special reminder not to leave off the ghost chording. The harp is a rhythm instrument and the ghost chording keeps you anchored in that rhythm.<br />
<br />
SPECIAL GUEST NEXT WEEK: We'll welcome Dov Hammer all the way from Israel in B1 next week at 8pm. Everyone's welcome to come hear him play and talk. Be there!<br />
<br />
<b>Class Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next Harlem Harp Party is Oct 1 - mark your calendars!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew</i></div>
B1 Blues Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632874628114940915noreply@blogger.com0