Tuesday, December 8, 2009

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 151 #195)

Rehearsal!
Classes this week were devoted to rehearsal for the Old Town School Blues Harmonica Recital #13 coming up this Friday, December 11, 2009 at the Harlem Avenue Lounge. We rehearsed individual songs with the band and also ran through Shoji's four-part arrangement of Silver Bells. Special thanks to Gavin Tun on bass who came out to class on his birthday last night to rehearse with us -- thanks, Gavin!
The full set list for the Recital can be viewed here. "Impersonate a professional!" Know your time slot and remember to be 45 minutes early -- professional musicians are always early for gigs.

NOTE: If you are on the recital schedule but are unable to make it at the last minute, please contact Joe or youmissedmonday. If you email info@youmissedmonday.com we will see your note even at the recital, so be sure to get in touch with us.

PRACTICE SILVER BELLS!!!
The Silver Bells ensemble goes on at 9pm at the recital this Friday. Here's the link to Silver Bells.

Also, thanks to Highway RickEy for putting together the new play-along tracks below. Choose your part from the list and you will find a play-along track that excludes your part so you can play along with the other three parts. Thanks, Highway!


Grammy Nominations Include Local Harmonica Players!
This year's Grammy nominees were announced this week. Some of our YMM harmonica friends made the cut including Billy Flynn (two nominations for his amazing guitar work!), Scott Dirks (liner notes on The Complete Chess Masters), Kim Wilson, Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, Matthew Skoller, Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith, and John Hammond. The Grammy Awards will take place January 31, 2010. Congrats and good luck to everyone in January! Here's who they're up against:

Best Traditional Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
  • A Stranger Here - Ramblin' Jack Elliott
  • Blue Again - The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Featuring Rick Vito
  • Rough & Tough - John Hammond (harmonica, guitar, vocals)
  • Stomp! The Blues Tonight - Duke Robillard
  • Chicago Blues: A Living History (Various Artists) - Larry Skoller, producer - Features harmonica players Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, and Matthew Skoller; plus, Billy Flynn (guitar), Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith (drums), and other Chicago legends; visit www.chicagobluesalivinghistory.com.
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (Award to the Artist(s) and/or Producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album, or to the individual(s) actively responsible for the concept and musical direction and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable.)
  • Cadillac Records (Various Artists) - Features Kim Wilson (harmonica) and Billy Flynn (guitar)
  • Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (Various Artists)
  • Slumdog Millionaire (Various Artists)
  • True Blood (Various Artists)
  • Twilight (Various Artists)
Best Historical Album
  • The Complete Chess Masters (1950ñ1967) Andy McKaie, compilation producer; Erick Labson, mastering engineer (Little Walter) [Hip-O Select/Geffen Records]
  • My Dusty Road Scott Billington, Michael Creamer & Bill Nowlin, compilation producers; Doug Pomeroy, mastering engineer (Woody Guthrie) [Rounder]
  • Origins Of The Red Hot Mama, 1910ñ1922 Meagan Hennessey & Richard Martin, compilation producers; Richard Martin, mastering engineer (Sophie Tucker) [Archeophone Records]
  • Take Me To The Water: Immersion Baptism In Vintage Music And Photography 1890ñ1950 Steven Lance Ledbetter & Jim Linderman, compilation producers; Robert Vosgien, mastering engineer (Various Artists) [Dust-To-Digital]
  • Woodstock ó 40 Years On: Back To Yasgur's Farm Cheryl Pawelski, Mason Williams & Andy Zax, compilation producers; Dave Schultz, mastering engineer (Various Artists) [Rhino]
Full details at: Grammy Awards.

News From The German Harmonica Museum!
"Dear English speaking fans of harmonica and accordion history, collectors, and members,
A season full of events and creativity is ending. Our museum published two little, but unique books (one incl. English summary and the other as full English version available), created some other new souvenirs for our shop and did a lot to preserve the very special history of the free reed instruments. Please visit us/our shop or order by e-mail! See the PDF of our new Xmas flyer!

Some more notes: There is a sale of our attractive metal signs showing old advertising posters. The non-Hohner-motifs will never be printed again; only a few of each are left: "Weiss", "Messner", "Koch", "Pohl", "Meinel & Herold". Costs up to two signs: 8,90 euros each, including free shipment within Europe, add 3 euros for air mail shipment to other continents. (three or more signs: add 3 euros within Europe, add 6 euros for other continents)
Buying books and other souvenirs is very important support for our work!

Thank you very much, have a nice quiet Christmas time and a happy new year.

Best regards,
Martin Haffner, Director
German Harmonica and Accordion Museum
Trossingen, Germany
harmonika-museum@t-online.de

"Hohner - The Living Legend" is a lovingly illustrated book for the 150th anniversary of the firm's founding delights the eye, shows the current product line in Trossingen, and takes you on the tracks of the harmonica in the folk music of the world.

Authors: M. Haffner, H. Wenzel. Price: 48 Euros, will be sent post-free by the Museum within Europe. Order now!

Only for residents of the USA: Copies of the book, "Hohner - The Living Legend" are available by sending a check for $65.00 (incl. tax and shipping) and your mailing address to:

Harland B. Crain
741 Cedar Field Ct.
Chesterfield, MO 63017."

Class Notes
Get your tickets now for the next Harmonica Convergence show featuring Joe Filisko, Howard Levy, Corky Siegel and Peter Madcat Ruth at the Old Town School, March 21, 2010. The show will be a tribute to the great harmonica legend, and longtime Steve Miller Band member, Norton Buffalo. Rumor has it there may be other harp players you know in the lineup, so don't miss it!

Newsletter News!
The newsletter and more is always online! Check it out for more details on newsletter items, a calendar of local gigs, jams, birthdays, archives, links, videos and special features.

We welcome your input. If you're inspired to write a review of a live show, CD, DVD or book, please submit it to us for consideration.

- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew