Category: Chromatic

Harmonica Groups at Christmas

Archie

Seasonal Christmas music played by Harmonica Groups – chromatic, chord and bass harmonicas – The Harmonica Men, The New Don Les Harmonicats, Harmonicas International (James Hughes/Rob Janssen), Chris Bauer, Charlie McCoy and Pete Pedersen.
The Madcats – Joe di Fulvio, Carl Ford and Vinnie Yurgelis
The Harmonica Men – Merry Christmas – Richard Harris (Chromatic), Gene Hansen (Chord) and Larry Van (Bass)
Don Les Harmonicats – Christmas – Don Les (Bass) – Mildred Mulcay (Chromatic) – Bob Herndon (Chord)
Harmonicas International – Christmas Harmonica – Jim Hughes & Ivan Richards (Chromatic), Rob Jannsen (Chord), Ronald Kamminga (Bass)

Track Listing for Harmonica Groups at Christmas
1 – Start – Pete Pedersen – 00:00
2 – Harmonica Men – We Wish You a Merry Christmas – 00:39
3 – Don Les Harmonicats – Jingle Bells – 01:34
4 – Harmonicas International James Hughes – Christmas Song – 04:09
5 – Charlie McCoy – Christmas Cheer – 05:34
6 – Harmonica Men – Let it Snow – 08:10
7 – Harmonicats – Nutcracker Suite – 09:46
8 – The Madcats – Sleigh Ride – 13:33
9 – Chris Bauer – Frosty the Snowman – 16:27
10 – Harmonicas International James Hughes – Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer – 20:35
11 – Harmonica Men – White Christmas – 23:29
12 – Don Les – We Three Kings – 26:17
13 – Harmonicas International James Hughes – Winter Wonderland – 28:47

Harmonica Harry (Pitch) – 1925 to 2015

Archie

Harry Pitch took inspiration from Larry Adler and like him he was an entertainer who worked hard to build a successful career. They were both more interested in the music rather than technique, but Harry was always a jazz player.

This audio biography shows how Harry’s long musical career covered all areas of music on chromatic harmonica and trumpet, as a soloist, session man and bandleader. He could read music but was always happy to improvise and play with other musicians.

Harry started to play harmonica before the Second World War. When harmonicas became unavailable after the Second World War he moved to trumpet. He joined and led big bands in the 1940s/50s but he started to play harmonica again after hearing Max Geldray playing in the Goon Show. I have included examples of him playing both instruments in his big band. He carried over much of his trumpet solo style to his harmonica playing.

In the 1960s he became a successful session musician, featuring on film soundtracks, classical music concerts, pop records and his biggest hit, Groovin’ with Mr Bloe’.

From the 1970s, Harry played on the long running TV series, ‘The Last of the Summer Wine’ and he started to play more with his old friend, accordionist, Jack Emblow.

Harry set up two bands, ‘Rhythm and Reeds’ and ‘The Thames Valley Jazzmen’ and he continued to play trumpet and harmonica. As live gigs became harder to get he played more smaller venues like Pizza Express restaurants with some distinguished pianists and a repertoire of light classics, standards and tributes to Larry Adler.

There are some videos and more information on his web page.

Harry Pitch Audio Bio

1 – – – 00:00
2 – Max Geldray – Goon Show – 02:00
3 – – – 02:45
4 – Big Band Trumpet – Boy Friend – 03:10
5 – Big Band Harmonica – Lady be Good – 04.03
6 – – – 05:40
7 – Frank Ifield – I Remember You – 06:45
8 – Bill McGuffie – During One Night – 07:22
9 – – – 08:10
10 – Mr Bloe – Groovin with Mr Bloe – 09:10
11 – – – 10:00
12 – Ronnie Hazelhurst – Last of the Summer Wine – 10:30
13 – – – 11:30
14 – Rhythm and Reeds with Jack Emblow – Alfie – 11:45
15 – Thames Valley Jazzment – Birth of the Blues – 15:10
16 – Thames Valley Jazzmen – L’il Darlin’ – 18:40
17 – Harry Pitch Duo – Body and Soul – 23:30
18 – Harry Pitch – Summertime – 27:10

Harmonica History in Books

Archie

Harmonica History in Books.

Today’s harmonica world is the result of the pioneering activities of manufacturers, composers, performers and amateur players.
A lot has happened in the last 100 years but it is not very well documented or understood.
These books provide some of the backgound to the artists and the way the music developed.

