Tuesday, April 10, 2012

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 263 #306)


More Sloppy Drunk!!!

Continued study of Little Walter playing harp behind Jimmy Rogers on Sloppy Drunk shows him playing an "upgraded and on steroids" version of Sonny Boy I stuff. This is powerful playing!

Walter is accompanying the vocals melodically at times as a jug band player or Sonny Boy might do, but then he also plays fills like a modern blues harp player would. This is a terrific song to see both styles blending in Little Walter.

There is a lot of Sonny Boy in the first solo and even some short puckered phrases to achieve enunciation. Asked about this puckering, Joe jokingly reassured us "puckering is legal as long as you don't do it for more than four bars at a time"!

Note too the Hammy Nixon lick on page five that Sonny Boy popularized.

Whether you can relate to the lyrics or not, this is an essential song form for your repertoire - find a way to get a tune with this feel under your belt!

Stage Fright!!!

Joe is out to understand stage fright and welcomes input from anyone with experience understanding its causes and suggesting possible solutions. Shoot us an email if you have thoughts to share: info@youmissedmonday.com.

Tom Albanese and the Bono Brothers!!!

Check it out! Our good friend Tom Albanese is blowing harp with the Bono Bros this Friday at FitzGerald's and they're featured in this cool TribLocal article.

Class Notes
  • The next B1 Harmonica Recital at the Harlem Avenue Lounge will be May 12, 2012. Save the date and start working on your performance material. Sign up sheets will be due April 23 and should definitely have your bio on them. Note too that Joe encourages you to make your song choice so that you're playing songs you "own" and can "perform". Come out ready to entertain!
- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew