A wonderful surprise here, Adam. I saw the world premiere engagement at the LaJolla Playhouse in San Diego. You're version of the opening bars revives some wonderful memories.
Hi Adam! Big River! Yeah man! I've been reading your book lately (Mr. Satan's Apprentice)and I've been enjoying it very very much! I've searched from Spotify some of the songs of the show just to get some idea of what kind of licks you woodshedded back in the days. Anyways I don't even have the words to tell how thankfull I am!!! Keep on inspiring people, 'cause that's what you do BEST!! Greetings from Finland!
I've been waiting for this one since I read your book! I was wondering why you hadn't yed made a vid on it. I love what a big sound you get out of your harp, it's one of those things that leaves me in awe each time I hear you play (as opposed to some other pro's who like to play softer on airtighter harps)
Thanks for the feedback! You obviously have been playing WAY longer than me, and perhaps i never gave the Marine Band a fair shake. (The MB was actually the first harp i ever bought) I think i'll give 'er another go! Thanks for all the videos! Great stuff!!
Thanks, Corrin! I never had the nerve to throw in some whoops, but Monsieur Rafeterre repeatedly winced and told me that I HAD to stop tapping my foot so loudly in the pit. He had a job to do: rein in the crazed harmonica players, but don't fire them, because the next guy will be worse. And the show depends on the harmonica player. I hope everybody subscribes to your channel, my brother.
Ha! Man that is wild Adam. I remember you thought I had a great vibrato and "I thought you had a great vibrato"!! Thanks for the mention! I pushed the envelope doing the score enraging Michael Rafter. I also used to start out the entracts in the high end and throw in Sonny Terry whoops...came out screaming. All the cats dug it but Mike threatened me many times .I was right!! Anyway. great stuff Adam! Dig your sound ,approach and playing!!
Adam thank you so much for posting this. I've been hired to be the harp player 4 a local faculty show of Big River meaning, cast from all over the country are coming here to perform. I thought "how tough of a gig could this be?" I'm not a country harp player at all (Rock). When I learned the show starts with this harp solo laying the mood for the entire evening (after I signed the contract) I got pretty nervous.I have 9 days to figure it out.The score is of little help,can't read music.
Thanks Adam, I've got both the Broadway and Australian cast recordings. They have helped a great deal along with your video here. The music director recorded parts for me and sent them today. I just need to figure out what keys I'm playing in on each piece and then it's muscle and ear memory from there. The music director likes what I've done on some of the songs that don't have harp written and has granted me free range.It's staying true to the written notes that's challenging for me. :)
Hi Adam, Love your style. Question, i was wondering why do you prefer the marine bands over other harps? Is it the tone? When i started playing a few years ago, it didn't take long for me to "sift" through the many diff. harps out there until i came across the "Golden melody!" The power! and bright responsive sound that came from this amazing harp floored me. It seems to me she has no equal, but you've obviously mastered the harp, and i havent yet. Any feedback? Thanks, Keith from Florida!
awesome theme song! isn't that story supposed to develop in Mississippi? i've actually just heard of it, never read it. have to. great post adam, really enjoyed it.
I just have one GM harp and can relate to some of your points...but the rounded corners....well you don't have to develop calluses on your hands like you have from the corners of the harp to play them! I remember you showing them on one of your vids.
Question not really related to the video, but i'm interested. Adam, do you plan on trying out the B-Radical when the finally come out? I'd love a video of your breakdown of the harp if you do.
what type of harp do you play. im geting reall good but i buy horner harps and like they suck. skweeky notes. like 7 draw. i think. but the best harp i ever played was a suzuki prow harp. what what woudl you sigest. i like to play hard. bending notes. but some of that fance stuff youdo i cant do. on mine.
I don't like the smooth curved corners of the Golden Melody; I find it hard to grip. I don't like the tinny sound. I don't like the fact that GM harps are tuned to have slightly out-of-tune chords. Those three debits were enough. I can't stand them. But more power to you for being able to. :) And yes: I love the sound of Marine Bands. Luckily, I'm not alone. A lot of pros still use them, and most of the great classic blues harp (Chicago and country) recordings were MB powered.
It would be worth your time hiring a horn player or piano player who can sight read to play your parts. (Record them as they do.) Also, get the original cast album with Donny Brooks. Use those two sources as guides. Maybe Corrin Huddleston (below) has a recording of him playing the show? Rob Paparozzi also played the show. Spend a few $ and get either of those guys on the phone for an hour. That'll help walk you across the bridge...
Yes Adam. Unfortunately it was a universally felt opinion that his method of control and stripping the score of any humanity was tragic. I know you remember all that! He represented the "Dark side" of conducting.Great guy outside of the pit though!! Himmler was also a great guy when he was away from Buchenwald ! Keep on educating everyone! You are great at it!! A pleasure
Hi Adam, I have Big River Harp too, and I want to play that music like u do. What is the name of that first song, and do u have maybe tabs for it, can I find them somewhere? Thank you, greetings from Serbia
Great Story, and as usual great harp playing. Thanks for sharing.
A wonderful surprise here, Adam. I saw the world premiere engagement at the LaJolla Playhouse in San Diego. You're version of the opening bars revives some wonderful memories.
Cool stuff! Mississippi, here I come!
Thanks for sharing Adam, A great story and cool set of riffs.