         AuthorBook Title
#1Louis DelinBackstage Harmonica – Autobiography
#2Larry AdlerIt Ain’t Neccessarily So – Autobiography
#3Larry AdlerMe and my Big Mouth – more autobiography
#4Al SmithConfessions of Harmonica Addicts – A History of American Ensembles
#5Jane RodackBe of Good Cheer – Memories of Harmonica Legend, Pete Pedersen
#6Kim FieldHarmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers – Interviews and stories
#7Albert RaisnerLe Livre de l’Harmonica – History of The Harmonica to 1960
#8Ray GrieveA Band in a Waistcoat Pocket – The Story of Harmonica in Australia
#9Ray GrieveBoomerangs and Crackerjacks – The Harmonica in Australia, 1825-1960
#10Jerry AdlerLiving from Hand to Mouth – Larry Adler’s Younger Brother
#11Max GeldrayGone With The Wind – Autobiography of a Dutchman in England
#12Peter KrampertThe Encyclopedia of the Harmonica – Short Bios ofHarmonica Players
#13Kurt Roessler   Sie Spiel(t)en Mundharmonika – Harmonica Players
#14Fabrizio PoggiIl soffio dell’anima: armoniche e armonicisti blues
#15Martin HaeffnerHarmonica Makers of Germany and Austria
#16Martin HaeffnerHarmonicas – The Story of Hohner Brands
#17Christoph Wagner Die Mundharmonika – ein musikalischer globetrotter
#18Martin HaeffnerMade in Germany – Played in the USA
#19 Martin Haeffner“Hohner The Living Legend” – 150th Anniversary
#20Zong XiaohuaChinese Made Harmonica Illustrations
#21EditorsSeventy Years of Hong Kong Harmonica (2004),
#22CMA, NUS Harmonicist’s Handbook, 1991, Singapore
#23Gian PasquinelliSoffiando e Risoffiando – by Armonauti Trio (Italian)
#24Bruno KowalczykThe Harmonica and Traditional Québécois Music
#25Charlie McCoy50 Cents and a Box Top
#26Jean LabreMusique en bouche

   

You can read more information about these books and where you might be able to find them on Pat Missin’s fantastic web site about all aspects of harmonicas.

Pat Missin’s Website – the ultimate harmonica resource

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Pat Missin has created the best harmonica site on the internet. Everyone ought to visit it at least once so they are aware of the vast amount of knowledge he has assembled on all aspects of harmonica.

One web page contains a selection of vintage harmonica performances recorded between 1904 and 1940. It includes recordings and historical information about Pete Hampton, Professor Dickens,  Arthur Turelly, H. J. Woodall, Henry Whitter, Borrah Minevitch, Moore and Freed, Sandlin Brothers, William Haussler, Haussler and Coutlee , W.V. Robinson, W.W. MacBeth, Gwen Foster, Willie “Red” Newman, John Sebastian and Rhythm Willie.

Here are the main sections of Pat’s website – www.patmissin.com – The main index page.

Site Contents

Fairly Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions about the harmonica that I am asked… um… fairly frequently.

Books by Pat Missin
Books about the harmonica and related instruments.

Uncommon Harmonica Techniques
Tips and tricks you are unlikely to find anywhere else.

A Brief History of Mouth Blown Free Reed Instruments
Ancestors and cousins of the harmonica.

Harp Gallery
Some of the more unusual harmonicas from my collection.

Harmonica 78s
Rare harmonica recordings not available anywhere else.

Harmonica Patents
Notable or curious designs found in the patent archives of several countries.

Tuning
More than any sane person would ever need to know about tuning harmonicas.

Articles
Articles that I wrote back in my pre-internet days.

Reviews
Reviews of new harmonicas and related products.

Audio
In case you were wondering whether I could actually play the harmonica.

Odds and Ends
Stuff that doesn’t really fit in anywhere else on this site.

Special thanks to…
… all those people who have helped me with the material presented on this website.

Major Chromatic Harmonica Soloists.

Archie

Four soloists were mainly responsible for rise in the popularity of the chromatic harmonica in the 1930s, 40s and 50s – Larry Adler, John Sebastian, Ronald Chesney and Tommy Reilly. They were all entertainers and the music they played came from musical shows, classical music and folk music. This programme is introduced by Larry Adler and it contains examples of the music they all recorded on 78rpm records.

There were other performers and they will be featured on future broadcasts.

Major Chromatic Harmonica Soloists.

1 , Ruth Etting , If I could be with you , 0:00
2 , Larry Adler , Smoke gets in your eyes , 0:30
3 , John Sebastian , Ritual Fire Dance , 4:00
4 , Ronald Chesney , Whispering/Margie , 7:15
5 , Tommy Reilly , Can anyone explain, Autumn Leaves , 10:17
6 , Larry Adler, Claire de Lune , 13:15
7 , John Sebastian , Maiden with the Flaxen Hair ,  16:20
8 , Ronald Chesney , Fantasie Impromptu , 18:20
9 , Tommy Reilly , Traumerie , 21:35
10 , Larry Adler , Body and Soul , 24:00
11 , John Sebastian , Malaguena , 27:07
12 , Ronald Chesney , Volare , 30:36
13 , Tommy Reilly , Jealousy , 32:57
14 , Larry Adler , Bolero , 35:40
15 , John Sebastian , The Harmonica Player , 39:08
16 , Ronald Chesney , The Flight of the Bumble Bee , 40:49
17 , Tommy Reilly , Hora Staccato , 42:57

Norman Ives’ Introduction to the Harmonica.

Archie

Norman Ives died in 2015. This collection is from the wide range of blues, rock, ballads, country, and international harmonica music which he sold on cassettes in the 1990s. These tapes introduced me, and many others, to the potential of the harmonica.

This is a tribute to Norman, who introduces the first track. He had run an important mail order harmonica business in Caistor, Norfolk, UK, since the 1980s.

Norman Ives’ Introduction to the Harmonica by The Archivist on Mixcloud

1 – Intro – Norman Ives – 0:00
2 – Harmonicats – Peg O’My Heart – 00:23
3 – Rory McLeod – Bansheesh Dance – 02:28
4 – Charlie Musselwhite – Hard Times – 07:32
5 – Fingers Taylor – Harpoon Man – 11:18
6 – Rowland Van Straaten – Orientango – 14:52
7 – Charlie McCoy – Pots and Pans – 18:06
8 – Norton Buffalo- So Much To Say – 20:13
9 – Cajun – Indian On A Stump – 23:48
10 – J.J.Milteau – The Hook – 27:22
11 – Deford Bailey – Fox Chase – 29:54
12 – Little Walter – Quarter to 12 – 31:15
13 – Paul Orta – Wailing at Weavers – 34:34
14 – Sonny Boy Williamson – Help Me – 37:52
15 – William Clarke – Blowing like Hell – 40:59
16 – Stagg McMann – Pinetop Boogie – 43:41
17 – Mox Gowland – Hollor For More – 46:41
18 – Sonny Terry – Change The Lock On  The Door 50:17
19 – Jim Darby – Snake Dance – 53:43
20 – Walter Horton & Carey Bell – Have Mercy – 57:17
21 – Lee Oskar – The Immigrant – 61:01
22 – Paul Lamb – Snake Skin Jump – 65:06
23 – Junior Wells – Messing  With The Kid  – 67:32
24 – Blues Birdhead – Mean How Blues – 71:08
25 – Don Les – Check to Cheek – 74:26
26 – John Hammond – Cat Man Blues – 77:28
27 – John Popper/Blues Travelers – But Anyway – 81:30
28 – Randy Charles – I’m so Lonesome I could cry – 85:37
29 – George Harmonica Smith – Situation Blues – 88:03
30 – Ted Roddy – Honky Tonk Rhythm – 91:37
31 – Michael Herblin – M’pyramid – 97:15
32 – Pete Madcat Ruth – Froggy Went a’Courting – 99:53
33 – J Geils Band – Wammer Jammer – 103:15

Golden Age of the Harmonica on BBC Radio – 1950 to 1960

Archie

Imagine you are back in the 1950s. Tune your AM Radio to the BBC and listen . The harmonica was heard in many radio comedies, variety and serious music shows in the 1950s.

Here are some examples featuring Tommy Reilly, Larry Adler, Ronald Chesney, Max Geldray, The Morton Fraser Gang and The Three Monarchs. Shows mentioned include Dixon of Dock Green, The Grove Family, The Navy Lark, Educating Archie, The Goon Show, Workers’ Playtime, and Variety Bandbox.