Hi Adam! Big River! Yeah man! I've been reading your book lately (Mr. Satan's Apprentice)and I've been enjoying it very very much! I've searched from Spotify some of the songs of the show just to get some idea of what kind of licks you woodshedded back in the days. Anyways I don't even have the words to tell how thankfull I am!!! Keep on inspiring people, 'cause that's what you do BEST!! Greetings from Finland!
I've been waiting for this one since I read your book! I was wondering why you hadn't yed made a vid on it.
I love what a big sound you get out of your harp, it's one of those things that leaves me in awe each time I hear you play (as opposed to some other pro's who like to play softer on airtighter harps)
Thanks for the feedback! You obviously have been playing WAY longer than me, and perhaps i never gave the Marine Band a fair shake. (The MB was actually the first harp i ever bought) I think i'll give 'er another go! Thanks for all the videos! Great stuff!!
Thanks, Corrin! I never had the nerve to throw in some whoops, but Monsieur Rafeterre repeatedly winced and told me that I HAD to stop tapping my foot so loudly in the pit. He had a job to do: rein in the crazed harmonica players, but don't fire them, because the next guy will be worse. And the show depends on the harmonica player. I hope everybody subscribes to your channel, my brother.
You know what? I'm going to take harmonica lessons because I have the same Big River in G and I had not idea that it could sound that way
Ha! Man that is wild Adam. I remember you thought I had a great vibrato and "I thought you had a great vibrato"!! Thanks for the mention! I pushed the envelope doing the score enraging Michael Rafter. I also used to start out the entracts in the high end and throw in Sonny Terry whoops...came out screaming. All the cats dug it but Mike threatened me many times .I was right!! Anyway. great stuff Adam! Dig your sound ,approach and playing!!
Danm't man! We all sound good now! ... Get over it, ok?........Love it!!
Love it!
Adam thank you so much for posting this. I've been hired to be the harp player 4 a local faculty show of Big River meaning, cast from all over the country are coming here to perform. I thought "how tough of a gig could this be?" I'm not a country harp player at all (Rock). When I learned the show starts with this harp solo laying the mood for the entire evening (after I signed the contract) I got pretty nervous.I have 9 days to figure it out.The score is of little help,can't read music.
Thanks Adam, I've got both the Broadway and Australian cast recordings. They have helped a great deal along with your video here. The music director recorded parts for me and sent them today. I just need to figure out what keys I'm playing in on each piece and then it's muscle and ear memory from there. The music director likes what I've done on some of the songs that don't have harp written and has granted me free range.It's staying true to the written notes that's challenging for me. :)
In fact, he already made a vid comparing his Hohners to a Joe Spiers custom harp in his recent series, check that one out ;-)
hello !!Kudzurunner!!
BONNE ANNEE !!!!
Hi Adam,
Love your style. Question, i was wondering why do you prefer the marine bands over other harps? Is it the tone? When i started playing a few years ago, it didn't take long for me to "sift" through the many diff. harps out there until i came across the "Golden melody!" The power! and bright responsive sound that came from this amazing harp floored me. It seems to me she has no equal, but you've obviously mastered the harp, and i havent yet. Any feedback? Thanks, Keith from Florida!
awesome theme song! isn't that story supposed to develop in Mississippi? i've actually just heard of it, never read it. have to. great post adam, really enjoyed it.
I just have one GM harp and can relate to some of your points...but the rounded corners....well you don't have to develop calluses on your hands like you have from the corners of the harp to play them! I remember you showing them on one of your vids.
Question not really related to the video, but i'm interested. Adam, do you plan on trying out the B-Radical when the finally come out? I'd love a video of your breakdown of the harp if you do.
You should come to denver
what type of harp do you play. im geting reall good but i buy horner harps and like they suck. skweeky notes. like 7 draw. i think. but the best harp i ever played was a suzuki prow harp.
what what woudl you sigest. i like to play hard. bending notes. but some of that fance stuff youdo i cant do. on mine.
Subbing for William Galison...brilliant simply brilliant!
bye for now
bf
I don't like the smooth curved corners of the Golden Melody; I find it hard to grip. I don't like the tinny sound. I don't like the fact that GM harps are tuned to have slightly out-of-tune chords. Those three debits were enough. I can't stand them. But more power to you for being able to. :) And yes: I love the sound of Marine Bands. Luckily, I'm not alone. A lot of pros still use them, and most of the great classic blues harp (Chicago and country) recordings were MB powered.
It would be worth your time hiring a horn player or piano player who can sight read to play your parts. (Record them as they do.) Also, get the original cast album with Donny Brooks. Use those two sources as guides. Maybe Corrin Huddleston (below) has a recording of him playing the show? Rob Paparozzi also played the show. Spend a few $ and get either of those guys on the phone for an hour. That'll help walk you across the bridge...
Yes Adam. Unfortunately it was a universally felt opinion that his method of control and stripping the score of any humanity was tragic. I know you remember all that! He represented the "Dark side" of conducting.Great guy outside of the pit though!! Himmler was also a great guy when he was away from Buchenwald ! Keep on educating everyone! You are great at it!! A pleasure
Hi Adam, I have Big River Harp too, and I want to play that music like u do. What is the name of that first song, and do u have maybe tabs for it, can I find them somewhere? Thank you, greetings from Serbia
I'm sure it's a great harp, but no, I'm just happy with my Marine Bands and see no reason to change.
ty 5*****
I've got a Hohner too, but it has a sound I'm not happy with. I like the Lee Oskar or Suzuki sounds better, I have a set of Lee Oskar.
3B 2B 3B 2B 1D. see ya in knoxville...