Light Programme , Opening , 0:00
Workers Playtime , Essex , 0:16
Tommy Reilly , Medley , 0:31
Tommy Reilly , Dixon of Dock Green , 4:42
Tommy Reilly , Family Joke, The Navy Lark , 5:58
Educating Archie , Ronald Chesney , 9:25
Ronald Chesney , Blues in the Night , 12:05
Ronald Chesney , Hora Staccato , 16:35
Variety Bandbox,  , 18:07
Morton Fraser Gang , Medley , 18:15
Morton Fraser Gang , Body and Soul , 20:24
Three Monarchs , Beer Barrel Polka, 23:10
Three Monarchs , Small Talk , 25:05
Three Monarchs , Bach goes to Town , 28:52
Max Geldray , The Goon Show , 30:09
Max Geldray , Side by Side , 31:46
Max Gelday , So Rare , 32:54
Light Progamme , Larry Adler Programme 1 , 34:20
Larry Adler , Smoke gets in your Eyes , 35:10
Larry Adler , Holiday for Strings , 38:40
Larry Adler , Genevieve Film Music , 42:04
BBC Light Programme, Closedown, 48:43

Old Harmonica Favourites – Part 2 – Quartets, Trios, Duos and Soloists

Archie

More popular harmonica group favourites from the 1940s and 50s are from a large collection of recordings assembled by John Bryan (1924-2014) who built up contacts and friendships around the world who exchanged music with him. This broadcast covers tracks from many harmonica groups and soloists.  See also Part 1, Old Harmonica Favourites.

1. Dick Hayman – Saturday night in the Central Park – 2:07
2. Dick Hayman – Tootle oolie dooley – 2:41
3. W. W. Macbeth – Listen to the mocking bird – 1:03
4. W. W. Macbeth – Carry me back to the old Virginny – 1:16
5. Luciano – Esmeraida – 0:47
6. Luciano – Gipsy melody – 0:34
7. Morton Frazer Gang – Caravana – 2:45
8. Morton Frazer – Chelsea – 2:21
9. Nelson y su conjunto – De buen humor – 2:31
10. The Snapshots – Limehouse blues – 2:23
11. Cappy Barra Harmonica Gentleman – Voodoo –  2:42
12. Hotcha Trio – Saloon bar rag – 2:54
13. Ronald Chesney – Chiqui chaqui – 2:12
14. Los 5 Acordes – El jazz me entristece – 2:13
15. The Multicats – Avalon – 2:39
16. Tommy Reilly – Swiss merry go-round – 1:55
17. Trio Candido – Premier flirt – 1:49
18. The Herold’s Trio – Swing polka – 2:01
19. Roberto Abularach – Sombrero de copa – 2:49
20. Os Harmonicistas – Dinah – 1:49
21. Los Armonica Tango – El entreriano – 1:58
22. Walter Gomez & Picaros – Popurri italiano – 3:02

The Archivist’s Harmonica Archive Blog

Archie

The history of the harmonica is told by the performers and the music they recorded. Most of the major music collectors have died but this website shares some of the recordings from their collections – shellac, vinyl, cassette and reel to reel tapes, CDs, film and video tapes. It includes all music styles and harmonica types.

Old Harmonica Favourites – Part 1 – Quartets, Trios, Duos and Soloists

Archie

These popular harmonica group favourites from the 1940s and 50s are from a large collection of recordings assembled by John Bryan (1924-2014) who built up contacts and friendships around the world who exchanged music with him. This broadcast covers tracks from many groups and soloists. Some of the tunes are from the period of the musicians’ recording ban in the 1940s.  Harmonica players had not been allowed to join the Musicians’ Union and so were brought in to accompany singers.  As a result of their success harmonica players were finally admitted to the MU. See also Old Harmonica Favourites – Part 2.

1. POLKA DOTS – Intermezzo – 2:48
2. HARMONICATS – I love you – 2:34
3. PLEHAL BROTHERS – Saturday – 2:34
4. PLEHAL BROTHERS – Dalbacks – 2:27
5. DON RIPPS – Its a dew dew dewey day – 2:06
6. TOMMY REILLY – Family joke – 2:22
7. THE MULCAYS – Caravana – 2:15
8. LARRY ADLER – Sur le chein de Bahama – 2:35
9. TRIO HARMONIE – June night – 2:00
10. TRIO HARMONIE – Get up on the stairs – 2:39
11. MORTON FRAZER’S – Gang medley number one – 2:13
12. HILL BILLY’S TRIO – La danse des petite loups – V2:52
13. TOOTS THIELEMANS – The Sheik of Araby – 2:08
14. HARMONICA GENTLEMEN – In our old home town – 2:50
15. HARMONICA GENTLEMAN – Am I all of your future? – 2:30
16. HOTCHA TRIO – Goody goody – 2:47
17. CARL FREED – Ridin’ the reeds – 2:41
18. PHILARMONIC TRIO – Two o’clock boogie – 2:20
19. THE MADCAPS – Limehouse blues – 2:16
20. BORRAH MINEVITCH – Jamaican rumba – 2:34